Frequently Asked Questions About Paramedic School

Students must submit all prerequisite documents for their application packet to be considered complete. There is a non-refundable $75 application fee that applies. After you submit your application fee, you will receive a confirmation email and instructions for document submission. Once required documents have been submitted, applicants will be invited for a panel interview. After interviews are complete, candidates will be notified of their acceptance into the course. We offer both a 6-month and 9-month accelerated program and a yearlong program.

Prerequisites:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Be a high school graduate or have GED certificate
• Have successfully completed an EMT-Basic training program and have worked at least 6 months as an EMT
• Possess a current CPR certification (a BLS for Health Care Provider Certification)
• Have successfully completed an IV Therapy Approval Course
• Completed a Basic EKG interpretation course
• Have successfully completed Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II

The application packet must include ALL of the following:

• Required vaccination records.
• An admission essay of approximately 500 words. The essay should state why you wish to become a paramedic and why you are choosing to attend the Denver Health Paramedic School.
• Current Colorado State EMT or Advanced EMT certification
• High school diploma or GED Certificate
• Nationwide background check (must be within last 6 months)
• Three Letters of recommendation (one must be from your Medical Director)

The Denver Health Paramedic School evaluates applicants on proven academic competence and potential, goals, understanding of the paramedic's role, and recommendation letters. The panel interview will further aid the program in selecting the most competitive applicants for admission and will include interview questions, patient scenarios, and a paramedic entrance exam.

After applicants are accepted for admission, they are required to make a non-refundable $300.00 seat deposit in order to secure a place in the entering class. Seat deposits are due no later than 14 days as from the postmarked date on the notification of acceptance letter. Deposits should be mailed to the Denver Health Paramedic School office at 190 W. 6th Ave. MC 3652, Denver, CO 80204. The seat deposit is applied toward tuition.

The following documents are required in addition to those outlined in the application process:

• BLS Provider certification (must be health care provider level)
• Background check completed within the past 6 months (You may obtain a background check by going to www.castlebranch.com and utilizing group code EN14. A fee applies and is the responsibility of the student.) You may choose another vendor for a background check. It MUST be a nationwide background check.

Required Vaccinations

• TB ppd or X-ray (Tuberculin skin test, blood test, or negative chest x-ray within the past 12 months. Please click here to learn more about a TB Skin test.)
• MMR (Proof of Mumps, Rubella and Rubeola immunity by positive antibody titers or 2 doses of MMR
• Influenza (within last 12 months)
• Hepatitis B
• Tdap (Vaccination must have been done within the last 10 years. Click here to learn more about the Tdap vaccination.)
• Varicella (Varicella immunity, by positive history of chicken pox (verified) or proof of Varicella immunization)

If you are a Colorado resident, you may obtain a copy of your vaccination records by going here. A fee may apply and is the responsibility of the applicant. There are no exceptions to the vaccination requirements and/or the background check requirement.

Phase 1 - Didactic Phase (Classroom)

 The program curriculum is based on the 2021 National EMS Education Standards and taught by some of the leading industry experts to include Denver Health Paramedics, Denver Health Physicians, and guest lecturers.

There are three schedule formats for students to choose from:

• The 12-month program meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings from 6-10 PM
• The accelerated 6-month program meets Monday through Friday for 8 hours per day.
• The accelerated 9-month program meets Wednesday through Friday for 8 hours per day.

(Additional days may be required.)

Phase 2 - Clinical Rotations

 Clinical rotations are run concurrently with the classroom training. Clearance for each clinical is granted as the student progresses through didactic modules and as minimum skills competencies are met. All students participate in direct patient care in a variety of high patient volume locations at Denver Health, including the Adult ED, Pediatric ED, Operating Room, Intensive Care Units, Respiratory Therapy, Labor and Delivery, Cardiac Cath Lab, Well Baby, and Psychiatric Emergency Service.

Phase 3 - Field Internship

 The field internship is comprised of four phases and involves the practical application of classroom knowledge and clinical instruction. The field internship represents both an instructional and evaluative phase of the program. During the field internship, the student will be under direct supervision by a preceptor. The field internship phase will be a 30 hour per week commitment. For the 6-month accelerated course the field internship will be an approximately 40 hour per week commitment, for the 9-month accelerated course the field internship will be an approximately 20-30 hour per week commitment.

What are the four field internship phases?

Phase 1: First 50 hours (Observation/Orientation Rides)

• Orientation to the system
• Learn the setup of the ambulance.
• Observe as a team member and perform any skills that are allowed by the preceptor.
• Develop PCR writing skills.
• Perform all BLS procedures.
• Clearance to Phase 2 must be approved by the preceptor.

Phase 2: hour 50-250

• Paramedic student will begin to function as an ALS team member. 
• Student will begin patient evaluations/assessments.
• Initiate IV’s 
• Intubate patients.
• Administer medications.
• Build upon PCR writing skills.
• Develop team leader plan.
• Clearance to Phase 3 must be approved by the preceptor.

Phase 3: Hours 250-400

• Continue to master the requirements of Phase 1 and 2.
• Continue to develop team leader skills and identify areas of deficiency and areas for improvement.
• Student should be able to function as an entry level paramedic.
• Clearance to Phase 4 (Capstone Phase) 

Phase 4: Hours 400-500 (Capstone Phase)

• Student MUST demonstrate FULL Team leadership as a paramedic.
• Student must achieve successful grading on student’s last 18 of their 20 calls of this phase to successfully complete. Meaning that 18/20 of the last calls must have a successful team lead.
• To be counted as a Team Lead the Paramedic student must conduct a comprehensive assessment, establish a field impression, determine patient acuity, formulate a treatment plan, direct the treatment, and direct and participate in the transport of the patient to a medical facility, transfer of care to a higher level of medical authority, or termination of care in the field.
• For the capstone field internship to meet the breadth of the paramedic profession, team leads must include transport to a medical facility and may occasionally include calls involving transfer of care to an equal level or higher level of medical authority, termination of care in the field, or patient refusal of care.
• If there are significant concerns, the student may be extended in the Field Internship beginning with 50 additional hours, progressing if needed.
• Completion of Phase 4 will be granted after preceptors have voiced any concerns or approval. 

• There is a non-refundable $75 application fee.
• Once accepted into the program there is a $300 seat reservation fee. This will be applied toward your tuition balance.
• Main Campus Accelerated and Yearlong Program tuition is $10,350.
• Eagle County Satellite Program tuition is $12,208.
• Click HERE for information on tuition assistance. Please note that there are several options available for financial assistance and this is not an exhaustive list.