Frequently Asked Questions

The program and the profession requires extensive walking, stooping, bending, pushing, pulling, climbing stairs, and lifting. Lifting and carrying requirements are at least 125 pounds. Motor coordination is necessary because you may travel over uneven terrain. Please refer to the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services website for a more detailed functional job description.

Applicants must:

• meet the general admission requirements for the college.
• hold a high school diploma or GED.
• be 18 years of age by the first day of class
• have a current American Heart Association – BLS, Adult, Child and Infant with AED CPR card (https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/education-certification/student-resources/cpr-requirements/)
• have a current Virginia EMT certification or higher
• not have been convicted of any disqualifying crime as mandated by the Virginia Office of EMS. Please see more information in the Virginia Administrative Code. If you have, please contact the program director, Joey Greer (greerj@centralvirginia.edu).
• have a valid Virginia driver’s license

The following are prerequisite courses:

• BIO 141 (by the end of summer 2026)
• BIO 142 or BIO 145 (at CVCC) (by the end of fall 2026)

Additional steps can be found in the program checklist.

Twenty-four (24) students will be admitted to the 2026 Paramedic program. Applicants will be notified by CVCC by August 1 of their status for the fall program.

There is not a waiting list. All applicants who meet the deadline and are minimally qualified will be considered for the program. Interested students are encouraged to work with the non-nursing Program Advisor Rhonda Perdue to see if taking support classes is feasible based on their individual circumstances (taking in consideration whether they are students part-time, full-time, financial circumstances, holding a job, etc.) keeping in mind this is a selected program and only 24 students are accepted once a year.

The core Paramedic courses must be taken in sequence as outlined in the college catalog . The core program coursework is only offered during the day.

At this time, the program operates as an open admission program. Students are admitted as long as they meet the minimum requirements established by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of EMS (VDH OEMS).

These requirements include a high school diploma or GED, minimum age requirements, the ability to perform EMS duties, and a review of criminal or enforcement history.

Admission decisions are made after all required documentation has been submitted and reviewed. Applicants with questions about eligibility are encouraged to contact the Program Director.

International students must have a valid U.S. student visa. If an SSN has not been issued, students must provide a copy of their visa and passport for verification to the Virginia Department of Health Office of EMS. Students are encouraged to contact the Program Director for questions and assistance in the process.

Virginia Western accepts permanent residents, asylee, refugees and most visa types. However, we do not accept students on F1 or M1 visas as those visas are affiliated with a particular school.  If F1 visa students are accepted into the CVCC Paramedic program, there will be an international packet that the student would need to submit, signed by the Program Director at CVCC, and returned to Virginia Western in order to enroll in courses for the Paramedic program at Virginia Western.

Yes. Students who hold current healthcare licensure or certification, such as Registered Nurses (RN), EMT-Intermediates, Advanced EMTs (AEMT), or other approved healthcare professionals, may be eligible for advanced placement within the program.

Credit may be awarded based on existing licensure/certification, and in some cases, students may be required to demonstrate competency through written or practical examinations.

Applicants should contact the Program Director at Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) to review eligibility and determine specific advanced placement options.

The Introduction to Paramedic CSC consists of specific coursework that is designed to allow applicants to the Paramedic program to complete some of the courses required within the AAS and to also offer a job skill option to applicants in case of non-admittance to the program. Not all prerequisite and support classes are included in the CSC. PSY 230 not offered in the CSC. 

If you wish to complete these courses prior to entry, you need to pay for those courses out of pocket.  If you are accepted into the AAS Paramedic program, financial aid will then cover those courses. The plan change for accepted students from the CSC to the AAS typically occurs in August and will be effective in the fall term.

The Central Virginia Community College Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
9355 – 113th St. N, #7709 
Seminole, FL 33775 
727-210-2350 
www.caahep.org 

To contact CoAEMSP:
8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088 214-703-8445
FAX 214-703-8992
www.coaemsp.org

Central Virginia Community College (CVCC), Virginia Western Community College, and the EMS Paramedic Program are committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of education and program participation.

The EMS Paramedic Program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and Virginia Community College System (VCCS) policies.

This policy applies to all program activities, including admission, progression, clinical placement, evaluation, and graduation.

Applicants can present a copy of the GED scores.

Students who completed high school outside of the United States are generally required to provide proof of high school completion. If you are unable to obtain an official transcript, there are alternative options available.

You may be able to meet this requirement by:

• Providing a foreign credential evaluation from an approved evaluation service showing equivalency to a U.S. high school diploma, or
• Completing a U.S. high school equivalency credential (GED)

In some cases, additional documentation or review may be required by the college.

If you are planning to apply for a future year, you should begin by ensuring you meet all minimum admission requirements and complete any prerequisite courses. You may submit your application when it becomes available for your intended start term.

Students are encouraged to stay in contact with the Program Director for updates on application timelines and program requirements.

We have a team of advisors for Health Professions.

• New students should begin with a New Student Advisor in the Enrollment Center.
• Rhonda Perdue is the Health Professions program advisor and provides advising about applying and preparing for health professions programs for continuing Virginia Western Students. Rhonda can assist with career planning and course selection and may be able to assist with preliminary information. You can schedule an appointment with Rhonda Perdue via Navigate.
• Pam Woody or Jasmine Terry will process your academic file and evaluate previously completed coursework after a review of your official transcripts. They will also send the process letter verifying your GPA, prerequisites, and the evaluation of your college course work. 

You may also contact the team of advisors at healthprofessions@virginiawestern.edu.

The application information that you submit to Virginia Western will be shared with the Program Specialist/Director at CVCC for additional advisement and you may need to complete additional paperwork to begin the program.

Meetings can be via Zoom. Prior to meeting, please provide the required information to the Virginia Western Health Professions Advising and Applications Office. This meeting, with CVCC, is a requirement for selection.

First and Second Semester Schedule

• Classes are held at the Greenfield Education and Training Center in Botetourt County
• Students attend one lecture day and one lab day per week
• Lecture: Monday or Tuesday; Delivered in a high-flex format with CVCC
• Lab: Wednesday or Thursday; In-person, hands-on instruction with faculty
• Classes are 8 hours per day, scheduled during daytime hours

Third Semester Schedule

• Classes are held at the Greenfield Education and Training Center in Botetourt County
• Students attend one lecture/lab per week, alternating each week.
• Lecture/Lab: Monday or Tuesday
• Lectures: Delivered in a high-flex format with CVCC
• Labs: In-person, hands-on instruction with faculty
• Classes are 8 hours per day, scheduled during daytime hours

Last Semester Schedule

• Classes are held online with the exception of auxiliary (dynamic) classes
• All dynamic classes will be in-person

Clinicals

• Clinical and field rotations begin early in the program
• Students must successfully complete required laboratory competencies before participating in clinical and field rotations
• Students complete hospital clinical rotations and EMS field internships across multiple semesters
• Clinical hours increase in later semesters and require a greater time commitment
• Students can select their clinical schedule dates.

Central Virginia Community College faculty and students must comply with the policies required by clinical facilities with which we have legal agreements. If a student refuses to comply with a clinical facility immunization and vaccination requirement, Central Virginia Community College will attempt, but cannot guarantee, to assign a student to an alternative clinical facility. A student will be placed in an alternative location only if it meets the educational objectives of Central Virginia Community College and program requirements for clinical placement. Faculty also must be available to appropriately supervise students at the clinical facility. Refusal to comply with a clinical facility immunization and vaccination requirement by a student in our health programs may impede your progress in the program or your ability to remain in the program.