First Year Courses
The first year, or foundational phase, is designed to prepare students for success in the professional paramedic curriculum by building strong academic, clinical, and professional skills. This phase emphasizes core sciences, entry-level patient care, and an introduction to the EMS profession.
Students develop the knowledge, study habits, and clinical mindset necessary to transition confidently into the rigorous second-year professional sequence.
1. Foundational Science Education
Students complete a comprehensive Anatomy and Physiology series that provides the biological framework for understanding disease processes, patient assessment, and treatment decisions. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between structure, function, and clinical presentation.
2. EMS Core Coursework
Early EMS courses introduce students to the roles, responsibilities, and systems of emergency medical services, establishing a professional identity and understanding of prehospital care.
Courses may include:
- Introduction to EMS
- EMS foundational coursework
- Professional communication and patient interaction
3. EMT Training
Students complete Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, gaining hands-on skills in patient assessment, basic life support, and emergency care. This training prepares students for certification and entry-level clinical experience.
4. Medical Terminology
Students build fluency in medical language, supporting effective communication with healthcare teams and accurate documentation.
OHSU–OIT Program Value
Across the foundational year, students benefit from a learning environment that integrates academic rigor with practical application. Instruction is delivered by experienced EMS educators and clinicians, ensuring that coursework reflects current practice and professional expectations.
Program strengths include:
- Early exposure to EMS systems and patient care concepts
- Small cohort learning that supports individualized feedback and mentorship
- Integration of simulation, lab, and scenario-based learning
- Alignment with national education standards to support progression into the professional phase
Second Year Courses (Professional Year)
The second year, also referred to as the professional phase, is a full-time, 12-month (four-term) immersive experience designed to transition students from foundational knowledge to competent, entry-level paramedic practice. Students who have completed first-year prerequisite coursework at another accredited institution are not required to repeat those courses at Oregon Tech, allowing qualified applicants to enter directly into the professional phase. Over the course of the year, the curriculum is intentionally structured into three integrated components:
Advanced Didactic Education
Students engage in rigorous, evidence-based coursework emphasizing clinical reasoning, leadership, and systems-based practice. Instruction is delivered by experienced paramedic educators and practicing clinicians, ensuring content reflects current field standards and regional protocols.
OIT Value:
- Small cohort sizes that promote individualized faculty mentorship
- Integration of simulation, case-based learning, and high-fidelity scenarios
- Alignment with National EMS Education Standards and CoAEMSP competencies
Comprehensive Clinical Rotations
Students complete extensive clinical experiences at OHSU and partner hospitals throughout the region, gaining exposure to high-acuity and specialty care environments. Clinical sites are continually monitored and evaluated, with Program staff validating the volume, variety, and quality of experiences. OHSU is a large clinical and research facility, with various resources available to paramedic students. As a teaching hospital, they are affiliated with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, and other area medical centers.
The OHSU/Oregon Tech Program utilizes a vast network of EMS and emergency medicine physicians to ensure that the highest quality of education is being delivered. Routinely, some materials delivered in class are cutting edge, not yet published in Paramedic textbooks. The majority of our lecturers are clinical specialists in their areas, and include many practicing paramedics, emergency nurses, attending physicians, residents, and fellows.
The Program employs a Medical Director to serve as our medical conscious. He reviews all exams, interacts with students, and participates in quality assurance / improvement activities. His longstanding reputation in Emergency Medicine, and involvement in local EMS operations contribute to the overall strength of the program.
Clinical settings may include:
- Adult Emergency Departments
- Operating Room & Airway Management of both Adult and Pediatric
- Labor & Delivery
- Pediatric Emergency Department
OIT Value:
- Training in a major academic medical center with diverse patient populations
- Close collaboration with physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary teams
- Structured competency tracking to ensure progressive skill mastery
Clinicals and Externships
The program culminates in a paramedic externship, where students function in the team-leader role under direct supervision of field preceptors. Oregon Tech maintains longstanding partnerships with local and regional EMS agencies, providing students flexibility to train within a 911 system.
OIT Value:
- Real-world leadership development in active 911 systems
- Strong EMS partnerships that support education
- Graduates enter the workforce with significant field experience and professional networks
Program Impact
Through this integrated professional phase, students graduate with:
- Demonstrated competency across cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains
- Experience in high-acuity clinical and field environments
- Preparation for National Registry certification and immediate workforce entry
- Professional identity grounded in patient advocacy, teamwork, and lifelong learning
An extensive background check and drug test are required for many clinical programs within the EMS department. Adverse findings may affect admittance or continued enrollment in the program and/or impact eligibility for future employment in the field of emergency medical services. Also, several immunizations, as required by the CDC and the OHA are also required to complete many of the EMS programs and courses. Please contact the program for more details.