Editing Paramedic (section)

====United States====
{{Main|Paramedics in the United States}}
In the United States, the minimum standards for paramedic training is considered [[vocational]], but many colleges offer paramedic [[associate degree]] or [[bachelor's degree]] options. Paramedic education programs typically follow the U.S. NHTSA EMS Curriculum, DOT or National Registry of EMTs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ems.gov/mission.htm |title=Our Mission &#124; NHTSA EMS |access-date=2015-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814114552/http://ems.gov/mission.htm |archive-date=2015-08-14 }}</ref> While many regionally accredited [[community college]]s offer paramedic programs and two-year associate degrees, a handful of universities also offer a four-year bachelor's degree component.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naemt.org/about_ems/degreeprograms.aspx|title=Degree Programs in EMS|website=www.naemt.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626193038/https://www.naemt.org/about_ems/degreeprograms.aspx|archive-date=2015-06-26}}</ref> The national standard course minimum requires [[didactic]] and clinical hours for a paramedic program of 1,500 or more hours of classroom training and 500+ clinical hours to be accredited and nationally recognized.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caahep.org/Content.aspx?ID=39|title=Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic - CAAHEP|website=www.caahep.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708193936/http://www.caahep.org/Content.aspx?ID=39|archive-date=2015-07-08}}</ref><ref name="node"/> Calendar length typically varies from 12 months to upwards of two years, excluding degree options, EMT training, work experience, and prerequisites. It is required to be a certified Emergency Medical Technician prior to starting paramedic training.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nremt.org/nremt/about/reg_para_history.asp#Entry_Requirements|title=National Registry of EMTs|access-date=2015-09-24|archive-date=2016-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810121131/http://www.nremt.org/nremt/about/reg_para_history.asp#Entry_Requirements|url-status=dead}}</ref> Entry requirements vary, but many paramedic programs also have prerequisites such as one year required work experience as an [[emergency medical technician]], or anatomy and physiology courses from an accredited college or university. Paramedics in some states must attend up to 50+ hours of ongoing education, plus maintain Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. National Registry requires 70 + hours to maintain its certification or one may re-certify through completing the written computer based adaptive testing again (between 90 and 120 questions) every two years.

Paramedicine continues to grow and evolve into a formal profession in its own right, complete with its own standards and body of knowledge, and in many locations paramedics have formed their own [[Professional association|professional bodies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nremt.org/|title=National Registry of EMTs}}</ref>

The early technicians with limited training, performing a small and specific set of procedures, has become a role beginning to require a foundation degree in countries such as [[Australia]], [[South Africa]], the [[UK]], and increasingly in Canada and parts of the U.S. such as [[Oregon]], where a degree is required for entry level practice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://study.com/paramedic_school_oregon.html|title=Paramedic Schools in Oregon with Training Program Overviews}}</ref>