Paramedic Education Program

About Us

Welcome to the Paramedic Education Program. The program has a longstanding commitment to providing exceptional pre-hospital care to Summit County and its surrounding areas since 1976. The program has proudly produced over 1,400 skilled paramedics. Throughout the program, students will accumulate nearly 1,000 hours of didactic, clinical, and field internship experience. The program may occasionally schedule full or partial days of class during the program outside of normal class time. This is typically for specific courses such as ACLS, PALS, and ITLS. Required dates will be communicated during the first week of the course when/if required. It's important to allocate at least 25-35 hours per week for class time, studying, clinical rotations, and field internships.

The Paramedic Education Program offers courses at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Campus and Wayne County through our partnership with The University of Akron Wayne College.

The Akron General course is offered as a daytime program each Fall beginning in late August and ending in late May, providing a comprehensive ten-month curriculum. The daytime course runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The Wayne Paramedic satellite course is taught at the University of Akron Wayne College, located in Orrville, Ohio. It is offered as an evening course each Spring, starting in January and ending in October, providing a comprehensive ten-month curriculum. The Wayne Paramedic course runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with lab sessions replacing lectures.

Accredited by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP), the program stands as a pioneer in Ohio, being the first hospital-based program in the state and the 72nd nationwide to achieve CAAHEP National Certification in 1991.

An articulation agreement has been established between Cleveland Clinic Akron General and The University of Akron's College of Health and Human Sciences. This agreement allows eligible paramedic graduates to transfer thirty academic credit hours towards an Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services Technology Degree. This opportunity is open to all program graduates from 1985 onwards. Paramedic courses are featured within the University of Akron's course offerings.

Accreditation

The Paramedic Education Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 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
727.210.2350 

To contact CoAEMSP:
214.703.8445

The Paramedic Education Program is accredited by the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Ohio Department of Public Safety
1970 W Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43223
844.644.6268

Mission

To provide initial education to emergency medical service professionals, to create competent entry-level providers, and to further the mission of Cleveland Clinic.

Objectives 

The goal of the Paramedic Education Program is to:

1. Prepare competent entry-level paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.
2. Prepare students to pass the written and practical National Registry examinations at the Paramedic level.
3. Provide competent, confident, and independent thinking paramedics for the communities they serve.

Contact information  

Hugh Dodd, MSN, RN, EMT-P, FESI
Program Director
Akron General
1 Akron General Avenue
Akron, OH 44307
[email protected]
330.344.6504

Admissions

Admissions requirements & disclosures

In addition to program-specific admissions requirements and procedures, applicants are encouraged to review requirements and disclosures outlined on the School of Health Professions’ Admissions page.

School of Health Professions catalog

Additional information can be found in the School Catalog, including school-wide policies and procedures, program-specific information, and course descriptions.

• View the School Catalog

Technical standards 

Sensory and motor skills - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:

• Move and transfer patients in a safe
• Move clinical equipment in a safe and controlled
• Demonstrate basic clinical skills related to the use of extracorporeal equipment, circuitry, and ancillary clinical patient care devices and equipment.

Communication - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in the English language
• Communicate clearly
• Produce and transmit patient information in oral and written format to members of the healthcare
• Communicate with patients effectively with compassion and empathy
• Demonstrate reading skills at a sufficient grade level to accomplish curricular requirements
• Provide effective care for patients

Intellectual - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:

• Measure, calculate, interpret, analyze, question, compile and evaluate information from various modalities to effectively evaluate extracorporeal equipment and treat
• Comprehend spatial relationships of structures and models
• Comprehend relationships between patient care parameters and anticipate cause and effect responses based on their actions and inactions
• Learn through a variety of teaching modalities including classroom lecture, cooperative learning, small group activities, medical simulation and laboratory exercises, individual and group presentations, and the use of technology assisted
• Make rapid decisions in life threatening situations where problem solving and critical thinking are required

Behavioral and social attributes - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:

• Exercise good judgment, prompt completion of all responsibilities related to care of patients and participation in a patient care team
• Develop mature and effective relationships with co-workers and patients
• Perform problem solving skills in a timely manner
• Tolerate physically demanding workloads
• Function effectively under stress
• Adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in an environment of uncertainty inherent in the clinical practice of cardiovascular
• Practice in a safe manner
• Respond appropriately to emergencies
• Treat all patients, families, colleagues, and other members of the health care team with dignity and respect
• Demonstrate honesty, integrity, dedication, compassion and motivation
• Accept constructive criticism and respond appropriately with an acceptable modification of behavior

Observation - Students and candidates for program admission should be able to:

• Comprehend information presented in images from paper and projections such as PowerPoint slides and video
• Observe laboratory, lecture and clinical demonstrations
• Observe patients and members of the healthcare team accurately both at a distance and close up

Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following criteria and submit the required documents and application by the submission deadline.

1. Minimum age of 18 years
2. Possession of a valid Ohio driver's license
3. Current AHA, ASHI, or ARC BLS Healthcare Provider Card
4. NIMS 100 and 700 Certifications
5. EMT Status
• Certification as an EMT in Ohio or possession of National Registry EMT with active pursuit of Ohio reciprocity before the start of class

• It is the student’s responsibility to maintain EMT certification throughout the duration of the program.
• Successful completion of Ohio Trauma Triage and Ohio Rescue Task Force Awareness training.

Admissions process

To apply to the Paramedic Education Program, applicants must provide the following:

• Admissions application, including a $20 application fee
• Two letters of recommendation
  • One from EMT instructor, if possible
  • The other from a work supervisor, or someone who has known the applicant for at least two (2) years. If the applicant is currently enrolled in an EMT program, one letter of recommendation is requested from the EMT instructor.
• A resume/CV
• Successful completion of the pre-entrance examination.
• Interview with the program faculty and staff
• A negative result on a 10-panel urine toxicology screen (to be conducted after acceptance).
• Satisfactory background check

Liability insurance

Students enrolled in the Cleveland Clinic School of Health Professions are covered under Cleveland Clinic’s general liability insurance when participating in activities that constitute a part of their educational program.

• Learn more about liability insurance

Pre-entrance examination

The Pre-Entrance Examination is scheduled for mid-May. This comprehensive four-hour exam includes an EMT test, the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam, and a reading comprehension test. Please note that the components of the exam are subject to change. Any modifications will be communicated to all candidates at least two weeks prior to the examination.

Paramedic skillset

As a paramedic, training will encompass a broader range of skills in addition to those students possess as an EMT. These include:

Advanced Airway Management

• Performing oral endotracheal intubation
• Conducting nasal endotracheal intubation
• Executing percutaneous cricothyroidotomy
• Applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
• Administering needle decompression
• Operating a transport ventilator

Pharmacological Interventions

• Establishing intravenous access (IV)
• Utilizing intraosseous access (IO)
• Administering intramuscular injections (IM)
• Delivering subcutaneous injections (SC)
• Implementing sublingual administration (SL)
• Proficiently administering over 30 medications via IV, IO, or IM/SC

Medical/Cardiac Care

• Placing and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECG)
• Performing synchronized cardioversion
• Conducting manual defibrillation
• Utilizing transcutaneous pacing
• Conducting comprehensive medical and trauma patient assessments

For any further inquiries, please contact the Paramedic Education office at 330.344.6655.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition for the Paramedic Education Program is $6,600. Students are responsible for purchasing a textbook and access to Platinum Planner. Tuition can be paid in three equal installments of $2,200. Instructions on how to make payments via the Campus Café are provided during the application process.

Tuition payments for the Akron General course are due in the following months:

• August (first day of class) - $2,200
• December or January - $2,200
• February or March - $2,200

Tuition payments for Wayne Paramedic satellite course are due in the following months:

• January (first night of class) - $2,200
• May - $2,200
• August- $2,200

Cost of attendance

The cost of attendance for the Paramedic Education Program is a budget comprised of direct and indirect costs. Tuition is a direct cost charged by the program. All others are indirect costs that a student may incur during the course of the program and is not paid to the program. These costs are subject to change.

Tuition refund policy

The Paramedic Education Program issues refunds for tuition and other fees for eligible applicants and students as outlined in the School of Health Professions’ Tuition Refund Policy.

• Read the full tuition refund policy

Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the following criteria for graduation:

• Pass all portions of the program’s written exams
• Pass all portions of the program’s practical exam
• Complete all clinical/ field requirements and required documentation
• Overall grade average of 75% or higher in all phases of the program

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward graduation will be evaluated after the completion of each term of the program. Failure to maintain SAP may result in the student being dismissed from the program.

• School of Health Professions SAP Policy

Program Outcomes

National Registry CBT Exam

National Registry Psychomotor Exam

Attrition/Retention

Positive Placement

Curriculum

Academic calendars

• Akron General, 2024-2025
• University of Akron Wayne College, 2025-2026

• Curriculum outline
• Course descriptions

Additional Information

Meet Our Administrative Team

Amy Raubenolt, MD, MEd, MPH
Medical Director

Dr. Raubenolt joined the program as Medical Director in 2015. She spent nine years as a volunteer EMT-I in rural Ohio, which prompted her to change careers from teaching to medicine. Dr. Raubenolt has a Bachelors and Master’s degree in Education from Bowling Green State University and obtained a Master’s in Public Health and medical degree at The Ohio State University. After graduating from medical school at Ohio State, Dr. Raubenolt completed her Emergency Medicine residency and EMS Fellowship at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where she served as a medical control physician for the Kalamazoo County Medical Control Authority. Dr. Raubenolt is currently the EMS Medical Director at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron Fire Department, Stow Fire Department and the Akron Fire/Police TEMS/SWAT team.

Director, EMS Education
[email protected]
330.344.6655

Hugh Dodd, EMT-P, MSN
Program Manager
[email protected]
330.344.6504

Program Coordinator
[email protected]
330.344.6655

Whitney LaBillois, NREMT
Program Coordinator
[email protected]
330.344.6507

Whitney joined the EMS Education Team in October 2021.She is a current student at The University of Akron, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. Her background includes surgery scheduling, banking, and customer service. Whitney is a graduate of Akron General’s EMT program, and currently works at Northeast Ambulance and Event Medical Solutions. Her future aspirations include pursuing a career working as a firefighter/paramedic. Her long-term goal is to obtain employment within FEMA. Whitney is a Junior Olympics volleyball coach for IMPACT Sports Academy in Tallmadge, OH. She primarily coaches and trains 11th and 12th grade high school students, aiding in their recruitment and selection process for their college careers.

Cheryl Hardin
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
330.344.6655