Introducing the New EMS Associate Degree Program for Veterans

Do you or have you served in the military as a medic?  Do you want to continue to be on the front line helping save people’s lives? Military men and women do these things each day. They risk life and limb to complete their missions and preserve our way of life.
Their bravery, courage, and heroism are only matched by the number of new skills they learn on the ground, including leadership, the ability to work under pressure, and working as part of a team.  However, once they come home, many ask how they can translate these skills and experiences into a career.

Are you a veteran and answered yes to the first two questions we posed at the top of this blog post? If so, you may want to look into expanding your career in emergency medical services. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a paramedic’s average salary is $31,270 with the top 10% earning more than $50,000.

However, the money is only a small part of the reason why people go into emergency medical services. The greater good comes from helping people in need and having a part in changing their lives for the better. In what other civilian profession can you say, “I saved a life today?” With a career in emergency medical services, this happens every day.

According to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, there are five EMS practitioner levels that have replaced the legacy model, which consisted of First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and EMT-Paramedic. The new levels will include the following as listed by hierarchal order:

• Emergency Medical Responder
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
• Paramedic
• Management

There are many paths towards a career in emergency medical services, but the most formal is probably still the best in learning the skills necessary to becoming a successful EMS employee right off the bat. National American University is proud to offer a new EMS program for military personnel that enable veterans with EMT certification to use their MOS medical training to earn their Associate degree in as little time as a year.  In total, the program requires 90 quarter credit hours, but only 22.5 credit hours in residency. That is only five classes.  NAU also offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in EMS that a qualified veteran could complete in about 10 classes.

The program is offered at a number of locations in National American University. If you’re looking at colleges in Colorado Springs, CO; Georgetown, TX; Albuquerque, NM; Minneapolis; or South Dakota for a quality program to help you continue a career in emergency medical services, the program at NAU offers a number of benefits to students:

• Flexible scheduling with online classes
• No application fee or entrance exams
• Dedicated staff that wants to help students succeed
• Veteran benefits can be used at our Austin, TX; Georgetown, TX; Centennial, CO; Colorado Springs, CO; and Albuquerque, NM, locations
• Military transfer credit opportunities

If you believe that a degree in EMS is right for you, we encourage you to contact us today. The fall semester is quickly approaching. In a year’s time, you could be saving lives with a degree behind your name.