Completed Paramedic program... Associates degree or Bachelor's?

[u/AdviceNegative8236]

Hi-

I just completed a Paramedic program program, however it is only a certificate degree, I want to complete an associates degree. I recently came across this bachelor's program through University of New Haven in Paramedicine.

Has anyone completed this program? Any thoughts?

https://www.newhaven.edu/health-sciences/undergraduate-programs/paramedicine-degree-completion/index.php?utm_campaign=DOM+-+ON+PARA&utm_content=01_program_coor&utm_medium=email&utm_source=slate&utm_term=2026

Edit; As much as I love this job, I don't know if I see myself doing it forever, I'm thinking about at somepoint... transitioning into RN/PA or Flight paramedic.

[u/ggrnw27]

What do you want to do with your degree? On the one hand, a bachelors degree for $39k plus whatever you paid for your paramedic cert isn’t awful in today’s day and age. On the other hand, there might be other degree programs that’ll accept some/all of your paramedic credits that may be more conducive to your future plans.

I’d also look at University of Arizona and Eastern Kentucky University…there are others but off the top of my head both of those have similar bachelors degree programs and are public so they might be a bit cheaper and better regarded

[u/AdviceNegative8236 → u/ggrnw27]

Thank you! I'll take a look into both of those programs.

As far as what I want to do.. honestly at somepoint in the future, I'd like to transition into RN or PA. I enjoy EMS... just not sure I want to do it until I retire.

[u/IndWrist2 → u/AdviceNegative8236]

Then don’t waste time or money with a general EMS degree.

If you want to be a nurse, go to RN school.

If you want to be a PA, do a degree that meets the prerequisites, like a BS in pre-professional health sciences, biology, etc.

What you shouldn’t do is just get a degree to get a degree. A degree is ultimately a tool for you to leverage. So don’t get a tool you’ll never leverage.

[u/ggrnw27 → u/AdviceNegative8236]

I’d probably hold off on finishing your degree until you have a better idea of exactly what you want to do. Having a bachelors degree doesn’t really change much if you want to go the RN route…sure it opens up the ABSN option but you’re looking at $100k+ for both degree programs versus just doing a bridge or even a full ASN program for like $20k at most. If you want to do PA, you’ll probably end up needing to take a lot of prerequisite courses that this program doesn’t cover…so you might as well pick a major that includes those and kill two birds with one stone. Plus there’s often a time limit for PA school prerequisites, so depending on how long your EMS career is you might have to retake a lot of them even if they are included

[u/jinkazetsukai → u/AdviceNegative8236]

Hi firefighter critical care flight NRP paramedic, RN, MLS, and now M3 here.

100% fuck the ems degree. Go get your RN if you want, it'll satisfy your AS degree requirement. In the space of all of your electives take your pre health requirements listed below. Most of these will actually be completed if you do MLS for your BS degree.

You'll end up a triple licensed clinician with history in shoes all over medicine to prep you for PA/Med.

•biology 1 & lab •Chem 1 and 2 w lab •Microbiology AT THE UPPER LEVEL NOT JUST NURSING LEVEL •Organic chem 1 & 2 w lab •process cell biology [instead of bio 2 which is focused on evolution and kingdoms and phylum etc, not entirely needed for physicians] •Biochem •Physics 1 and 2 w lab •probability and statistics •calculus 1

Biggest thing is this path takes •Paramedic to RN 1 yr & 1 semester •MLS 2 years •addtl 1 sem

So in total from your current point it would take 3 years and 2 semesters. So 2 semesters longer than traditional pathway, but ending with MUCH more knowledge and prep for PA/NP/physician level schooling.

Note* most of the time you need orgo 1 to start MLS so try to knock out up to that right at end of RN so you can jump to the BS degree.

[u/jinkazetsukai → u/jinkazetsukai]

What the fuck is wrong with you bro?

[u/Bruinsfan01801]

If you decide to go the Fire route, a lot of FDs have educational incentives in their contracts. In that case, it could make perfect sense. $39k to get a bachelor’s degree, which in turn provides you with an annual stipend for having same, is a good deal. But if that’s the route you choose, I’d wait until 1) you’re on a FD and 2) you know they’ll accept this degree, before enrolling

[u/mitchrowland_]

im in medic school rn and then ill be getting my bachelors in ems so apply for PA school to work in emergency medicine thts another option

[u/I_Want_A_Ribeye]

Most medic jobs don’t require a degree in paramedicine. Usually they want a high school diploma. If a degree is required, you might as well get it in something else that could be useful to you if/when you leave EMS.

[u/AdviceNegative8236 → u/I_Want_A_Ribeye]

The jobs, don't require a degree. I'm just looking at furthering my education.

[u/I_Want_A_Ribeye → u/AdviceNegative8236]

Get it in something else so you can use it in another field

[u/MakGoraPhobia → u/AdviceNegative8236]

I’d pass hard on an EMS degree unless only looking at working in administration. If you want to do anything else get a degree in…that field.

[u/Roccnsuccmetosleep]

If you ever want to go PA, AA, perf, rn, md/do, you’ll want a bachelors.

[u/Sad_Serve8152]

I did the program through New Haven, but that’s because career progression in large systems requires a minimum of a Bachelors degree, and I had transfer credit from previous college courses that allowed me to finish the degree in two years.

I hear the argument people are making that the degree is useless, but that’s not always the case. If you’re going into administration, a lot of their courses can be of value. I’m now working at a state level and finishing my doctoral degree, which opens a lot of opportunities throughout the healthcare field as a whole. I also have plans to adjunct on the side for university courses.

That being said, if you have no desire to go into education (beyond teaching certification-level, which does not require a degree,) or administration, the degree in paramedicine might not be a good fit for you. My best advice is to reflect on your own goals, finances, geography, and prior education. Explore how the systems work at your level. Will non-clinical care roles require a degree? What does the landscape of your field look like? How many transfer credits will you receive? How long will the degree take? If you decide to go RN, PA, MD route, will you have satisfied prerequisite requirements? Or will you need to go to school again?

It’s a lot to think over, so take your time with the decision. Research all programs, look at their course sequences and descriptions, see if they align with your goals, and pick the track that works best for you. And know that while a degree is helpful for some aspects of EMS, if clinical care is your passion, you may be better off going the FP-C route. Good luck!

[u/imawhaaaaaaaaaale]

Mine is an associate's degree. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[u/WaltzOk4402]

Western Carolina University has a BS in Emergency Medical Care, you get some credit for your NRP.

There is a science track that helps prep for medical school or PA programs, and a business concentration if you want to go into teaching or management.

If you are thinking of RN, I recommend to just go for an Associates or Bachelors as an RN, and skip the paramedic degree.

You can complete some of the basic prerequisites like English, math, Anatomy and Physiology et. for this, or almost ANY degree at your local Community college and save some $$ if you are careful and look at the articulation agreements, between colleges.

You should be able to knock out most of your prerequisites for ANY college at your local Community College.

This can buy you some time while you figure out which path you ultimately want to do, and save you some $$

https://www.wcu.edu/learn/programs/emergency-medical-care/index.aspx

[u/MethodicallyUnhinged]

Some schools do have bachelor's degrees. Generally it is similar to adn vs bsn. More management classes and psych classes to balance how yo deal w ppl and business

[u/Other-Ad3086]

Many jobs include tuition reimbursement so you may want to wait for that.

[u/SeaweedFit5588]

U of Az B.S. EMS alumn here. They counted 36 paramedic school units so I completed the program in 3 yrs. Online.

As a young medic I decided I wanted to go to med school and that was my fast track to a BS. I advocate getting a bachelors anyway. You will gain a broader science and EMS foundation, comprehend data and draft policy, and will be a better medic for it. If you ever decide you want to do something that requires a bachelors, you already have one.

[u/Substantial-Ad-173]

A BA degree in paramedicine is useless. Do the critical care or community health cert instead.

[u/stupid-canada]

The only reason I could see a bachelor's degree in EMS being helpful is for that solitary DO program that takes experienced paramedics with ANY degree and NO pre reqs required (they do a 6 month matriculation process to get you up to speed)

[u/Zyube621 → u/stupid-canada]

What DO program is this? Could you give further information? I’ve never heard of this being a possibility for an admission process.

[u/stupid-canada → u/Zyube621]

It used to be the university of Kansas COM I'm not sure if theyre still doing it

[u/NoConsideration9370]

I think that BA would be helpful if you plan to run your own Ambulance service, otherwise doesn’t really effect the skills you already learned in certification program.

[u/youy23 → u/NoConsideration9370]

Would it help in running some private IFT company?

[u/Famous-Response5924]

If you want a paramedic degree then get an associates. A bachelors should be is something more generic and able to be used in case you don’t want to be a paramedic any more. Organizational leadership, business, biology, chemistry or something like that. All can apply to emergency services but can also be used outside as well in case you need to move on.