Nebraska Paramedic School Requirements
Nebraska Paramedic school is a longer and more rigorous training program than lower level EMT programs. Therefore, Paramedic programs will often have a more difficult set of standards for acceptance.
In addition to the EMT and AEMT requirements listed above, Nebraska Paramedic school applicants will need to do the following:
• Nebraska Paramedic training will require applicants to pass Entrance Exams for acceptance.
• Students applying to a Nebraska Paramedic program will need to complete an Application for Acceptance.
• Applicants in Nebraska may also need to complete an admissions interview with the EMS Program Director.
• Students in Nebraska may be required to take Anatomy and Physiology classes as prerequisites or co-requisites for some Paramedic training programs.
• Nebraska applicants may need to submit a completed Health Statement or pass a Physical for acceptance into a Paramedic Program.
• Paramedic programs in Nebraska may require a flu vaccine within the last year.
• Current Health Insurance may be required during the entire Nebraska Paramedic Program.
• Many Paramedic programs in Nebraska will ask applicants for letters of reference or recommendation.
Nebraska EMT Certification
Once a Nebraska EMT candidate completes a training program, they become eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) exams.
Candidates need to take and pass both the Cognitive and Psychomotor NREMT exams before they can apply for a Nebraska State EMS license. For information about both of these exams check out the NREMT exams page.
The National Registry of EMT Cognitive exam is a written exam administered by computer at a Pearson VUE testing center. Nebraska EMT candidates can sign up for a Cognitive exam test date by going to the NREMT website and creating an account.
The NREMT released Handbooks for each level of EMS Provider in March of 2018. They are step by step guides for submitting applications and taking both certification exams.
These new NREMT handbooks are good guides for anyone applying for initial EMS certification.
The NREMT Psychomotor exam is a hands-on skills test that should be scheduled toward the end of your EMT training program.
Nebraska EMT schools prepare candidates for the psychomotor exam and your course instructors should help set up a testing date and time near the end of EMT training.
Once Nebraska EMT candidates have passed both NREMT exams they become Nationally certified by the NREMT. If you chose “mail” instead of “print” when setting up your profile with the NREMT, you will be mailed a packet.
The certification packet can take up to thirty days to arrive and will contain a letter of congratulations, your National Registry of EMT card, a wall certificate and an EMT patch.
If you chose “print” you will have to print the NREMT card and certificate, and they will mail you the patch.
Now that you are certified as an EMT on a National level, it’s time to apply for the Nebraska State EMT license.
Nebraska EMS License
After completing a Nebraska EMT training program and passing both the NREMT exams, you are eligible to obtain a Nebraska EMT license. The Nebraska EMT license is required before an EMT of any level can begin working with patients in the state of Nebraska.
Nebraska EMS candidates can apply for the State license by meeting all the state requirements and completing an application. The Application for Licensure as an Out-of-Hospital Emergency Care Provider can be completed online, but it MUST be printed, signed and mailed to the Department of Health and Human Services.
All required supporting documentation should be mailed in with the Application for Licensure. In Nebraska mail the documents to:
Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health – Licensure Unit
PO Box 94986
Lincoln NE 68509-4986
There is NO FEE for initial EMS licensure in the State of Nebraska.
All the following requirements must be met or provided to get licensed as an EMT in Nebraska:
→ Complete and mail in an Application for Licensure.
→ Nebraska EMT applicants must be 18 years old and submit proof of age.
→ Nebraska EMT applicants must submit proof of citizenship, immigration status or lawful presence. (There are 14 acceptable documents to show proof.)
→ Provide a copy of the NREMT card for the level you are applying. AEMT and Paramedic applicants can submit a copy of your course completion certificate or a letter from your Program Director as proof you have completed the course prior to the examination date.
→ Submit a copy of your signed CPR card from an approved Provider. Include a copy of both the front and back of the CPR card.
→ While filling out the Application for Licensure, Nebraska EMT candidates will be asked behavioral and legal questions. If you answer yes to these questions you may need to send in additional paperwork with your application.
For example, you will be asked:
Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony?
If the answer is yes, you will need to make a list of the misdemeanor or felony convictions and then include the following:
a. A copy of the entire court file, including charges and disposition, or a signed statement from the court stating that the file is no longer available.
b. A letter of explanation regarding the conviction along with any steps taken to address the behaviors related to the conviction.
c. If the conviction involved a drug or alcohol related offense, include all addiction and mental health evaluations and proof of any treatments.
d. If you are on probation include a letter from your probation officer addressing probationary conditions and current status.
Nebraska EMS Protocols
The Nebraska EMS protocols help all levels of emergency medical responders to manage emergency situations and provide the correct pre-hospital care and treatment interventions to patients.
In Nebraska, the EMS protocols apply to all levels of EMT. This includes EMR, EMT, AEMT, EMT-I, and Paramedic Out-of-Hospital responders.
The Nebraska EMS protocols are in place to ensure EMS providers have the skills and training required to provide safe patient care. They are specific to Nebraska and take into account things like population, geography and the needs of Nebraska.
You can find the latest Nebraska Scope of Protocols here.
• Nebraska EMS Protocols 12/27/2017
Nebraska Approved EMT Schools
Below is a list of Nebraska State approved Emergency Medical Services Schools. Paramedic programs need to be CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) / COAEMSP (Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions) accredited.
However, lower level EMT training programs do not need to be accredited.
Central Comm. College – Columbus
4500 63rd Street PO Box 1027, Columbus NE 68602
402-562-1451
Chris Fisher christopherfisher@cccneb.edu
EMR & EMT Programs
Central Community College – Grand Island
3134 West Highway 34, PO Box 4903, Grand Island NE 68802
308-398-7479
Amy Marshall amarshall@cccneb.edu
EMR EMT & Paramedic Programs
Central Community College – Hastings
550 S. Technical Blvd PO Box 1024, Hastings NE 68902
402-461-2487
Marlys Schmidt marlysschmidt@cccneb.edu
EMR & EMT Programs
Central Community College – Lexington
1501 Plum Creek Parkway PO Box 827, Lexington NE 68850
308-324-8482
Dr. Kelly Christensen kchristensen@cccneb.edu
EMR & EMT Programs
ALS Affiliates
2819 S. 125th Ave. Suite 251, Omaha NE 68144
402-292-8535
J. Scott Hartley scott@alsaffiliates.com
EMR & EMT Programs
Creighton University
2500 California Plaza Old Gym Omaha, NE 68178
402-280-1280
Dr. Mike Miller mikemiller@creighton.edu
EMR EMT AEMT & Paramedic Programs
McCook Community College
1205 East 3rd St. McCook, NE 69001
308-345-8160
Joy Molcyk molcykj@mpcc.edu
EMT & Paramedic Programs
Metropolitan Community College
South Campus ITC Building Box 3777, Omaha NE 68103
531-622-4015
Peggy Dean msdean@mccneb.edu
EMT, AEMT & Paramedic Programs
Mid-Plains Community College South Campus
601 W. State Farm Road North Platte, NE 69101
Joy Molcykems molcykj@mpcc.edu
308-345-8160 Office
EMR EMT AEMT & Paramedic Programs
Northeast Community College
801 East Benjamin Ave. PO Box 469, Norfolk NE 68702
402-844-7720
Carol Rodenborg carolr@northeast.edu
EMR EMT & Paramedic Programs
Panhandle EMS Education
1614 First Ave PO Box 696, Scottsbluff NE 69363
308-225-1177
Robin Darnall ems.edu911@gmail.com
EMR EMT & AEMT Programs
