[Skip to Content]

Paramedic Refresher

EMS & Paramedic Training
Contact: Doug Sandbrook, MA, NRP
Phone: 315 464-4851
Email: [email protected]

Registration is NOW available for the Spring 2024 Paramedic Refresher Course

  • Dates: January 6, 2024 - April 18, 2024
  • Location:

           Upstate Emergency Medicine - EMSTAT Facility
           550 E. Genesee St
           Syracuse, NY 13202


Registration Link

Challenge exams and course paperwork: January 6, 2024 at 9:00am.

Challenge Format

Candidates do not need to hold a current certification card in order to enroll in a refresher course. However, they must have proof that they were once certified in the State of New York at or above the level of the refresher course in which, they are enrolling in. No candidate will be allowed to enroll in a refresher course unless they have been previously or are currently certified. Occasionally, NYS-BEMS will grant a candidate permission to enroll in a refresher course based upon previous training in another state. The student must submit a letter from NYS-BEMS to the CIC for proof of eligibility and any advanced standing that has been granted.
Candidates with a “Lapsed Certification” pursuant to Section 800.8 State EMS Code: all CFR/EMT certifications will expire at 12 midnight on the expiration date shown on the certification card. After that time the individual is no longer certified. The candidate may NOT practice as a NYS certified provider. Pursuant to Section 800.18 State EMS Code, at any time in the future, an individual may enroll in a refresher program and complete the course requirements. They must take and pass both the State certifying Practical Skills Examination and the State certifying written examination in order to renew their certification. These candidates are eligible to take all portions of the challenge components of the refresher course.

Challenge format candidates are eligible to challenge the cognitive & psychomotor examinations.

  • Cognitive exam
    The cognitive assessment shall determine the number of courses required for successful course completion. Candidates must achieve a score of 80% in any given content area to successfully challenge the educational material.
  • Psychomotor exam
    The candidate will be offered the opportunity to take the NYS Practical Skills examination, without penalty. Stations not successfully passed at the challenge PSE will be tested at the class final practical skill exam and the student will start the PSE with no attempts for any stations to be evaluated. Candidates who fail a skill station or waiver the practical examination will be required to attend the appropriate session to review the necessary skill set.

In order to be admitted to the State final practical skills exam all Paramedic Refresher students must meet program requirements to include CPR, ACLS & PALS

Those individuals that want to attend the entire Paramedic Refresher program may do so after signing a waiver of a challenge form. It is encouraged that all students sit for both the written and skills challenge exams so that they may receive an accurate standing of their academic and clinical needs.

Student Financial Responsibilities

Students are responsible for any and all costs associated with their course.  If a student damages an affiliated agency or Upstate's equipment or property, they may be held responsible for costs or damages

Paramedic Program Goals & Terminal Learning Objectives

Provide the student with the knowledge and experience required to assess and treat a single or multiple system trauma patient in any given situation, including conditions involving the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, nervous system, muscular-skeletal system, integumentary system, endocrine system, digestive system, genitourinary system, and reproductive system.

Provide the student with an understanding of the principles used in treating medical emergencies involving pediatrics, obstetrics, neonates, hypoperfusion (shock), behavioral disorders, toxicology, alcoholism and drug abuse, geriatrics, anaphylaxis, and infectious diseases.

Provide the student with concepts and principles to perform the following skills at the appropriate time in the correct situation: airway management and ventilation, endotracheal intubation, intravenous cannulation, administration of medications by intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous routes, pleural decompression, emergency cricothyrotomy, application of splinting, bandaging, spinal immobilization and use of other devise appropriate to the care of the sick and injured; demonstrate disentanglement of a patient, packaging and removal from the scene, radio communications with medical control and use of report writing skills discuss and demonstrate the roles and responsibilities of the paramedic in performing both emergency and operational aspects of the job.
Top