Responding to a growing need for skilled first responders, Moraine Valley Community College will launch a new Paramedic Program on Jan. 12, 2026, expanding its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department and providing a vital pathway for licensed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to advance their careers.
The program, years in the making, will offer a one-year, 40-credit-hour curriculum that culminates in an Advanced Certificate. Students also will have the option to pursue an Associate in Applied Science degree in EMS alongside their certificate to broaden their career opportunities.
“This program was inspired by a crucial need for more paramedics,” said Sheila Moran, EMS Program Coordinator, Paramedic Program Director, and Instructor. “There are very few programs like this available, and yet the demand for trained paramedics continues to rise. We wanted to fill that gap, not only for our students but for the communities we serve.”
While EMTs are trained to perform essential emergency care such as patient assessments, trauma treatments, and oxygen administration, paramedics receive advanced instruction that allows them to provide higher levels of life-saving care. Licensed paramedics can interpret EKGs, administer more than 80 medications, perform advanced airway maneuvers, and start intravenous lines, among other complex medical procedures.
Moraine Valley’s new program stands out as one of the few standalone community college paramedic programs in the region, Moran said.
“It’s kind of unheard of to have a standalone paramedic program because even when these programs are through a community college, they are actually run by system hospitals,” Moran said. “So, we’re kind of unique in that.”
The program already has drawn strong interest from the community. All 30 seats in the inaugural spring 2026 cohort have been filled, reflecting the high demand for training opportunities in this field. Applications for the next cohort will open in fall 2026.
Because firefighters in Illinois are required to be licensed paramedics, the program also provides a direct career pathway for those pursuing firefighting positions.
“Every single fire department in Moraine Valley’s district is a precepting site,” Moran said. “That means our students will get the hands-on experience they need to start a stable, in-demand career right after graduation.”
Kristy Suriano, adjunct EMS instructor, said the program will help students build financially stable and fulfilling careers.
“There will always be the fire service, and the beautiful thing about the fire service, as well as other state jobs, is there is a pension at the end of the road,” Suriano said. “Financial stability is huge.”
Suriano added that the program will offer hands-on learning experiences that benefit all types of learners.
“It’s going to really be able to touch everybody’s educational needs,” she said. “At the end of the day, I want to put out competent and confident individuals, and that’s what we’re going to do.”