Laurel Technical Institute is excited to announce the launch of its new Paramedic program, a 12-month, 48-credit diploma program designed to train the next generation of life-saving healthcare professionals. The program builds upon foundational EMT training to prepare students for advanced prehospital emergency care. Offered at LTI’s Uniontown and Export campuses, the hands-on program equips students with the advanced clinical knowledge, technical skills, and critical decision-making abilities needed to deliver top-tier emergency care in pre-hospital settings.
The comprehensive curriculum bridges classroom instruction, advanced high-fidelity simulation labs, and extensive field and hospital internships across Western Pennsylvania. Students train alongside experienced emergency service professionals to master complex life-saving procedures, including advanced airway management, endotracheal intubation, IV therapy, emergency pharmacology administration, 12-lead ECG interpretation, and trauma stabilization. Coursework also covers specialized care for pediatric, obstetric, and geriatric populations. The program also boasts advantages for in-course certification offerings including; Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).
“Our goal is to equip students with the critical decision-making, assessment, and intervention skills necessary to manage complex trauma and medical emergencies,” said Dr. Michelle Borland, Vice President of Nursing for Laurel Technical Institute, “Developed in collaboration with our local employers in our Program Advisory Committee, this curriculum aligns directly with local healthcare needs and current workforce trends.”
Upon completion, graduates will earn a Paramedic diploma and be eligible to sit for the National Registry Paramedic Certification Examination. Additionally, the program is designed to give successful graduates of the program 21 college credits, transferability of academic credits is subject to the receiving institution’s credit transfer policies and approval.
“When emergency situations arise, paramedics are the critical first link in saving lives,” said Dr. Douglas Decker, Chief Operating Officer of Laurel Technical Institute. “This accelerated track allows passionate individuals to gain high-demand credentials and enter the workforce without sacrificing the depth or quality of their training.”
Applicants must hold a high school diploma (minimum 2.5 GPA), have an active EMT certification, and complete an interview with the Program Director. To ensure personalized, hands-on instruction, class sizes are kept small to allow one-on-one instruction and learning so students develop a deep understanding of skills and necessary practices. Skills work consists of simulation experiences on high-fidelity mannequins, additional airway training and OB/Neonatal care. The program requires on-campus attendance one evening per week, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with an additional day of instruction delivered in an online format. Additionally, students are required to attend mandatory 8-hour skills labs across a full weekend (Friday through Sunday) from 8 AM – 4 PM, every 30 days.
“One of the unique strengths of this program is the combination of extensive EMS and emergency medicine experience with advanced practice knowledge,” says Holly Yauch, MSN, RN, Paramedic, Program Director at Laurel Technical Institute. “Dr. Michelle Borland and I bring backgrounds in emergency medicine and EMS, allowing us to combine real-world prehospital experience with advanced clinical knowledge. This perspective is not commonly found in academic programs and gives our students the opportunity to learn not only the science behind patient care, but also how to apply that knowledge in complex, high-pressure emergency situations. Our goal is to provide students with a well-rounded education that connects advanced clinical practice, critical thinking, and real-world EMS experience.”
The program also opens a pathway for successful graduates of the program to transition into Laurel’s 16-month LPN/Paramedic to ADN Transition program through Laurel College of Technology, the Morgantown branch of Laurel Technical Institute. The transition offers a unique educational pathway that allows graduates to migrate from a basic emergency technician to a Paramedic, then further into the hospital setting as a nurse in as little as three years.
Enrollment is now open for upcoming start dates at both the Uniontown and Export locations, with classes set to start in October 2026. For more information about the Paramedic diploma program, visit laurel.edu.
Photos: Laurel Technical Institute’s high-fidelity simulation lab is fully prepped, complete with freshly stocked crash carts and monitor stations. Every station is calibrated to give incoming paramedic students an immersive, hands-on environment from day one.
About Laurel Technical Institute:
Laurel Technical Institute is a private, post-secondary specialized associate degree-granting, Career and Technical Education (CTE) provider with four locations throughout Western Pennsylvania, North Central West Virginia, and now Fort Mill, South Carolina. Laurel is nationally accredited as ‘School of Distinction’ by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, Laurel has over 650 current students and 5,200 alumni across approximately 20 different AST/B Degree and Diploma programs. These programs are focused on high-demand occupational classifications such as skilled trades, health care, information technology, business, cosmetology, and early childhood education. Learn more at laurel.edu.