Intro Section
Advanced training for the paramedic ready to go further.
Critical care transport demands more than a standard paramedic education. As tertiary care and specialty transport programs continue to grow, hospitals and flight services are looking for paramedics who can manage ventilators, titrate drips, and think like an ICU clinician — whether that’s in a helicopter at 1,000 feet or a fixed-wing aircraft cruising up to 30,000.
The University of Florida Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Certificate is a 160+ hour program built around three things that actually build competence: rigorous didactic instruction, hands-on skills and cadaver labs, and real clinical rotations inside UF Health Shands Hospital ICUs. You’ll train under flight paramedics, critical care nurses, and physicians and educators who work in this environment every day — not textbook theory removed from practice.
Many of the top critical care and flight programs now require a critical care certification just to apply. The UF CCP is designed to meet — and exceed — that bar.
Course Requirements
A current paramedic certification is required in order to register for the UF CCP program. Any state or national registry certification is acceptable. International students must possess similar training as required from the certifying country, but additional documentation may be required. It is required that the student has been one year removed from their initial paramedic training.
Additionally, the following are highly recommended, but not required:
- Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) *
- Current Trauma Certification (ITLS and/or PHTLS) *
The live stream course is conducted twice a year (Spring and Fall Semesters). Please contact us via email at ufccp@dcp.ufl.edu or by phone at 352-273-1170 if you have any further questions. Once you have registered for the course, you will receive additional course information.
Upcoming Courses
Spring 2027 Critical Care Paramedic Program
- Class Begins: TBD January 2027
- On-Campus Dates:
- Skill/Cadaver Labs: TBD
- Clinical ICU Rotations: TBD You will need two 12-hour shifts. There will be a choice of days around the same time as the skill labs. For those within driving distance, other dates may be available for clinicals.
- Bob Page Seminars (via Zoom)
- Bob Page’s Multi-Lead Medics 12 Lead, Enhanced Multi-Lead Medics 12 Lead and Comprehensive Capnography Course: TBD
- Class Ends: May 16, 2026
NEW UF CCP Optional SimLab Day (MUST be current UF CCP student or Alumni)
Cost: $500
The UF CCP course has added an optional second day of clinical lab for students who wish to experience additional clinical skills and training or those required by their respective state critical care requirements. The lab will run from 0800-1600 hours and will be held in the UF COM Simulation Center. The student will partake in 5 critical care level simulated scenarios plus additional training in Rapid Sequence Induction, pericardiocentesis, needle and surgical cricothyrotomies and more. Space is limited to 20 students per session.
Registration and Tuition
Critical Care Paramedic Certificate
The cost of the live stream Critical Care Paramedic course is TBD. Departments sending 5 or more individuals in one academic year can contact us for special pricing. There are a limited number of spots.
UF CCP Optional Second Lab Day Registration
Must be current UF CCP student or alumni.
Recertification
The UF CCP certification is valid for 4 years. You can recertify through either of the following paths:
Option 1: Continuing Education Units
Complete 100 contact hours of critical care–focused continuing education. Recertification requests can be submitted up to 6 months before your certification expires.
Option 2: FP-C or CCP-C Certification
Hold a current FP-C or CCP-C certification with at least 2 years remaining before its expiration. We’ll verify this directly through the BCCTPC.
How to recertify
Email Judy Johnson at ufccp@dcp.ufl.edu when you’re ready to recertify. Once your documentation is verified, you’ll receive a new certificate under your existing UF CCP number. The fee is $50, and processing takes up to 14 business days.
Need a replacement certificate?
Email Judy Johnson at ufccp@dcp.ufl.edu with your name as it appears on your certification, your UF CCP number, and your contact information. The fee is $25, and processing takes up to 10 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility & Prerequisites
Do I have to be a paramedic to take the course?
Yes. Only state- or nationally-registered paramedics are eligible for certification. Registered nurses who also hold a paramedic certification are welcome to attend — RNs without a paramedic cert should look into critical care certifications designed specifically for nursing.
I already hold another critical care certification. Can I challenge the exam instead of taking the full course?
No. The UF CCP is a 160+ hour program combining didactic instruction with hands-on clinical application, and it must be completed in its entirety to earn certification — there’s no exam-only pathway.
I hold another critical care certification and just need CEUs. Can I attend a few lectures?
No. All students must register with UF, obtain a GatorLink account, and complete the full course to receive credit for any portion of it.
What other certifications do I need?
None are required, but we strongly recommend current ACLS, PALS (or PEPP), and ITLS or PHTLS before starting.
I just graduated from paramedic school. Can I enroll?
Yes — there’s no minimum experience requirement to enroll in the UF CCP course.
Do you accept international students?
Yes, provided you can demonstrate paramedic-equivalent training from your certifying country. Additional documentation may be required — contact us before enrolling to confirm your eligibility.
Format & Logistics
Do I need a computer for the course?
Yes — a laptop or tablet with internet access. Lectures, assignments, quizzes, and exams are all completed online, and UF WiFi is available while you’re on campus.
What’s the lecture schedule?
Live-stream lectures run on set days and times announced at the start of each course (for example, Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday evenings, 5:00–7:00 PM ET). Some instructors may occasionally lecture outside that window — we’ll notify you in advance if that happens.
What if I miss a lecture, or can’t attend live?
No problem. Every lecture is recorded, and there’s no attendance requirement — you can watch at your own pace. Attending live is helpful for real-time Q&A but not necessary to complete the course.
If I’m doing distance learning, do I still have to come to Gainesville?
Yes. All students — local or remote — complete the same three required in-person days:
- Day 1: Cadaver and skills lab
- Day 2 & 3: ICU clinical rotations at UF Health Shands Hospital
If you can’t make your scheduled dates, you can attend the equivalent days during the next course offering.
Clinical Rotations & Labs
What can I actually do during clinical rotations?
You’ll be paired with a preceptor and can perform any skill within a critical care paramedic’s scope of practice — including arterial lines, chest tubes, rapid sequence induction, and medication administration — subject to availability, since UF Health Shands is a teaching hospital shared with other trainees.
Who teaches the course?
Faculty include experienced flight paramedics, critical care nurses, physicians, and educators who work in critical care transport and ICU medicine every day — not classroom-only instructors.
Enrollment & Cost
When can I enroll, and is there a waitlist?
You can enroll up to roughly five months before a course begins. Enrollment closes at the end of the course’s first week, or sooner if the 150-student capacity is reached — there is no waitlist once a course fills.
What’s your refund policy?
Refund requests must be submitted in writing.
- 10+ days before the course starts: full refund minus a $25 fee
- Within 10 days of the start through the first week: 10% fee
- After the first week: no refunds
We reserve the right to modify or cancel a course for insufficient enrollment; in that case, you’ll be notified directly and issued a full refund. UF is not responsible for other costs (travel, lodging, etc.) related to a cancellation.
Can I hold a spot before paying?
No — spots are only secured once payment is received in full.
Certification & Recertification
How long is the UF CCP certification valid, and how do I renew it?
It’s valid for 4 years. You can recertify by either:
- Completing 100 CEU hours in critical care topics, or
- Holding a current FP-C or CCP-C certification with at least 2 years remaining before its expiration
Recertification can be requested up to 6 months before your certification expires. Email ufccp@dcp.ufl.edu to start the process; the fee is $50, and turnaround is up to 14 business days.
I lost my certificate. How do I get a replacement?
Email ufccp@dcp.ufl.edu with your name as it appears on the certificate, your UF CCP number, and contact information. There’s a $25 processing fee, and it takes up to 10 business days.
Exam Prep (FP-C / CCP-C)
Will this course help me pass the FP-C or CCP-C exam?
The UF CCP course isn’t designed specifically as exam prep — it’s designed to build real clinical thinking for critical care transport. That said, students who master the course material consistently perform well on both exams, because the underlying skills are the same: the ability to think through a critically ill patient, not just recall facts.
Still have questions?
Email Judy Johnson at ufccp@dcp.ufl.edu or call 352-273-1170. Please include your name and a callback number if you leave a voicemail.