English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →OregonHealth careers
From certificate to degree: how Oregon respiratory therapists and paramedics finish a bachelor's online
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
If you hold a paramedic or allied health certificate, the shortest route in Oregon is usually an associate degree that counts your certificate where the college allows it and fills the rest with general education. Paramedics must meet OAR 333-265-0025; a bachelor's can follow. Get each college's credit evaluation in writing first.
Start with the degree you actually need
For an Oregon paramedic licence the rule is an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution. A bachelor's degree also meets it, but if you are on a Transitional Paramedic licence with a 48-month clock, the associate degree is the deadline that matters. Plan the bachelor's as a second stage.
Respiratory therapists and other allied health workers should read their own board's rules. This article does not describe any respiratory therapy licence rule; it covers the general education work that every associate and bachelor's degree shares.
Stage 1: certificate to associate degree
Ask the college that will grant your degree whether it reviews your paramedic or allied health training. Some colleges review training that carries an ACE or NCCRS recommendation; others count only courses from colleges. Its answer decides how many credits you still need.
- Ask for a written evaluation of your certificate training.
- Ask for the list of general education categories still open.
- Ask which outside sources it reviews: ACE-recommended, NCCRS-recommended, or college courses only.
- Note the date the Transitional licence was first issued, if you hold one.
Stage 2: associate to bachelor's
A bachelor's is usually 120 credits. Many health workers choose a degree completion programme in health sciences or healthcare administration. The same general education credits often carry forward, but each bachelor's college sets its own transfer rules, so ask again in writing.
Partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit, such as Thomas Edison State University, University of the People and Newlane University, publish their own transfer pages. Read them before you choose courses.
A sample general education block
This is an example, not a degree map. Your college's degree plan decides the categories.
| Category | Example course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Written communication | English Composition 1 | 3 |
| Math | College Algebra or Principles of Statistics | 3 |
| Social science | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Science | Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| Health elective | Medical Terminology | 3 |
How long it takes on a working schedule
Paramedics working 24 or 48-hour shifts often finish one online course every two to four weeks. At that pace, five courses take three to five months, which leaves plenty of room inside a 48-month Transitional window for the college's evaluation and the degree to be conferred.
On UPI Study PRO at $99 a month, every course is included, so the cost depends on how long you take rather than how many courses you finish. Send the finished credits via a college transcript to the college granting the degree.
Keep a simple file as you go: the date your Transitional licence was first issued, the college's written evaluation, each course completion record, and the date the credits were sent. The OHA asks Transitional Paramedics to report progress to their sponsoring ambulance service every year, and the same file makes that report quick. If something slips, such as a family emergency or a long deployment, talk to the OHA EMS Program early about a hardship request rather than after the 48 months have passed.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the college that will grant your associate degree, in writing, which ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses it will count, and ask the OHA EMS Program in writing that the college meets the accreditation rule, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Does a bachelor's degree meet the Oregon paramedic degree rule?
Yes. OAR 333-265-0025 asks for an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution, so a bachelor's also meets it. For a Transitional Paramedic, the associate degree within 48 months is usually the faster target.
Will my paramedic certificate count toward an associate degree?
That depends on the college that grants the degree. Some review training with an ACE or NCCRS recommendation and some do not. Ask the college for a written evaluation of your training before you plan other courses.
Can I work as a paramedic in Oregon while I finish the degree?
Yes, if you hold NREMT Paramedic certification and a Transitional Paramedic licence sponsored by a licensed transporting Oregon ambulance service, and you finish the degree within 48 months, or 60 with approved hardship.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Principles of Statistics
Self-paced online Principles of Statistics course (Statistics 101). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Every course in one plan; work through the general education courses your college agrees to in writing.
Sources
- Oregon Health Authority: Transitional Paramedic License, Frequently Asked Questions (official)No associate degree: Transitional licence with NREMT Paramedic and ambulance sponsorship, 24 months, renewable once, degree due within 48 months, hardship can add 12 (60 total); cites OAR 333-265-0025 and 0027. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Oregon Health Authority: EMS Provider Licensing (official)Initial paramedic applicants submit an associate degree or higher and current NREMT paramedic certification; fees: Paramedic $290, Transitional $340, Transitional renewal $200. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.