As stated by most people, become a nurse 1st, than goto Paramedic. I am a Nurse, and an Emt. I also worked as a PCA, which is very similar to a CNA. Both being an emt and a pca helped me tramendously during nursing school.
I have also heard, but I DO NOT KNOW FOR A FACT, that NY State, allows you to "test out" of the Emt-cc. If you are an EMT, and a RN. There may be more to it, such as addt'l certs. (ALS,PHTLS,PALS etc.) If anybody knows any info on it, feel free to reply.