Working in the health field is very challenging, and EMT professionals are in the very front of immediate emergency care.
There’s not a day like another for EMTs, and making life-changing decisions regarding patients is part of their everyday work duties, making EMT’s schools the core structure that will teach these professionals the best skills to affront any challenge.
Page Navigation
Cost Averages
- Certification Exam: $70
- EMT Basic Training: $200-$1,000 (Public Schools)
- EMT Basic Training: $750-$1,800+ (Private Programs)
What Is An EMT?
EMT stands for Emergency Medical Technician, and they are the first responders to medical emergencies, and typically they are the first to arrive when an ambulance is called to an accident.
EMTs are trained to provide basic emergency care to patients outside hospitals and ensure their transportation to a hospital or healthcare facility.
These emergency care professionals are trained to have the necessary knowledge and skills to stabilize and safely transport patients, including training in assessing patients, managing respiratory, trauma, and cardiac emergencies, and handling emergency childbirth, cardiac arrest, and fractures.
EMTs can work in hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms, private ambulance services, or with firefighters.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics, The median annual wage for EMTs was $36,650 in May 2020; the lowest wages were around $24,650, and the highest wages were around $62,150.
What Are The Responsibilities/Duties Of An Interior Designer?
According to VocationalTrainingHQ.com, the principal duties and responsibilities of an EMT include:
- Respond quickly to emergency calls and keep calm in a crisis.
- Assess patients and implement vital care.
- Perform CPR, administer first aid, or alleviate choking swiftly.
- Perform testing when appropriate.
- Stabilize broken bones and transport them on a stretcher when necessary.
- Interact with firefighters, law enforcement, and other health care personnel.
- Provide emotional support to family and friends of patients.
- Maintain equipment and vehicles to ensure everything is ready for the next patient.
- Extricate patients trapped in vehicles or buildings.
- Administer medications when necessary.
What Are The Costs For An EMT School?
The cost of an EMT school can vary depending on the length of the program and specialization, the type of school if you are an in-state resident or out-state student if the program is full-time or part-time, and the state the school is located.
The classroom work must be accompanied by on-the-job training, such as ambulance ride-along and hospital observation.
Basic EMT training offered by Universities with short duration programs (one to three months) can cost about $800 to $1,000.
Community college basic EMT programs and training can cost from $200 to $1,000.
Technical schools’ EMT programs can cost $750 to $1,800 or more.
Extra Expenses
- Some EMT training programs will require students to be certified in CPR if they don’t include it in their studies program; the CPR specialization is offered by the American Heart Association and the Red Cross, and typically costs under $100.
- After having completed the EMT training program, it’s necessary to get a national certification to work as an EMT, which is available through an exam made by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), which has a costs of $70.
- Books may be included in tuition fees, or they can cost about $100 extra.
- Recertifications are required periodically by state laws, typically every two years.
- Health testing and vaccinations may be required before entering an EMT program. TB tests usually cost less than $20, while vaccines such as the Hepatitis B vaccine can cost up to $50 a dose.
What Are The Best Schools That Offer EMT Training Programs?
More states are requiring that the EMT training programs must be accredited by recognized institutions to be able to opt for the EMT license.
The EMT training program should meet the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards for the Emergency Medical Technician and then apply and pass the national exam and background check to get licensed.
The organization in charge of administering the EMT certification exam is the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT); CAPCE accredited EMT training programs are accepted by the NREMT.
The best EMT schools and programs are:
| School | Location | Duration | Accreditation | Price |
| National Medical Education and Training Center (NMETC) | West Bridgewater, Massachusetts | 192 hours of training (five months) | accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Health and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) | On-campus tuition is $1,300, while online tuition is $1,800. Adding $50 application fee |
| Allied Medical Training | St. Paul, Minnesota | 6 months | accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) | The self-paced online program is $695, and $1,250 for the hands-on training. The in-person is around $1,600 |
| Coursera (U of Colorado) | Online | 26 weeks | This EMT course is taught by the faculty of the Denver Health Paramedic Division. Getting licensed as an EMT requires a hands-on component of education as well, which is not offered directly by Coursera. | $49 per month |
| UC Davis Fire Department | 11 weeks | Accredited by the state of California through the Yolo County Emergency Medical Services Agency | Program costs for UC Davis students are about $1,755, while non-UC Davis students will pay roughly $1,950. | |
| Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska | $795 | ||
| EMT & Fire Training Inc | 20-Hour and 24-Hour Traditional EMT Refresher Course | The refresher classes cover the requirements under the National Continued Competency Program model, which is recognized by the NREMT and is CAPCE accredited. | The cost of the 24-Hour Traditional EMT Refresher Course is about $240, while the 20-Hour Traditional EMT Refresher Course is roughly $165. | |
| American Red Cross | Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification | The Red Cross EMT training is available throughout the United States and meets the criteria set by the nation’s top accrediting organizations (such as the AHA Guidelines for CPR/ECC), as well as most of the state accrediting requirements. | The cost for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED courses is about $126, while the Basic Life Support-BLS Healthcare Provider classes are roughly $92. |
