Paramedic Training and Certification Cost

• Paramedic training programs take one to two years to complete. Tuition costs vary from $3,000 to $13,000 or more, depending on the institution.
• Tuition costs vary significantly among community colleges. At Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York City, tuition costs for a two-year program total $6,300. On the lower end of the community college tuition scale, tuition at Tacoma Community College in Washington is $3,373.70 for a 1.5 year program. Tuition prices may increase substantially for out-of-state students.
• Tuition costs for paramedic training at universities are comparable to the higher-priced community colleges. The University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, for example, offers paramedic training for $5,500.
• Technical schools can offer more flexible schedules for working adults, but they can also have higher tuition costs than community colleges and other state-funded schools. Tuition at California EMS Academy, for example, is $11,000 -$13,000.
• The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification exam costs $110 for paramedics.

• Typically, paramedics work on ambulances, or with fire departments. Paramedics are the most highly trained of emergency medical technicians. Like EMTs, paramedics provide emergency care in pre-hospital settings, but may also treat minor injuries on site, administer drugs, and provide other emergency care under the direction of a physician.
• Many paramedic training programs offer college credit or result in an associate's degree. Coursework is focused on training specific to providing pre-hospital care, but associate degree programs also require some general education courses, such as composition and math. Clinical hours in a hospital or other patient care setting, and field experience such as ambulance ride-alongs, should be included in all training programs.
• Coursework and fieldwork should prepare students to pass the NREMT certification exam, a written and practical test.

• Technical schools may include books as part of their fees, but at community colleges and universities offering paramedic training, book costs are the same as any other college course of study, and can cost $750 -$1,300 per year, depending on the program.
• Most paramedics work for at least a year as licensed EMTs before they begin advanced training. EMT training costs between $100 -$1,000, depending on the length of program and the institution.
• Recertification and continuing education is required for paramedics in most states. Recertification exams administered by the NREMT cost $110. Refresher courses, which take 48 hours to complete, cost about $200 to $300 dollars.

• Fulltime students in programs leading to an associate's degree may be eligible for federal financial aid such as Stafford loans. Contact the financial aid department of individual programs for more information.
• Many employers will pay for required continuing education classes or recertification exams. Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom may be eligible for tuition reimbursement for EMT training and certification through Swords to Ploughshares.

• The Commission on Allied Health Education Programs maintains a list of accredited paramedic programs by state.

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