How much does EMT training cost?
EMT training usually costs $1,000 to $3,500 and takes 6 to 16 weeks. Paramedic programs cost $5,000 to $15,000 and take 12 to 18 months. The national exam is $104 for EMT and $152 for paramedic, plus a state license fee. Fire departments, ambulance services, and WIOA can all pay for it.
The federal list of approved training shows 1,221 EMT programs across 48 states. The table below shows how many your state has, how long they run, and the best job result, so you can ask the right schools for a price.
EMT programs by state
| State | Approved programs | Typical length | Best result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17 | 84 weeks | 19% working after, Lawson State Community College |
| Alaska | 4 | 60 weeks | 86% working after, University of Alaska Fairbanks - UAF |
| Arizona | 28 | 16 weeks | 100% working after, Granite Mountain Training |
| Arkansas | 32 | 16 weeks | 100% working after, UofA - PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE |
| California | 48 | 18 weeks | 100% working after, California State University, Dominguez Hills |
| Colorado | 11 | 15 weeks | 100% working after, UCH Memorial Hospital EMS |
| Connecticut | 3 | 15 weeks | 75% working after, CTSTATE |
| Delaware | 2 | n/a | 78% working after, Delaware Technical Community College- Terry - Credit |
| District of Columbia | none listed | n/a | n/a |
| Florida | 64 | 29 weeks | 100% working after, First Coast Technical College |
| Georgia | 50 | 26 weeks | 100% working after, AUGUSTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE |
| Hawaii | 2 | 40 weeks | 90% working after, Kapiolani Community College |
| Idaho | 6 | n/a | 65% working after, Idaho CPR Plus |
| Illinois | 52 | 40 weeks | n/a |
| Indiana | 46 | 16 weeks | 100% working after, Ivy Tech Community College |
| Iowa | 23 | 40 weeks | 100% working after, Hawkeye Community College |
| Kansas | 12 | 16 weeks | 83% working after, WSU Tech |
| Kentucky | 22 | 1 weeks | 91% working after, Hopkinsville Fire & EMS |
| Louisiana | 19 | 16 weeks | 87% working after, South Louisiana Community College |
| Maine | 9 | 16 weeks | 100% working after, Kennebec Valley Community College |
| Maryland | 8 | 35 weeks | 84% working after, Chesapeake College |
| Massachusetts | 4 | 15 weeks | n/a |
| Michigan | 46 | 47 weeks | 100% working after, West Shore Community College |
| Minnesota | 35 | 30 weeks | 93% working after, Anoka Technical College |
| Mississippi | 30 | 16 weeks | 100% working after, Hinds Community College - Nursing and Allied Health Center |
| Missouri | 68 | 52 weeks | 90% working after, St. Louis Community College, District |
| Montana | 11 | 21 weeks | 86% working after, FVCC - FLATHEAD |
| Nebraska | 19 | 32 weeks | 89% working after, Central Community College |
| Nevada | 21 | 16 weeks | 84% working after, EMS Training Center of Southern Nevada |
| New Hampshire | 7 | 16 weeks | 100% working after, New England EMS Institute |
| New Jersey | 3 | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico | 26 | 16 weeks | 100% working after, New Mexico Junior College |
| New York | 14 | 16 weeks | 100% working after, SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY - UPSTATE EMERGENCY MEDICIN… |
| North Carolina | 79 | 68 weeks | 94% working after, Blue Ridge Community College |
| North Dakota | 8 | 52 weeks | 82% working after, Bismarck State College |
| Ohio | 103 | 22 weeks | 100% working after, Central Ohio EMS Training LLC |
| Oklahoma | none listed | n/a | n/a |
| Oregon | 12 | 36 weeks | 100% working after, Central Oregon Community College |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | 20 weeks | 100% working after, PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY |
| Rhode Island | 5 | 20 weeks | 92% working after, American Safety Programs and Training |
| South Carolina | 1 | 30 weeks | n/a |
| South Dakota | 6 | 34 weeks | 11% working after, Sanford Health |
| Tennessee | 47 | 15 weeks | 100% working after, MOTLOW STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE |
| Texas | 53 | 32 weeks | 100% working after, Trinity Valley Community College |
| Utah | 19 | 15 weeks | 46% working after, DAVIS TECHNICAL COLLEGE, ALL LOCATIONS |
| Vermont | none listed | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | 20 | 18 weeks | 94% working after, Central Virginia Community College |
| Washington | 38 | 12 weeks | 100% working after, Providence Health Training |
| West Virginia | 4 | n/a | 100% working after, Princeton Rescue Squad |
| Wisconsin | 62 | 32 weeks | 99% working after, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College |
| Wyoming | 3 | 16 weeks | n/a |
EMT and paramedic programs together on each state's approved list, so long programs are usually paramedic. From the federal Eligible Training Provider data (U.S. Department of Labor, September 2026). "Best result" is the highest share working in the second quarter after leaving, among programs with at least 10 people finished. The federal list does not carry a reliable price per student, so ask each school for its price in writing. Oklahoma does not send its list to the federal index. Tap a state for its approved schools and how to apply there.
What the price covers
Usually included: Tuition, books, uniforms, the background check and immunizations for clinicals, the NREMT exam fee, and the state license fee.
Exam and license fees: NREMT EMT exam $104; paramedic $152; state license fees $30 to $150.
How long it takes: 6 to 16 weeks for EMT; 52 to 78 weeks for paramedic.
Ask each school for its full price in writing, including books, uniforms, background checks, and exam fees, so you compare the same thing.
How to get EMT training for free
- Fire departments and ambulance services. Many pay for EMT or paramedic training if you agree to work for them for a set time. Volunteer fire and rescue squads often train their members free.
- WIOA. If you qualify, a WIOA training account pays an approved school directly. The free Navigator checks your eligibility in about a minute.
- Workforce Pell. In states with approved short programs, a Workforce Pell Grant can pay for an EMT program at a college if it runs at least 8 weeks and 150 clock hours.
WIOA is a grant, not a loan. You apply at your local American Job Center. The WIOA EMT guide covers what boards pay for, and how to apply for WIOA walks through the steps.