The medical field is constantly evolving and so is the scope of practice for paramedics. Enrolling in continuing education programs is essential for paramedics looking to have the skills needed to respond to medical emergencies. This article covers the best paramedic certificates that can prepare you for this field.
Each paramedic certificate program listed below is accredited, guaranteeing that you’ll get the advanced EMT training you need to get your paramedic license after graduating. We’ve also included a list of the best paramedic college certificate jobs, their average salaries, job outlooks, and education requirements to help you make the most out of your certificate program.
What Is a Paramedic Certificate College Program?
A paramedic certificate college program is a short, specialized, intensive training program offered by a college or university. A certificate program focuses on a limited set of topics that help prospective emergency medical technicians qualify for entry-level jobs. Paramedic certificate programs are much shorter than degree programs and have lower admission requirements.
What’s the Difference Between a College Paramedic Certificate and Professional Certification in Paramedic?
The difference between a college paramedic certificate and professional certification is that a paramedic certificate is an educational program offered by a college or university, whereas a professional certification is formal proof of a professional’s skills awarded by a recognized regulatory body. Certification is essential for healthcare professionals to prove their competency to potential employers.
Paramedic College Certificate vs Paramedic Certification: Key Differences
| Paramedic Certificate | Paramedic Certification |
|---|---|
| Awarded by a college or university | Awarded by an industry-recognized regulatory body |
| Does not expire | Needs to be renewed |
| Meant for beginners to learn the skills needed to become competent entry-level paramedics or to transfer to a degree program | Meant for experienced paramedics to formally demonstrate their advanced knowledge and paramedic skills to prospective employers |
How Long Does It Take To Get a Paramedic Certificate at College?
It takes three months to two years to get a paramedic certificate at college, depending on whether they are designed to be taken on a part-time or full-time basis. That being said, most certificate programs take less than a year to complete and are designed to quickly equip learners with in-demand knowledge and skills.
Best Paramedic Certificate Undergraduate Programs
| School | Program Name | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Bunker Hill Community College | Paramedic Certificate Program | $220/credit (in-state); $426/credit (out-of-state) |
| Center for MEDICS | Paramedic Training | $14,995 total |
| EMS Academy | Paramedic Program | $4,950 total |
| Palm Beach State College | Paramedic Credit Certificate | $83.40/credit (in-state); $327.30/credit (out-of-state) |
| St. Petersburg College | Paramedic Certificate | $111.75/credit (in-state); $386.90/credit (out-of-state) |
| SUNY Westchester Community College | Paramedic Certificate | $197/credit (resident) $493/credit (non-resident) |
| Tacoma Community College | Paramedic Certificate | $116.05/credit (in-state); $299.12/credit (out-of-state) |
| University of South Alabama | Paramedic Certificate Program | $393/credit (in-state); $786/credit (out-of-state) |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Accelerated Paramedic Program | $10,500 total (full-time); $16,000 total (part-time) |
| University of Washington | Paramedic Training Program | $25,000 total |
| Vermont Technical College | Paramedic Certificate | $613/credit (Resident) $1,712/credit (Non-resident) |
| Weber State University | Paramedic Program | $6,000 total |
Best Undergraduate Paramedic Certificate Programs: Explained
The best undergraduate paramedic certificate programs can be found across the country and offer a wide range of paramedic courses that will equip you with the basic knowledge you need to work in the emergency healthcare industry or transfer to a degree program. In the section below, you’ll find the cost, length, and learning format of each certificate program listed above.
In Bunker Hill Community College’s paramedic certificate program, you’ll learn the basic principles of paramedicine and paramedic clinical rotation through a blend of lectures, laboratory activities, and field experiences. The program features a paramedic field internship where you’ll put your basic knowledge into practice.
Paramedic Certificate Program Details
- Cost: $220/credit (in-state); $426/credit (out-of-state)
- Length: 46 credits
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Other Requirements: One year of experience as an emergency medical technician, valid American Heart Association Basic Life Support Health Care Provider Card, ten-panel drug testing and medical clearance, criminal history check, Sex Offender Registry Information check, valid driver’s license, official transcripts, valid EMT card
Partnered with the American Heart Association and University of New Haven, this paramedic training program is available for all professionals with a background in Emergency Medical Services. In this nine-month program, students qualify for multiple different levels of certification thanks to the various paramedic skills.
Paramedic Training Details
- Cost: $14,995 total
- Length: 9 months
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: Certified EMT
- Other Requirements: Health insurance, medical screening tests, $85 application fee, criminal history check, drug screening test
This paramedic certificate program will help you advance your academic and clinical knowledge. You’ll get a combination of classroom, lab, and clinical sessions to prepare for the professional paramedic field. Through the 13 months, you will gain familiarity with the EMS response system and learn the skills to successfully perform the duties of a paramedic.
Paramedic Program Details
- Cost: $4,950 total
- Length: 16 months
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or higher
- Other Requirements: Letter of intent, valid state-issued identification card or driver’s license, official transcripts, entrance exam, valid American Heart Association Basic Life Support card, complete immunization record, Traffic Incident Management certification, NRMET Advanced Emergency Medical Technician certification, FEMA ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 certificates, criminal background check, drug screening test
Palm Beach State College’s certificate program prepares its students for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification examination, essential for all paramedics and emergency medical technicians wanting to work in Florida. In this program, you’ll build essential skills through lectures, lab sessions, or a paramedic field internship.
Paramedic Credit Certificate Details
- Cost: $83.40/credit (in-state); $327.30/credit (out-of-state)
- Length: 42 credits
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Other Requirements: Certified as a Florida EMT or meet the eligibility requirements for the Florida EMT exam and score at least 75 on the NFSI, complete a limited access paramedic program application, official transcripts
St. Petersburg College’s undergraduate paramedic certificate can help you jumpstart your career in medical services. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the program curriculum allows students to graduate ready to work at the same level as experienced paramedics.
Paramedic Certificate Details
- Cost: $111.75/credit (in-state); $386.90/credit (out-of-state)
- Length: 42 credits
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Other Requirements: Must be certified as an EMT, valid paramedic license, pass a background and drug test, official transcripts, letter of intent
Accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, this paramedic certificate at SUNY Westchester Community College will help you prepare for a career as a paramedic. The 40 academic credit program includes paramedic classes on human body systems, as well as labs and clinicals.
Paramedic Certificate Details
- Cost: $197/credit (in-state); $493/credit (out-of-state)
- Length: 40 credits
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma
- Other Requirements: $50 application fee, official transcript, immunization records
Applicants for the paramedic certificate program at Tacoma Community College must have completed its EMT certificate. This 61-credit program’s curriculum includes paramedic courses on pharmacology, human body systems, and cardiology. Each semester after the first includes a paramedic skills lab and paramedic clinical.
Paramedic Certificate Details
- Cost: $116.05/credit (in-state); $299.12/credit (out-of-state)
- Length: 61 credits
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma
- Other Requirements: Unofficial transcripts, one year of prehospital experience
University of South Alabama’s Paramedic Certificate Program requires students to have completed their EMT and Advanced EMT certificate programs to be eligible. This three-semester program allows its graduate to qualify for the professional certification offered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
Paramedic Certificate Program Details
- Cost: $393/credit (in-state); $786/credit (out-of-state)
- Length: 31 credits
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent, EMT and AEMT certificates
- Other Requirements: Valid paramedic license, $35 application fee, official high school transcripts, minimum GPA of 2.5, SAT or ACT scores (optional)
University of California, Los Angeles offers an accelerated paramedic certificate program that takes less than a year to complete. In this program, you’ll learn anatomy in a human cadaver and begin clinical internships after 10 weeks. This program takes eight months to complete.
Accelerated Paramedic Program Details
- Cost: $10,500 total (full-time); $16,000 total (part-time)
- Length: Eight months
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Other Requirements: Entrance exam, valid state driver's license, paramedic prep courses, $50 application fee, $75 entrance exam fee, official high school transcripts, official college transcripts, valid EMT certification, letters of reference from work and volunteer experience, interview, six months of work experience, valid American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider
This program offered by University of Washington is the highest level of training available to emergency medical service professionals in the state. Taking approximately 10 months to complete, you’ll learn essential practices, develop advanced paramedic skills, and get plenty of experience through extensive patient contact.
Paramedic Training Program Details
- Cost: $25,000 total
- Length: 10 months
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent, completion of college-level courses in math, science, and English composition, EMT certification
- Other Requirements: State license, written exam, preliminary interview, practical assessment, psychological exam, resume, cover letter, secondary interview with the program director, three years of work experience, valid driver’s license, health insurance, up to date immunizations, criminal background check, valid Washington State EMT card
Vermont Technical College's paramedic certificate program offers basic training in paramedic skills. Through paramedic courses, independent studies, lectures, and practice in an Emergency Medical Services lab, students will be prepared for the National Registry of EMTs’ Paramedic examination.
Paramedic Certificate Program Details
- Cost: $613/credit (in-state); $1,172/credit (out-of-state)
- Length: 33 credits
- Learning Format: In-person
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Other Requirements: Official transcripts, valid EMT and CPR certification, $55 application fee, personal statement, two letters of recommendation
This program offered at Weber State University gives students hands-on experience through paramedic clinical opportunities. The program will also equip you with the essential information for the National Registry exams with Weber State, boasting a high first attempt pass rate of 98 to 100 percent.
Paramedic Program Details
- Cost: $6,000 total
- Length: Not specified
- Learning Format: In-person or online
- Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Other Requirements: Minimum GPA of 2.7, prerequisite courses completed with a minimum C grade, minimum 75 percent exam score on EMT Assessment Exam, EMT or AEMT certification, American Heart Association BLS certification, criminal background check, drug screening exam
Paramedic College Certificate Program vs Paramedic Associate Degree
A paramedic college certificate program differs from a paramedic associate degree program in a few ways. Primarily, these differences are related to each program’s cost, length, curriculum, and graduation requirements. Here’s a more detailed look at the differences between these two kinds of programs:
- Cost. The cost of a paramedic certificate program is typically less than that of an associate degree program. This is primarily due to certificate programs being shorter in length than associate programs and the fact that many certificate programs charge a flat fee for their program.
- Curriculum. An associate degree program in paramedics usually provides a more in-depth curriculum compared to a certificate program. In addition to technical courses, an associate degree program seeks to increase your knowledge level across a broader range of topics through general education and elective courses.
- Length. The typical length of an associate degree program is two years when attending on a full-time basis. Paramedic certificate programs, meanwhile, can usually be completed in under a year, sometimes within a matter of months.
- Graduation requirements. Associate degree programs usually have more graduation requirements than certificate programs. While associate degree programs usually require the completion of 60 credits, paramedic certificate programs typically only need about 45 credits or simply require the completion of a specific number of courses.
Best Online Associate Degrees
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Best Associate Degrees
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Is an Undergraduate Paramedic Certificate Worth It?
Yes, an undergraduate paramedic certificate is worth it. In fact, a paramedic certificate is the most common pathway used to become a paramedic. After earning your EMT and Advanced EMT certification, a paramedic certificate is the best education program you can use to land entry-level positions performing paramedic functions.
Paramedic Certificate Program Coursework
The paramedic certificate program coursework is typically very similar across different programs. The typical curriculum includes classes such as pharmacology, paramedical clinical, management of cardiovascular emergencies, epidemiology, and life support techniques, which will help you work in the field of medicine as a certificate holder.
Pharmacology
Most paramedic certificate programs have a course on pharmacology. In a pharmacology course, you’ll learn about the origin, properties, composition, and reactions of different types of drugs. You’ll then master how to administer and properly use these drugs in different situations to ensure the optimal patient experience.
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Paramedical Clinical
Learning the essential clinical services to give patients under the supervision of a physician is an essential part of any paramedic certificate program. This is because paramedics and emergency medical technicians provide enormous amounts of support for doctors when assessing an injured person and providing treatment.
Management of Cardiovascular Emergencies
This course will teach you about the different approaches used when tending to cardiovascular emergencies, such as cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock. Cardiovascular emergencies are the most common emergencies brought to a hospital’s emergency department, making this course commonplace across all curricula.
Life Support Techniques
As a prospective paramedic, you must learn the various life support techniques essential to performing your job correctly. In a course on life support techniques, you’ll master how to keep a patient’s flow of oxygen through, for example, electric shocks or medication administration.
Epidemiology
The coursework of an epidemiology course will also take you through the prevalence, causes, treatments, and determinants of different diseases. This course will help you and the patients you’ll care for stay safer.
Best Online College Courses for Credit
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What Can You Do With a Paramedic Certificate from College?
With a paramedic certificate from college, you can work as a health information technician, critical care paramedic, clinical laboratory technician, firefighter, or medical assistant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, all of these positions have positive projected job growth, making them all great potential careers for certificate holders.
Best Paramedic Jobs and Careers With a Certificate
| Job Role | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Clinical Laboratory Technician | $57,800 |
| Firefighter | $50,700 |
| Health Information Technician | $45,240 |
| Medical Assistant | $37,190 |
| Critical Care Paramedic | $36,930 |
Best Paramedic Certificate Jobs and Careers: Explained
The best paramedic certificate jobs and careers feature plenty of incentives, a high projected job growth, and good salaries. In the following section, you’ll find the average salaries, job outlooks, and educational requirements of the jobs listed in the table above.
With enough work experience as a paramedic and by continuing your studies after your certificate, you could work as a clinical laboratory technician and be responsible for analyzing body fluids and blood samples. In your daily practice, you’ll operate laboratory equipment to conduct tests to further medical research with the goal of improved healthcare outcomes.
- Average Salary: $57,800
- Job Outlook: 11% from 2020 to 2030
- Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree, certification, licensing (certain states only)
A paramedic certificate can serve as a great educational background for any aspiring firefighter. As a firefighter paramedic, you will respond to fire-related emergencies. In addition to putting out fires, firefighters spend most of their time working as first responders, making paramedicine essential knowledge for any of these professionals.
- Average Salary: $50,700
- Job Outlook: 8% from 2020 to 2030
- Required Education and Experience: Postsecondary nondegree award, EMT certification, written and physical tests, firefighting training program
A paramedic certificate can help you gain the knowledge level required to work in the healthcare industry as a health information technician. These professionals are responsible for reviewing patient records, updating information, and maintaining confidentiality. They play an important role in ensuring that a patient’s medical history, test results, and treatments are well documented.
- Average Salary: $45,240
- Job Outlook: 9% from 2020 to 2030
- Required Education and Experience: Postsecondary nondegree award, certification
Medical assistants work in hospitals, healthcare facilities, or the offices of medical professionals and are responsible for recording patient history, helping physicians, and scheduling patient appointments. While a paramedic certificate can give you the advanced knowledge you need to work in this field, becoming professionally certified may be an important additional step.
- Average Salary: $37,190
- Job Outlook: 18% from 2020 to 2030
- Required Education and Experience: Postsecondary nondegree award, certification
A paramedic certificate is the best educational path you can take to work in this position. By gaining the required advanced knowledge required for this position, you’ll have the ability to administer aid to critically ill or injured patients and transport them to healthcare facilities.
- Average Salary: $36,930
- Job Outlook: 11% from 2020 to 2030
- Required Education and Experience: Postsecondary nondegree award, licensing,
Should I Also Get a Paramedic Certification?
Yes, you should also get a paramedic certification. Professional certification is a great way of helping you formally demonstrate your skills and advanced knowledge. Professional certification plays an important part in the employment of emergency medical technicians as it gives some a competitive edge over others. Below is a list of some of the best paramedic certifications.
Best Paramedic Certifications
- Certified Equipment Manager (CMP). This certification offered by the Association of Equipment Management Professionals is common among ambulance drivers, firefighters, and flight paramedics and can showcase your capability in handling equipment. The certification exam costs $650 for non-members.
- Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS). American Red Cross issues this certification to professionals who have problem-solving skills in driving better patient outcomes. This certification is a common prerequisite for paramedic certificate programs across the country. Its cost can vary but is typically around $90.
- Emergency Medical Services. The American Board of Emergency offers this certification to professionals dealing with prehospital patient care and transport. The eight-hour, 300-question exam costs $470 to apply for and $1,745 to register for.
- Nationally Registered Paramedic. The paramedic certification offered by the Nationally Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is open to professionals with at least two years of education and training. This certification requires renewal after two years and costs $152 to apply for.
- Community Paramedic Certification (CP-C). You can use this certification offered by the International Board of Speciality Certification to validate your skills in mobile-based healthcare beyond the traditional hospital setup. The exam takes 2.5 hours to complete and has 135 questions. The fee for non-members is $385 and $285 for members.
Best Professional Certifications
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Is a College Certificate for Paramedics Worth It?
Yes, a college certificate for paramedics is worth it. These certificate programs allow students to learn the in-demand skills and advanced knowledge required to work in the industry. Its courses also play an instrumental role in helping professionals prepare for professional certification exams.
Paramedic Certificates FAQ
Yes, a paramedic certificate program is affordable compared to other learning paths. Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs tend to be quite costly, and many certificate programs offer flexible payment options.
It takes about two to three years to become a paramedic, depending on the program you enroll in. To become a paramedic, you must first earn your EMT and AEMT certifications, which takes about a year. After this, you must complete a paramedic certificate program, which can take up to 16 months to complete.
No, you do not need a paramedic professional certification to land a high-paying job. That being said, professional certifications can be extremely beneficial in validating your professional skills to employers, which can consequently lead to landing higher-paying jobs.
No, a paramedic professional certification is not better than a college certificate program as they serve different purposes. Earning professional certification after completing a college certificate program is the best way to become a paramedic.
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