How Much Do EMT & Paramedic Classes Cost?
37 accredited schools published a flat price for their EMT program to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023–24. Tuition and fees plus books and supplies ranged from $1,218 to $29,938; the median was $2,000. The other 644 schools we list bill by the credit hour or did not report a program price.
Updated October 2026 · Source: IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, program prices 2023–24
- Median program cost
- $2,000tuition, fees, books, supplies
- Lowest published price
- $1,218
- Highest published price
- $29,938
- Schools with a price
- 37of 681 listed
EMT & Paramedic Classes cost by type of school
| School type | Schools | Median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 32 | $1,832 | $1,218 | $17,948 |
| Private for-profit | 5 | $6,698 | $2,820 | $29,938 |
Only school types with at least 3 priced schools are shown. Public schools here are mostly community colleges and public career-technical centers.
EMT & Paramedic Classes cost by state
States with at least 3 schools that published a program price, lowest median first. "Schools listed" is the number of programs on that state's page; many of them charge by the credit hour instead of a flat price, so the two counts differ.
| State | Priced schools | Schools listed | Median | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMT & Paramedic Classes in Ohio | 16 | 39 | $1,788 | $1,260 |
| EMT & Paramedic Classes in Florida | 7 | 43 | $2,820 | $1,320 |
Fewer than 3 priced schools, so not ranked: Arizona, California, Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah.
Cheapest EMT and paramedic classes by published price
The 10 lowest total prices among the 37 schools that reported one for 2023–24, tuition and fees plus books and supplies, cheapest first. Prices change every year: confirm the current figure with the school, and use its net price calculator (linked on each school page) to estimate what you would pay after aid.
| # | School | Location | Total | Tuition & fees | Books & supplies | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Technical College | Cedar City, UT | $1,218 | $787 | $431 | 4 months |
| 2 | Pike County Joint Vocational School District | Piketon, OH | $1,260 | $1,100 | $160 | 5 months |
| 3 | Cuyahoga Valley Career Center | Brecksville, OH | $1,300 | $1,300 | — | 5 months |
| 4 | Flagler Technical College | Palm Coast, FL | $1,320 | $1,080 | $240 | 7 months |
| 5 | Apollo Career Center | Lima, OH | $1,400 | $1,175 | $225 | 4 months |
| 6 | East Valley Institute of Technology | Mesa, AZ | $1,420 | $1,200 | $220 | 2 months |
| 7 | Mahoning County Career and Technical Center | Canfield, OH | $1,500 | $1,500 | — | 5 months |
| 8 | Mid-EastCTC-Adult Education | Zanesville, OH | $1,500 | $1,248 | $252 | 5 months |
| 9 | EHOVE Career Center | Milan, OH | $1,657 | $1,094 | $563 | 5 months |
| 10 | Knox County Career Center | Mount Vernon, OH | $1,664 | $1,399 | $265 | 4 months |
Length is the schedule the school reported (37 of the 37 priced schools reported one).
What the price does and does not include
The figures on this page are what each school reported to IPEDS for its EMT program: tuition and required fees, plus books and supplies. Schools that charge by the credit hour, such as many community colleges, report an annual tuition rate instead, which is why they are counted as listed but not priced.
Budget separately for the certification exam (most states use the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) cognitive exam plus a psychomotor (skills) exam for initial licensure), a background check, immunizations and a physical, uniforms and shoes, and transport to clinical sites. Ask each school for an itemized cost sheet; the ones that have a net price calculator link it on their school page here.
Ways to pay less
- Start with public schools. Community colleges and public career-technical centers had the lowest median price in this data ($1,832 at 32 schools). Check the state table above for the cheapest medians near you.
- Ask about federal student aid. Most schools in this data take part in federal student aid programs. Whether a short certificate qualifies depends on its length and the school, so ask the financial aid office before you enroll.
- Check your American Job Center. State workforce agencies fund training for in-demand occupations through local American Job Centers; ask whether your program is on the state's eligible training provider list.
- Ask employers. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and pharmacy chains often pay for training or reimburse it after a hiring commitment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do EMT and paramedic classes cost?
Across 37 accredited schools that published a flat program price for 2023–24, tuition and fees plus books and supplies ranged from $1,218 to $29,938. The median was $2,000.
Is it cheaper to train at a public college?
In this data, yes. The median price at 32 public schools (community colleges and career-technical centers) was $1,832, versus $6,698 at 5 for-profit schools: a difference of $4,867. Public programs can have waiting lists and admission deadlines, so apply early.
What does the published price include?
Schools report the price of the whole program to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS): tuition and required fees, plus books and supplies. It does not include living costs, and it usually leaves out the certification exam fee, background check, immunizations and uniforms unless the school counts them as supplies. Ask for an itemized cost sheet before you enroll.
Does the price include the emergency medical technician exam?
Usually not. Most states use the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) cognitive exam plus a psychomotor (skills) exam for initial licensure, and the testing vendor charges its own fee. Some schools build the first attempt into their supplies figure; most do not.
How long do EMT and paramedic classes take?
Among the schools that reported a schedule, the median program length is about 33 weeks of full-time study. EMT courses commonly run one academic semester or an accelerated few weeks, plus clinical or field ride-along hours.