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EMT & Paramedic Schools in Illinois
42 schools in Illinois offer EMT & paramedic-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 6 registered apprenticeship programs in Illinois train EMT & paramedic apprentices — see apprenticeships. Federal program data groups emt & paramedic with radiologic technology — schools below may offer any of these.
Occupation pay is what working EMT & paramedic professionals in Illinois earn (all experience levels) — school "earnings" figures above are medians for each school's recent federally-aided students across all its programs, which read lower.
EMT & Paramedic licensing in Illinois: State license required
Illinois requires a state paramedic license from the Illinois Department of Public Health. You must hold an Illinois EMT license, complete an IDPH-approved paramedic program (typically 1,000+ hours), and pass the NREMT Paramedic exam before applying. The license renews every 4 years with 100 hours of approved continuing education.
Official source: Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of EMS and Highway Safety · Exam: NREMT Paramedic cognitive exam (single computer-based exam as of July 2024), then IDPH license application · Typical requirement: Current Illinois EMT license, completion of an IDPH-approved paramedic program (typically 1,000-1,400 hours), current BLS/CPR card, program director sign-off on skills competency.
Official license records related to EMT & paramedic in Illinois
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- EMT - EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN — Illinois Department of Public Health
- A - EMT - ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN — Illinois Department of Public Health
- EMT- I - EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN - INTERMEDIATE — Illinois Department of Public Health
- PEMR - PROVISIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDER — Illinois Department of Public Health
- EMR - EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDER — Illinois Department of Public Health
- EMD - EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHER — Illinois Department of Public Health
Wage and license data provided by CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and Minnesota DEED.
Schools, ranked by earnings per tuition dollar
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | public | $1,672 | 20.4% | $42,889 |
| Illinois Valley Community College | Oglesby | public | $2,232 | 37.2% | $40,810 |
| Lake Land College | Mattoon | public | $2,254 | 55% | $38,877 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | public | $2,829 | 29.6% | $43,892 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | public | $3,349 | 50% | $37,724 |
| Spoon River College | Canton | public | $3,415 | 42.1% | $38,386 |
| South Suburban College | South Holland | public | $3,242 | 19.3% | $33,680 |
| Richland Community College | Decatur | public | $3,741 | 31.3% | $38,793 |
| Triton College | River Grove | public | $4,138 | 18.5% | $41,728 |
| Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg | public | $3,662 | 51.5% | $35,274 |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines | public | $5,183 | 16% | $47,852 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | public | $4,299 | 39.4% | $38,479 |
| Kishwaukee College | Malta | public | $4,574 | 36.6% | $39,657 |
| Kankakee Community College | Kankakee | public | $4,665 | 33.6% | $38,767 |
| Shawnee Community College | Ullin | public | $4,162 | 42.1% | $32,999 |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | public | $4,738 | 20.4% | $36,696 |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin | public | $6,026 | 32.5% | $45,516 |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford | public | $5,242 | 32.4% | $39,158 |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville | public | $4,777 | 35.2% | $34,867 |
| Highland Community College | Freeport | public | $5,713 | 36.6% | $37,928 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago | public | $6,375 | 28% | $41,625 |
| McHenry County College | Crystal Lake | public | $7,042 | 36.4% | $45,143 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | public | $7,401 | 24.7% | $46,909 |
| John A Logan College | Carterville | public | $5,541 | 31.7% | $34,096 |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | public | $6,477 | 39.1% | $38,801 |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake | public | $7,607 | 34.1% | $43,424 |
| John Wood Community College | Quincy | public | $7,050 | 42.1% | $38,631 |
| Black Hawk College | Moline | public | $6,944 | 31.7% | $37,253 |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon | public | $8,493 | 47.3% | $40,458 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | public | $8,048 | 29.5% | $38,320 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | public | $7,220 | 28.8% | $32,427 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | public | $11,607 | 38.4% | $48,071 |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | public | $11,442 | 32.2% | $44,788 |
| Rend Lake College | Ina | public | $9,187 | 55.8% | $35,775 |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | Olney | public | $10,092 | 56.1% | $37,533 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | public | $10,427 | 33.1% | $36,884 |
| Heartland Community College | Normal | public | $12,013 | 26.5% | $40,768 |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria | public | $12,961 | 36.3% | $37,366 |
| Rasmussen University-Illinois | Rockford | private for-profit | $19,854 | 42.3% | $39,080 |
| Midwestern Career College | Chicago | private for-profit | $20,462 | 65.7% | $36,432 |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | Rockford | private for-profit | $21,601 | 51.6% | $34,104 |
| Stellar Career College | Chicago | private for-profit | $25,959 | not reported | $30,337 |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Figures are institution-wide federal medians for each school as a whole — not EMT & paramedic graduates specifically. Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
Common questions: EMT & Paramedic school in Illinois
- How much do EMT & Paramedic schools cost in Illinois?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 42 EMT & paramedic schools in Illinois is $6,201. Individual schools range widely — the table above shows each school's real cost, not sticker price.
- Do you need a license to work as a EMT & paramedic in Illinois?
- Illinois requires a state paramedic license from the Illinois Department of Public Health. You must hold an Illinois EMT license, complete an IDPH-approved paramedic program (typically 1,000+ hours), and pass the NREMT Paramedic exam before applying. The license renews every 4 years with 100 hours of approved continuing education.
- Can you get paid to train as a EMT & paramedic in Illinois?
- Yes — Illinois has 6 registered apprenticeship programs where you earn wages while you train instead of paying tuition. See the EMT & paramedic apprenticeships page for the current list.
- What does a EMT & paramedic earn in Illinois?
- Working EMT & paramedic professionals in Illinois earn a median of $42,260 per year, ranging from about $36,420 to $135,490 (U.S. Department of Labor). This is what people in the job earn, which differs from a school's reported graduate-earnings figure.
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