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EMT & Paramedic Schools in Pennsylvania
31 schools in Pennsylvania offer EMT & paramedic-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 10 registered apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania: State license required
Pennsylvania requires paramedic certification from the Department of Health's Bureau of EMS. You must first be a state-certified EMT, then complete an approved paramedic program (typically 1,000+ hours) and pass Department-approved written and practical exams (NREMT). Certification renews on the state's own registry with 36 continuing-education credits every 2 years — maintaining National Registry is optional.
Official source: Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services · Exam: Department-approved written and practical paramedic exams (Pennsylvania uses the NREMT Paramedic exam for initial certification); ongoing NREMT maintenance is not required after certification · Typical requirement: Current PA EMT or AEMT certification (state EMT certification is a hard prerequisite), completion of an approved paramedic education program (typically 1,000-1,200+ hours), current Department-approved CPR card, background check.
Official license records related to EMT & paramedic in Pennsylvania
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Respiratory Care Practitioner Certificate — Department of State~Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs~Medicine Board
- Respiratory Therapist Care Practitioner — Department of State~Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs~Osteopathic Medicine Board
- Veterinary Technician — Department of State~Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs~Veterinary Medicine Board
- Nail Technician — Department of State~Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs~Cosmetology Board
- Medical Doctor Temporary License — Department of State~Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs~Medicine Board
- Medical Doctor Institutional License — Department of State~Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs~Medicine Board
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | public | $6,389 | 21.8% | $47,324 |
| Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood | public | $5,167 | 26.4% | $37,439 |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | public | $6,576 | 18.3% | $45,391 |
| Community College of Beaver County | Monaca | public | $6,937 | 28.5% | $45,090 |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Johnstown | public | $6,200 | 39.3% | $38,752 |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | public | $6,233 | 30.2% | $38,891 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | public | $9,433 | 24.1% | $40,437 |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading | public | $9,228 | 21.2% | $39,082 |
| Laurel Technical Institute | Hermitage | private for-profit | $6,778 | 65.6% | $28,311 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | public | $11,124 | 24.9% | $46,108 |
| Laurel Technical Institute | Uniontown | private for-profit | $7,825 | 76.2% | $30,819 |
| DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center | Johnstown | private for-profit | $19,089 | 38.6% | $65,740 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | public | $12,119 | 29.8% | $41,566 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | public | $11,911 | 18.4% | $40,852 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | public | $14,471 | 21.3% | $42,007 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | public | $13,970 | 25.3% | $39,449 |
| Johnson College | Scranton | private nonprofit | $19,954 | 57.3% | $55,194 |
| Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences | Reading | private nonprofit | $28,415 | 29.8% | $74,572 |
| Central Penn College | Summerdale | private for-profit | $18,953 | 36.5% | $45,370 |
| All-State Career School | Essington | private for-profit | $18,205 | 61.7% | $38,495 |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | public | $25,110 | 61% | $52,567 |
| Lackawanna College | Scranton | private nonprofit | $19,951 | 37.8% | $41,000 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster | Lancaster | private nonprofit | $42,478 | 62.8% | $86,881 |
| Harcum College | Bryn Mawr | private nonprofit | $24,776 | 51.5% | $46,827 |
| South Hills School of Business & Technology | State College | private for-profit | $19,673 | 64.9% | $35,539 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Technology | Erie | private for-profit | $17,540 | 69.7% | $28,704 |
| Fortis Institute-Scranton | Scranton | private for-profit | $20,186 | 56.3% | $30,224 |
| YTI Career Institute-Altoona | Altoona | private for-profit | $20,822 | 64.7% | $30,188 |
| Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute-Lewisburg | Lewisburg | private for-profit | $22,103 | 38.2% | $31,102 |
| St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing | Bethlehem | private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | $80,244 |
| Washington Health System School of Nursing | Washington | private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | $63,504 |
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 Pennsylvania
- How much do EMT & Paramedic schools cost in Pennsylvania?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 31 EMT & paramedic schools in Pennsylvania is $14,471. 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 Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania requires paramedic certification from the Department of Health's Bureau of EMS. You must first be a state-certified EMT, then complete an approved paramedic program (typically 1,000+ hours) and pass Department-approved written and practical exams (NREMT). Certification renews on the state's own registry with 36 continuing-education credits every 2 years — maintaining National Registry is optional.
- Can you get paid to train as a EMT & paramedic in Pennsylvania?
- Yes — Pennsylvania has 10 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 Pennsylvania?
- Working EMT & paramedic professionals in Pennsylvania earn a median of $43,310 per year, ranging from about $34,480 to $54,370 (U.S. Department of Labor). This is what people in the job earn, which differs from a school's reported graduate-earnings figure.
Aid deadlines for EMT & paramedic programs in Pennsylvania
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EMT & Paramedic schools in nearby states
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See all states & the full EMT & paramedic guide →