NYC Schools Offering EMT Refresher Courses/Programs
The state of New York requires that its EMTs and paramedics maintain their skills through continuing education courses. Several schools in the NYC area offer refresher courses. This article looks at two schools within 25 minutes of downtown and the programs they provide. Both institutions offer refresher programs or courses using the challenge format. The challenge format requires a student to complete practical and written exams. Then, the student must attend skills sessions and/or lectures in any area that the student is weak or has failed.
Complementing the details about the refresher programs is a table of information about each school. This allows individuals to see important data about enrollment, school type and costs in order to find a school that is a good fit for them. At the end of the article is a listing of some other NYC-area schools with EMT refresher programs.
- St. John's University in Queens offers emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic refresher programs. It is about 15 miles from the city center.
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, in the city about six miles from downtown, only offers an EMT refresher course.
Comparison of Schools
Obviously, an individual should weigh many factors when choosing a school for EMT refresher training. This table compiles some of the most vital data and puts it together in a format that makes comparison easier.
| St. John's University | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | |
|---|---|---|
| School Type | 4-year, private not-for-profit | 4-year, public |
| Total Enrollment (2021)* | 19,658 | 15,210 |
| Campus Setting | Large city | Large city |
| Tuition (2022)** | $1,225 for EMT-B course; $9,200 for paramedic course | $1,299 |
| % of First-Year Students Receiving Some Form of Aid (2020-2021)* | 100% | 95% |
| Acceptance Rate (2021)* | 85% | 45% |
| Retention Rate (2020-2021)* | 82% full-time students, 13% part-time students | 78% full-time students, 50% part-time students |
| Graduation Rate* | 68% for students beginning in 2015 | 54% (27% transfer-out) for students beginning in 2015 |
Sources: *NCES, **School websites
St. John's University
St. John's University is a Catholic university founded in 1870. The school offers EMT and EMT-Paramedic Challenge Refresher programs through its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Institute, part of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Refresher programs use new materials in line with the National EMS Educational Standards. Students must have CPR certification to enroll. Both programs prepare students for the practical and written exams of New York State (NYS).
EMT-B Challenge Refresher Program
This program has nine 3-hour required sessions that cover transition topics (new skills that are part of the new educational materials). Students in the refresher program must take Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) online introductory courses in incident command system, hazardous materials introduction and the national incident management system (NIMS)
Paramedic Challenge Refresher Program
This program includes 13 sessions, each lasting around three hours, that cover the new advanced life support (ALS) skills for paramedics. Students are also required to take the same FEMA courses as in the EMT refresher program. When taking the refresher program, a student must test his or her skills to establish that they measure up to the standards of the National Registry.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
EMT courses at John Jay are open to firefighters, police officers and the public. Besides EMT training, the school also offers American Heart Association basic cardiac life support, automated external defibrillator and first aid training.
NYS EMT-Basic Challenge Refresher Course
Emergency medical technicians looking to re-certify can take this basic refresher course as preparation using the challenge format. This program is good to gain EMT recertification. Along with in-class work, you'll complete online challenge exams to test your knowledge.
Other School Options
New York Methodist Hospital's Center for Allied Health Education, located about 10 miles from downtown, offers a paramedic refresher course.
