Houston EMT Schools
Students seeking Houston EMT training will only find 1 program inside the city limits, but there are several schools in the surrounding areas that have training options. This article covers the courses and fieldwork that EMT students are required to complete at 3 colleges. For additional insight into the educational options, a school stats table is included in addition to some details on a couple of other colleges in the area.
- Situated right in the middle of downtown, Houston Community College has a certificate program that prepares students for EMT and paramedic certification up to the intermediate level, as well as an associate degree.
- At San Jacinto Community College in Pasadena, students can earn a Certificate of Technology or an associate degree for EMTs in the field while they train. The campus is located around 15 miles from central Houston.
- The intermediate EMT programs at Alvin Community College allow students to qualify for basic and intermediate certification while they work toward completing the higher-level program. The school is roughly 25 miles from Houston's downtown area.
Comparison of Schools
Get to know more about the profiled colleges by checking out the table below. It has details on costs, campus settings, student retention and other factors that could play a role in your education decision.
| Houston Community College | San Jacinto Community College | Alvin Community College | |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | 2-year, public | 2-year, public | 2-year, public |
| Total Enrollment (2021)* | 46,780 | 31,577 | 4,965 |
| Campus Setting | Large city | Large suburb | Large suburb |
| Tuition and Fees (2022-2023)* | $2,040 in-district, $4,344 in-state, $5,460 out-of-state | $1,872 in-district, $3,240 in-state, $5,040 out-of-state | $1,706 in-district, $2,834 in-state, $4,010 out-of-state |
| Percent of First-Year Students Receiving Financial Aid (2020-2021)* | 67% | 57% | 58% |
| Acceptance Rate | N/A - Open enrollment | N/A - Open enrollment | N/A - Open enrollment |
| Retention Rate (2021)* | 63% full-time | N/A | 62% full-time |
| Graduation Rate for Students Beginning in 2018* | 17% | 32% | 24% |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator.
Houston Community College
To enroll in this program, students must have current healthcare provider CPR certification, hold a high school diploma or GED, provide immunization records and meet reading standards. A personal interview is also required, and after being accepted, students must provide a physical and health status report and proof of healthcare insurance and pass criminal background checks and drug screenings.
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Certificate
This is a 2-semester program that includes 2 courses during the first semester, the successful completion of which will qualify a student to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Basic exam. The second of these courses includes a clinical portion with a field internship and rotations throughout local hospitals. In the second semester, courses cover advanced EMT topics in areas including patient assessment, airway management and trauma management.
Paramedic Certificate
This program can be completed in two years, including a capstone course in the final semester. This program is made up of 40 credits, and requires students to take courses in emergency pharmacology, cardiology, and special populations.
Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services
Completing all 60 credits in this program will give students the degree in EMS. Along with several semesters of course work, there are general education classes and five clinicals to be completed throughout the four semesters. Students will culminate their program with an EMS research project.
San Jacinto Community College
To participate in the program, students must pass a criminal background check and submit a medical history with the results of a physical and drug screening. The program was designed to meet Texas EMT certification requirements, which include reaching age 18, having a high school diploma or GED and passing the NREMT exam.
Emergency Medical Technician Certificate
This program is taught through lab work, lectures and experiential learning in a hospital setting, where students interact with real emergency room patients. This program spans 2 years, but offers various exit points for EMT-Basic, EMT-Advanced and Paramedic. In the first term, students are presented with foundation studies for Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) certification. The other terms build upon the EMT basics and look at special populations, patient assessment and cardiac emergencies.
Associate of Applied Science - EMT
This program includes the same core classes required in the certificate. For the associate degree, general education courses are also included, increasing the credits required to 60 for completion of the program.
Alvin Community College
To be considered for admission, students must be 18 years old, have student liability insurance, have acceptable CPR certification and submit the results of a physical and TB test. Students are responsible for providing their own clinical equipment and uniforms.
Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate Certificate
The program is presented through classroom lectures, skills training and clinical experiences. This certificate can be earned in a year, and EMT-B studies can be completed in the first semester. During the second term, students are taught patient assessment, trauma management, airway management and beginning paramedic studies.
EMT Paramedic Certificate
This program requires five semesters to complete. The first two semesters are the same as the advanced EMT certificate, so this can allow students to build on their current EMT certificate. The rest of the 40 total credits are made up of clinicals and practicums, as well as courses in special populations, EMS operations, cardiology, and emergency pharmacology.
Other Schools
There are 2 other schools offering EMT training near Houston, Texas. Lone Star College System in The Woodlands offers degree and certificate programs for EMTs and paramedics. This school is about 30 miles from Houston. For students who wish to advance to the next level of EMT training, College of the Mainland in Texas City has a certificate program for aspiring paramedics, and it's just under 35 miles from Houston.
