EMT Schools in New York City
New York City EMT courses tend to be held in the first semester of paramedic programs, but students can test for certification once they've completed these early courses. Explore the classroom and hands-on components of EMT training at three area schools below. Be sure to also check out the table of statistics to find out additional details about the featured colleges.
- At CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, students can take an emergency medical care course. The campus is located right in downtown Manhattan.
- Located in Queens, NYC, CUNY LaGuardia Community College offers students an EMT-Basic (EMT-B) training course.
- Valhalla is home to SUNY Westchester Community College, which offers an emergency medical services class that prepares students for EMT-B certification. At around 32 miles away, the school is the farthest institution from NYC on the list.
Comparison of Schools
You can quickly compare the costs, enrollment numbers, graduation rates and more for the profiled schools in the table below. Get specific facts and figures so you can make an informed choice on where to study emergency medicine.
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | CUNY LaGuardia Community College | SUNY Westchester Community College | |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | 2-year, public | 2-year, public | 2-year, public |
| Total Enrollment (2021)* | 19,336 | 14,919 | 9,121 |
| Campus Setting | Large city | Large city | Large suburb |
| Undergraduate Tuition per Credit (2022-2023) | $265 (part-time, non-matriculated NYC resident) $210 (part-time, non-resident)** | $210 (part-time, NYC resident) $320 (part-time, no resident)** | $179 (part-time, NYC resident) $493 (part-time, non-resident)** |
| Percent of First-Year Students Receiving Any Type of Financial Aid (2020-2021)* | 86% | 83% | 64% |
| Acceptance Rate (2021)* | N/A - Open admissions | N/A - Open admissions | N/A - Open admissions |
| Retention Rate (2020-2021)* | 56% full-time 38% part-time | 60% full-time 36% part-time | 61% full-time 43% part-time |
| Graduation Rate for Students Who Began in 2018* | 26% | 29% | 24% |
Sources: *National Center for Education Statistics, **School website
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
This school's basic EMT class is part of its paramedic program.
Emergency Medical Care Course
This course covers basic emergency care skills for pre-hospital patients. Once students successfully complete this course, they can take the New York State EMT-B certification exam. Students also can apply their course credits toward a paramedicine degree.
LaGuardia Community College
The EMT-Basic course totals 208 study hours over the course of two to four months. Students can choose between a day and evening program. To enroll, students must have a high school diploma (or its equivalent) and pass an interview and reading comprehension exam.
Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Course
Studies in this course follow the national standard curriculum for EMT-B training. Subjects covered include patient assessment, CPR, airway management, cardiac arrest, obstetrics, pediatrics and trauma. This class is presented through a combination of lecture and lab formats. The evening program is comprised of 3.5 hour classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, plus one Saturday and five Sundays; the day program is held Mondays, Wednesdays and two Saturdays with classes running for 7 hours.
Westchester Community College
To take this course, students must be 18 years old by the end of the month in which they will take the certification exam. Prospective students must also pass a criminal background check and drug screening at their own expense and have permission from the EMS Academy.
Emergency Medical Services I Course
This class teaches students about human anatomy, basic life support, patient assessment and various treatment methods used during pre-hospital patient emergencies. It includes 16 hours of pre-hospital clinical practice. Students who complete the course are eligible to take the EMT-B certification exam through the New York State Department of Health.
