Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Become an active participant in the treatment and care of patients with the Virginia Western Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program. Take the lead as a first responder, gather accurate information for diagnostic teams, or work in an emergency department assisting nurses and doctors to ensure thorough and proper treatment, or private enterprise as an EMT at production facilities and offshore oil platforms. 

The Virginia Western EMT Program is a great fit if you have an interest in health science, strong empathy for people in crisis situations and can manage and retain a large amount of information in a short amount of time. Once you’ve completed your EMT training, you can easily build on your new skillset with a clear pathway into Virginia Western’s Paramedic Program (pending program approval).  

Take your skills nationwide 

The Virginia Western EMT program will prepare you for the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) Certification, a two-part national accreditation that is required before you begin your career as an EMT. The psychomotor section of the certification is used as the program’s final exam, and the state of Virginia will cover the costs of the first attempt at the written portion.   

Support your community with your career 

Licensed EMTs have found jobs with local fire-EMS organizations, private EMS companies, hospitals and private organizations with internal health and safety departments. 

Note: Per the state of Virginia, participants must be a minimum of 16 years of age at the beginning of the classes for EMS (111/120) to be eligible to participate.  If a prospective student is either 16 or 17, they must have a parent/guardian come to the first day of class to sign acknowledgements, from the state, allowing the student to participate in the class and they understand the role and responsibilities of an EMT.

Related Programs

• Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic (Associate of Applied Science)

Estimated Cost

This is an estimated list of expenses that should be anticipated while completing this program. Students are responsible for laundering of uniforms and their own transportation to facilities utilized for clinical experiences.  Virginia Western does not offer student housing.  The College does not guarantee job placement upon completion of the program.

Please note that American Heart Association BLS Adult, Child and Infant with AED training CPR is required to participate in the EMS 120 and EMS 111 courses. If you do not have a valid AHA CPR card (in date for the entire semester you enroll), there is a special section of the CPR offered to those who register for the EMS 111/120. Please email healthprofessions@virginiawestern.edu and indicate your enrollment in the EMS 111/120 and your name and seven digit id and one of the advisors for Health Professions can relay the enrollment information for the CPR required for EMS.

Note: Payment of tuition is on a semester by semester basis according to the number of credit hours enrolled in.  The curriculum is a total of 17 credits. The program length is one semester. Program can be completed in two semesters, if necessary. However, the following courses (EMS 111, EMS 120, and HLT 105) must be completed within the same semester. If you have a valid AHA BLS CPR car, you do not need to complete HLT 105. You will need to present a copy of the valid CPR card, front and back, of in-person training to receive credit for HLT 105. For students wishing to complete only the EMS 111 (7 credits)/EMS 120 (one credit) and HLT 105 (one credit), the tuition would be $1,664.01 (nine credits x 184.89)

Tuition is estimated in the table below based off the following criteria. For the most current information please visit the tuition rates and fees site.

(Tuition rates below are as of Fall 2025 and are subject to change.)

Estimated In-State Tuition:  $184.89 per credit hour
Estimated Out-Of-State Tuition: $401.99 per credit hour

Item	Total
Tuition (In-state) – Including CPR course for $184.89	$3,143.13
Books/lab package for two EMS courses only*	326.00
Uniforms/shoes	35.00
Watch with second hand or digital readout	25.00
Background check/drug screening/Immunization/Health Tracker	50.00
National Registry EMT test fee	104.00
TOTAL	$3,683.13

* There will be additional book cost for other non-EMS courses: SDV 101, HLT 143, PHI 220