Emergency Medical Technician Certificate Program
Train for a Career as an EMT in our Accelerated, 15-week Certificate Program
ABHES Accredited
On Campus
At a Glance
~15 Weeks
Course length
80
Lab hours
100
Class hours
12
Externship hours
About the Emergency Medical Technician Certificate Program
Emergency Medical Technicians are front-line first-responders in emergencies. They care for sick or injured patients in the field and transfer them to emergency departments at medical facilities. Through hands-on laboratory training and a supervised clinical externship, Pima Medical Institute’s EMT program equips students with the essential knowledge, practical mastery and high-pressure decision-making confidence required in pre-hospital emergency medicine.
Where the Emergency Medical Technician Certificate Program Can Take You
Certification
Pima Medical Institute's Emergency Medical Technician certificate program prepares graduates to apply to sit for the NREMT EMT exam.*
Entry-level roles
Emergency medical technician (EMT) and EMS first responder
Career advancement
Advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT), paramedic, EMS supervisor and emergency services coordinator
*Certification and state registration requirements vary.
Core Skills You’ll Develop
Clinical
Emergency interventions and life-saving care in the field, including airway management, CPR/AED, hemorrhage and shock control, burn care and fracture immobilization
ASSESSMENT
Scene management, patient assessment and triage of emergency and traumatic situations
Administrative
NIMS/ICS incident management, disaster response protocols and EMS medical documentation and patient care reporting (PCR)
ANATOMY
Foundational anatomy, physiology, emergency medical terminology and pediatric, geriatric and obstetric emergency care
TRANSPORT
Safe transport of sick or injured patients to hospital or emergency department including ambulance operations and vehicle safety protocols
COMMUNICATION
EMS communications and dispatch systems, high-stress decision-making, patient empathy and crisis communication
Program Objective
To develop in students the personal traits and professional skills needed to perform as competent, entry-level Emergency Medical Technicians. The program introduces students to management of pre-hospital sick or injured patients and their safe transportation to an acute care hospital. Topics to be covered will include anatomy and physiology, communication, patient assessment and emergency interventions. Graduates of this program receive a certificate. The Emergency Medical Technician program courses are eligible for consideration for credit toward PMI’s Paramedic Associate of Occupational Science Degree Program. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the NREMT certification examination at the EMT level.
Why Choose Emergency Medical Technician?
EMTs are the backbone of emergency medical response, acting as the primary initial medical providers on scene during acute trauma and medical emergencies.
EMTs perform vital responsibilities such as:
- Responding to 911 calls for medical emergencies, accidents and injuries
- Performing scene assessment, safety checks and patient triage
- Assessing vital signs and applying basic life support (BLS)
- Managing airway care, oxygen therapy and CPR/AED use
- Controlling hemorrhage, splinting and spinal immobilization
- Administering emergency medications (epinephrine, naloxone, oral glucose)
- Providing safe, monitored ambulance transport
- Documenting care and handing off patients to hospital staff
Find a Campus Near You
Pima Medical Institute has campuses across the West, each offering hands-on Emergency Medical Technician training built for immediate workforce entry.
Clinical Externships
At Pima Medical Institute, most programs allow students to work in their field through clinical externships—a chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.
In addition to real-world experience, clinical externships offer students resume-worthy opportunities, letters of recommendation from supervisors and sometimes job placement directly after graduation.
Continuing Education
Interested in continuing your education? At Pima Medical Institute, we offer a Paramedic associate degree so you can advance your career in emergency care.
We also offer an online associate degree in Health Care Administration that will give you the skills needed to enter the leadership or management tracks in healthcare, all with the flexibility of virtual instruction. Work on your degree anywhere, anytime.
Job Outlook
5% Growth — The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this occupation to grow faster than average over the next 10 years with a median pay of $46,350 per year. *
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, EMTs and Paramedics,
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm (visited June 07, 2026).
What careers can you pursue with an Emergency Medical Technician Certificate?
The Emergency Medical Technician certificate program prepares students to apply for roles and other related career opportunities including:
- Private ambulance services and patient transport providers
- Municipal fire departments and rescue squads
- Hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers
- Industrial, event and security emergency response teams
- Wildland fire crews and search & rescue teams
- Air Medical and flight EMS transport teams
- Military and Federal EMS systems
EMT certificate graduates can:
- Become an important part of the health care team
- Serve as a first responder in emergencies
- Use their education to advance into other health care career and education opportunities like Pima Medical Institute’s Paramedic program.
Career Services
When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.
Student Services
Our team of student service professionals are on hand to see students through the challenges they might face during their academic career. We offer guidance and resources to ultimately help build employable medical professionals.
Application Process
- Submit the form below
A few quick details so we can get to know you before we connect.
- Chat with our team
They’ll ask about your goals, your background, and what’s drawing you to healthcare. From there, they’ll help you find the right program and campus for where you are in life right now.
- Attend your campus tour
Experience Pima Medical in person and picture yourself in a career that matters. We’ll walk you through programs and what to expect.
- We help you complete your application
Our team guides you through every step, including enrollment and financial services, so nothing stands between you and getting started.
Emergency Medical Technician Certificate Program Eligibility Requirements
- Possess a high school diploma or recognized equivalency
- Additional requirements may apply by campus
Tuition & financial aid
Federal aid (FAFSA), institutional scholarships and payment plans are available for those who qualify to help make your education affordable.
FAQs About our Emergency Medical Technician Certificate Program
What is an Emergency Medical Technician?
An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a trained pre-hospital healthcare professional who responds to medical emergencies, accidents, and trauma scenes to provide life-saving basic care and transport patients to medical facilities.
What does an Emergency Medical Technician do?
As an EMT, graduates will be responsible for providing competent care and having quick reaction time to help save the lives of patients in emergency or traumatic situations.
What Will I Learn?
Students in the Emergency Medical Technician certificate program will learn anatomy and physiology, communications, patient assessment and emergency interventions. They will take courses on trauma, patient transport and medical emergencies. The program includes information on managing pre-hospital, sick or injured patients, caring for patients in the field, safely transporting the patient to the emergency department at a medical facility and more.
How Do I Get Certified As An Emergency Medical Technician After Graduation?
Graduates of Pima Medical Institute’s Emergency Medical Technician program are eligible to apply to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam and apply for state EMT certification.
Additional potential certifications include:
Credential | Organization |
National Registry Certified EMT (NREMT) State EMT Certification / License BLS Healthcare Provider CPR | National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians State Department of Health Services/EMS Division American Heart Association (Optional/Integrated) |
*Certification and state registration requirements vary. Some states may require additional licensure, registration, or examinations before practicing as an EMT.
Is certification required to practice as an EMT?
Yes. To practice legally, candidates must pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam and meet their specific state’s licensing/certification requirements.
How long does it take to complete Pima Medical Institute's EMT program?
Pima Medical Institute’s EMT Certificate Program can be completed in approximately 15 weeks.
*Individual completion times may vary.
What experience will I gain in the externship?
Students complete a supervised clinical rotation and field ride-along experience to transition from lab simulations to real-world emergencies.
During clinical rotations, students have the opportunity to:
- Perform patient assessments on active emergency calls under direct field preceptor supervision
- Practice basic airway, resuscitation, and bandaging techniques in live ambulance/hospital settings
- Assist emergency department staff with patient triage, vitals tracking, and acute care
- Experience team operations inside working emergency vehicles
Program Outline
Learn more about the courses in this program.
Semester l
Nobody Says It Better Than Our Students
Read our reviews from students and alumni to find out for yourself…
Pima Medical Blog
Check out our blog posts about Emergency Medical Services. We provide insights, information, alumni spotlights, news and other valuable articles to keep you updated.
Top 3 Reasons to Choose our EMT Certificate Program
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) play a critical role in healthcare, often first on the scene to provide important care in emergencies. EMTs are quick-thinking, work…
Four Things You Might Not Realize about Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics are the first responders to deliver critical medical and often life-saving care at scenes of accidents, disasters or emergency health…
Alumni Spotlight: Paramedic Graduate Roberto Aranda
Ready to grow his career, Roberto decided to enroll in the Paramedic program at our Mesa campus (program now only offered at our Las Vegas…
Disclosures And Accreditations
State Licensure Determination Disclosure
The Emergency Medical Technician program is offered via on-ground. The program is available to residents of Nevada and meets applicable licensure requirements in that state. Prospective students and enrolled students should understand that moving out of the state in which they enrolled may adversely impact a student’s ability to complete the program. If a student is planning to relocate outside of their state of enrollment he or she is required to discuss this with the Student Services Coordinator and/or Program Director.
After licensure is obtained in the state (NV), transfer of licensure may be available via state reciprocity compacts. Prospective students and current students are strongly encouraged to contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where they plan to work to determine requirements before enrolling in a program.
In compliance with 34 CFR 668.43 Pima Medical Institute has made a reasonable effort to determine graduate eligibility for licensure in all states for programs designed and advertised as leading to licensure. The document below lists Pima Medical Institute programs and states where the curriculum meets licensure requirements, states where the curriculum does not meet licensure requirements, and states in which Pima Medical Institute has been unable to determine if the curriculum meets state licensure requirements. All consumers should be advised that due to the frequent changes to state statutes, rules, and regulations Pima Medical Institute cannot guarantee licensure based on the lists below.
State Licensure Determination Disclosure – Certificate Programs
Contact information for state licensing boards in which Pima Medical Institute has determined the program does not meet state licensure requirements or where Pima Medical Institute has been unable to determine if the program meets state licensure requirements can be found below.
Start Your Future as an Emergency Medical Technician
Request more information below and our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Or give us a call at (800) 477-7462 to speak with someone right away.