Illinois EMT Programs

New graduates celebrate with their families at their nursing commencement ceremony.

How to Become an EMT-Paramedic in Illinois and EMT-Paramedic Programs in Illinois

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) provide immediate emergency care to patients at the scene of an accident. Their job is to stabilize the patient so that he or she can be transported safely to the hospital. There are many different types of EMTs and it's possible to begin working as a lower level EMT while pursuing the furthering education that's needed for an EMT-Paramedic. An EMT-Paramedic is the highest level of EMT. These professionals are able to start IVs and administer certain medications to the patient. Read on to learn more about how to become an EMT-Paramedic in Illinois and EMT-Paramedic programs in Illinois.

Basic EMT training involves a short certificate course that typically takes seven or eight credit hours of instruction. In a single semester, students can become an EMT at the basic level. Additional training is required to become an EMT at the advanced level or an EMT-Paramedic. A paramedic program typically takes about two years and students often receive an associate of sciences degree upon graduation. Candidates who aren't yet confident that this is the right career path can easily pursue a job as an EMT at a lower level and work in the field before or while they receive their EMT-Paramedic degree.

Schools in Illinois that offer EMT-Paramedic programs include: * Southeastern Illinois College * Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences * College of DuPage * City Colleges of Chicago, Malcolm X College * Kishwaukee College * John Wood Community College * McHenry County College * Southwestern Illinois College * Rend Lake College * Kankakee Community College * Moraine Valley Community College * Joliet Junior College * Kaskaskia College * Lincoln Land Community College * Black Hawk College * Triton College * John A. Logan College * Harper College Though these programs may vary slightly in their format, most offer both basic EMT certificate training and EMT-Paramedic programs for an AAS.

The job outlook for EMTs is very favorable. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for this occupation will grow by about 33 percent over the 2010 to 2020 decade. Illinois has the fifth-highest employment level in the country for this occupation with 12,640 EMTs in the state. The Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area is the top metropolitan employer for EMTs in the United States. St. Louis ranks ninth. The annual mean wage for EMTs and EMT-Paramedics is $43,950 here, which is about $21.13 an hour. This makes Illinois the fourth-highest paying state for EMTs. These wages are well above the national average of $34,030 annually.

• Illinois Department of Public Health
• Cook County Department of Public Health
• Dupage County Health Department
• Macon County Health Department, Decatur, IL