Education · 1 of 5

The path

You climb a ladder of certifications. Nobody starts as a paramedic.

1. 1

   High school diploma or an equivalency certificate

   Grade 12

   Plus a clean background check and usually a driver's license. Some states require you to be 18.

2. 2

   EMT (emergency medical technician) certification

   3 to 6 months

   A course of roughly 150 to 200 hours over a semester, then the national written and skills exams.

3. 3

   Work on an ambulance

   6 to 12 months

   Most paramedic programs want six months to a year of real experience as an EMT first, and it is good advice even where they do not.

4. 4

   Paramedic program

   12 to 24 months

   Roughly 1,200 to 1,800 hours of classroom, hospital clinical rotations and field internship. Offered as a certificate or as an associate degree.

5. 5

   Certify and get licensed

   After the program

   Pass the national paramedic exams, then apply to your state's emergency medical services office for the license that actually lets you work.