EMT Program in Pennsylvania

EMT program in the state of Pennsylvania develops the skills of an EMT aspirant to serve common people willingly, in case of any emergency. The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS) in Pennsylvania provides certain rules and regulations for EMTs and Paramedics to obtain state licensure. One of them is to clear NREMT (National Registry Emergency Medical Technician) exams. For this, all the applicants need to finish a program course, approved by the US Department of Transportation.

After the successful completion of EMT program, a student can request for obtaining state license. Apart from this, student should also be skilled and well-versed in EMT methods to acquire state license. The state of Pennsylvania offers an easy program curriculum, which includes basic knowledge and skills, required for offering pre-hospital care.

A student masters the skills of ALS (Advanced Life Support) and BLS (Basic Life Support) by going through certain levels of EMT program. After attending EMT program in Pennsylvania, the student becomes ready to offer emergency services during any catastrophe.

Essential EMT Program Requirements


What is required to become eligible for enrolling in any program institute? This is a question, which clicks in the mind of every EMT aspirant. EMT program  can be availed by fulfilling the following mandatory requirements:

  • An age of 18 years or above is compulsory. Sometimes, there is leverage in age criteria, i.e., in the Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, students having an age of 16 can get admission. In this case, the students need to present with their parents or guardians in the first program class.
  • All the candidates should be capable of providing evidence of high school diploma or General Education Development.
  • The aspirants are ought to hold an authenticated driving license.
  • The EMT students are sometimes asked to show their placement reports.
  • All the applicants have to carry a CPR certification, which they require to maintain throughout the program session.
  • The aspirants must be able to read at 10th-grade level.
  • The candidates are required to go through a drug test.
  • They have to provide the test reports for a criminal background check.
  • The applicants have to show reports of various immunizations, like hepatitis B, measles, rubella, mumps, etc.
  • The candidates are also required to undergo Tdap vaccination to safeguard themselves from pertussis, chickenpox, tetanus, and diphtheria.
  • The applicants are also asked to go through a flu shot, a negative tuberculosis skin PPD test, and a negative chest x-ray.
  • All students must be capable of understanding the English language.
  • Lastly, the potential EMTs must be mentally & physically fit, so that, they can lift a minimum weight of 125 pounds alone and 250 pounds with other’s assistance.

Also know, EMT Salaries in the United States

Program Coursework

The state of Pennsylvania offers an effective program coursework to the EMT aspirants, which help them to qualify NREMT examinations and obtain a state license, easily. Like other states in the United States, Pennsylvania also maintains various levels of EMT program. The program is basically divided according to the skills used at basic and advanced life support emergencies. Therefore, the program levels are:

Basic Life Support (BLS)

This level focuses on the patients suffering from serious injuries or illness. This is a type of pre-hospital medical care, which can be provided without using any medical equipment. In Pennsylvania, the EMT program levels at BLS are:

  • EMR (Emergency Medical Responder): It is the basic or primary level of the program to gain knowledge of basic life support techniques. Under this level of the program, the EMT prospect learns various skills, including:
    • Oxygen administration
    • Safe use of auto-injector
    • Recognize signs and symptoms of illness or injury
    • Ventilation management
    • Defibrillation
    • Haemorrhage control
    • Awareness of hazardous materials
  • EMT (Emergency Medical Technician):  The second level of the program at BLS is EMT. When a student enters this level, he/she is considered to have complete knowledge of basic skills and learns to handle emergencies with advanced techniques, like the use of automated transport ventilator, cardiovascular emergencies, neurologic and respiratory emergencies.  

Advanced Life Support (ALS)

This is the level, which consists of various advanced life support skills and protocols. The student learns about tracheal intubation, needle cricothyrotomy, advanced cardiac support, intravenous cannulation (IV), and advanced medications. The levels of EMT program under ALS medical care in Pennsylvania are as follows:

  • EMT-P (Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic): An EMT-P is the first stage of ALS level of EMT program. At this stage of the program, students are acquainted with advanced procedures to be applied at the time of emergencies. A student is taught about managing artificial ventilation, usage of multi-lead ECGs, tracheobronchial suctioning, etc.
  • PHRN (Pre-hospital Registered Nurse): It is the second stage of program at ALS level, in which, a prospective EMT learns about determining the nature of injury, fluid replacement methods, cardiac resuscitation, shock treatment, advanced method of controlling haemorrhage, spinal immobilization, managing automated external defibrillators, and applying bandages on wounds.  
  • PHPE (Pre-hospital Physician Extender): PHPE is responsible to perform all EMT skills and use BLS equipments, properly. At this stage, a student learns about assistance during chest tube insertion, use of orogastric and nasogastric tube, use of protective equipments, and work as an advocate for patients.
  • PHP (Pre-hospital Physician): It is the last stage of the program at ALS level which enables a PHP to determine the nature of injury or illness, advanced airway management, use automatic transporter ventilator, multiple trauma management, interpret ECG tracing, and assistance in moving or lifting patients.    

Program Cost and Duration


EMT program in Pennsylvania instructs the applicants to develop their skills and utilize them in case of medical, safety, or accidental emergencies. The students can join any state- approved program school by going through two major aspects, i.e., cost and duration of the program. The length of the program usually varies from level to level, as:

  • EMT- B: The basic level of program gets complete in almost 8-11 weeks.
  • EMT- I: The intermediate level of program gets complete in 30-350 hours of program.
  • EMT- P: The paramedic level of EMT program takes 2 years to develop effective skills among the students.

Likewise, the cost of EMT program in the state of Pennsylvania is approximately $20,000.

State-Approved EMT Program Schools

Pennsylvania is a state, which has approved a large number of program schools to provide required program coursework to the EMT students. In this state, various universities and colleges are engaged in making a bright career of students in the field of emergency services. The list of EMT training schools, which are approved by the state of Pennsylvania, is:

  • Emergency Medical Services Institute
    Address: 1002 Church Hill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- 15205
    Contact number: 412-242-7322
    Fax: 412-787-2340
    Official Website: http://www.emsi.org/
  • California University of Pennsylvania
    Address: 250 University Avenue, California, Pennsylvania- 15419
    Contact Number: 724-938-4000
    Official Website: http://www.calu.edu/
  • Indiana University of Pennsylvania
    Address: 1011 South Drive, Indiana, Pennsylvania- 15705
    Contact Number: 724-357-2100
    Official Website: http://www.iup.edu/
  • Community College of Allegheny County
    Address: 8701 U.S. Route 19, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- 15237
    Contact Number: 412-366-7000
    Official Website: http://www.ccac.edu/
  • Westmoreland County Community College
    Address: 145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood, Pennsylvania- 15697
    Contact Number: 724-925-4000 / 1- 800-262-2103
    Official Website: https://wccc.edu/
  • Butler County Community College
    Address: 107 College Drive, Butler, Pennsylvania- 16002
    Contact Number: 724-287-8711 / 888-826-2829
    Fax: 724-285-6047
    Official Website: http://www.bc3.edu/
  • Center for Emergency Medicine
    Address: 230 McKee Place, Suite- 500, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- 15213
    Contact Number: 412-647-5300
    Fax: 412-647-4670
    Official Website: http://www.centerem.org/
  • Mutual Aid Ambulance Service
    Address: 561 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, Pennsylvania- 15601
    Contact Number: 724-837-6134
    Official Website: http://www.mutual-aid.com/
  • Community College of Beaver County
    Address: One Campus Drive, Monaca, Pennsylvania- 15061
    Contact Number: 724-480-2222
    Official Website: http://www.ccbc.edu/

  • Emergency Health Services Federation
    Address: 722 Limekiln Road New Cumberland, Pennsylvania- 17070-2354
    Contact Number: 717-774-7911
    Official Website: http://www.ehsf.org/
  • Harrisburg Area Community College
    Address: One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania- 17110-800
    Contact Number: 717-780-2400
    Official Website: http://www.hacc.edu/
  • Eastern Lebanon County School District
    Address: 180 ELCO Drive, Myerstown, Pennsylvania- 17067
    Contact Number: 717-866-7117
    Fax: 717-866-7084
    Official Website: http://www.elcosd.org/pages/ELCO
  • YTI Career Institute
    Address: 2900 Fairway Drive, Altoona, Pennsylvania- 16602
    Contact Number: 814-944-5643
    Fax: 814-944-5309
    Official Website: http://www.yti.edu/
  • Pennsylvania College of Technology
    Address: One College Avenue, Williamsport, Pennsylvania- 17701
    Contact Number: 570-326-3761 / 800-367-9222
    Official Website: http://www.pct.edu/schools/hs/
  • Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School
    Address: 110 Old Willow Mill Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania- 17050
    Contact Number: 717-697-0354
    Official Website: http://www.cpavts.org/
  • Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
    Address: 101 Community College Way, Johnstown, Pennsylvania- 15904
    Contact Number: 888-385-7325
    Official Website: http://www.pennhighlands.edu/
  • Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center
    Address: 445 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, Pennsylvania- 15904
    Contact Number: 1-814-266-1300 / 1-888-434-4436
    Official Website: http://gjctc.org/
  • Eastern PA EMS Council, Inc.
    Address: 4801 Kernville Road, Orefield, Pennsylvania- 18069
    Contact Number: 610-820-9212
    Official Website: http://www.easternemscouncil.org/
  • Lehigh Carbon Community College
    Address: 4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania- 18078
    Contact Number: 610-799-2121
    Official Website: http://www.lccc.edu/
  • Northampton Community College
    Address: 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania- 18020
    Contact Number: 610-861-5300
    Official Website: http://www.northampton.edu/
  • Reading Area Community College
    Address: 10 South Second Street, Reading, Pennsylvania- 19603
    Contact Number: 610-372-4721
    Official Website: http://www.racc.edu/
  • Bucks County Emergency Health Services
    Address: 911 Freedom Way, Ivyland, Pennsylvania- 18974
    Contact Number: 215-340-8735
    Fax:  215-957-0765
    Official Website: http://www.bcehs.com/
  • Fortis Institute
    Address: 5757 West 26th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania- 16506
    Contact Number: 814-838-7673
    Official Website: http://www.fortis.edu/
  • EMMCO East Regional EMS Council
    Address: 1411 Million Dollar Highway, Kersey, Pennsylvania- 15846-9726
    Contact Number: 814-834-9212
    Fax: 814-781-3881
    Official Website: http://www.emmcoeast.org/
  • EMMCO West, Inc.
    Address: 16271 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, Pennsylvania- 16335
    Contact Number: 814-337-5380
    Fax: 814-337-0871
    Official Website: http://www.emmco.org/
  • Chester County EMS Council, Inc.
    Address: 601 Westtown Road, Suite- 012, West Chester, Pennsylvania- 19380
    Contact Number: 610-344-5000
    Official Website: http://www.chescoems.org/

  • Good Fellowship Ambulance & EMS Program Institute
    Address: 600 Montgomery Avenue, West Chester, Pennsylvania- 19380
    Contact Number: 610-431-3132
    Fax: 610-840-0415
    Official Website: http://www.goodfellowship.com/
  • Southern Alleghenies EMS Council, Inc.
    Address: 123 Olde Farm Office Road, Duncansville, Pennsylvania- 16635
    Contact Number: 814-696-3200
    Fax: 814-696-0101
    Official Website: http://www.saems.com/
  • Seven Mountains EMS Council
    Address: 523 Dell Street, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania- 16823
    Contact Number: 814-355-1474
    Fax: 814-355-5149
    Official Website: http://www.smemsc.org/
  • Susquehanna EHS Council, Inc.
    Address: 265 Point Township Drive, Suite D, Northumberland, Pennsylvania- 17857
    Contact Number: 570-473-7834
    Fax: 570-473-7838
    Official Website: http://sehsc.org/
  • Delaware County Community College
    Address: 901 South Media Line Road, Media, Pennsylvania- 19063
    Contact Number: 610-359-5000
    Official Website: http://www.dccc.edu/
  • Luzerne County Community College
    Address: 1333 South Prospect Street, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania- 18634-3899
    Contact Number: 1-800-377-5222
    Official Website: http://www.luzerne.edu
  • Reading Health System
    Address: 6th Avenue, Spruce Street, West Reading, Pennsylvania- 19611
    Contact Number: 610-988-8000
    Official Website: https://www.readinghealth.org/
  • Lackawanna College
    Address: 501 Vine Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania- 18509
    Contact Number: 877-346-3552
    Official Website: http://www.lackawanna.edu/
  • Drexel University
    Address: 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- 19104
    Contact Number: 215-895-2000
    Official Website: http://www.drexel.edu/
  • Philadelphia Job Corps Center
    Address: 2810 South, 20th Street, Building 12, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- 19145-5001
    Contact Number: 267-386-2888
    Fax: 215-334-3675
    Official Website: http://philadelphia.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx

Contact Information

Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
Address: Health and Welfare Building, Room 1032,
7th and Forster Streets, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania- 17120
Contact Number: 717-787-8740

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