EMT to Paramedic - Advance Your Emergency Services Career

As an emergency medical technician (EMT), you are usually the first to arrive at the scene of accidents, injuries, and medical emergencies, providing quick, expert care to treat patients.

If you are ready to advance to become a paramedic, then the Emergency Medical Services certificate is the right choice for your career goals.

Paramedics have more advanced training than EMTs, and in addition to providing respiratory, cardiac, and trauma care, they are able to administer medicine and use more complex monitors and equipment. From here, you could continue to earn the associate of applied science degree in emergency medical services, which will give you even more career options and flexibility.

Faculty Contact

Jon Longest, Program Director
Health Professions and Athletics Center
Room 203C
410-822-5400 ext. 2724 [email protected]

1.5
Years to Complete
(full-time student)
15:1
Student-Faculty
Ratio
$7,500
Tuition
(in-county)

If you already have your EMT certification (either National Registration or Maryland) and are ready to advance your skills to become a paramedic, this program will give you the education and training you need to sit for the national certification or state protocol examination.

The curriculum follows the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards.

The emergency medical services certificate program is for students who:

  • Are already certified as EMTs and want to advance to paramedic
  • Want to prepare for entry-level paramedic positions
  • Important: You must have your EMT Certification, either National Registry or Maryland, to qualify for this program. Additional admission requirements apply, speak to an advisor or view the College Catalog for more details.

When you complete this program, you will know how to:

  • Implement advanced patient assessments, clinical skills and therapeutic procedures on medical and trauma patients
  • Develop treatment plans for patients suffering from medical illness or traumatic injuries
  • Interpret collected data from charts and patients
  • Perform and interpret diagnostic procedures
  • Communicate effectively with patients, families, and other medical professionals
  • Evaluate professional responsibilities concerning ethical issues that may be present in an emergency medical services environment
  • Apply critical thinking skills to assess and treat patients in emergency settings

The Paramedic/EMS Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Chesapeake is a great place to start your EMS training in Maryland.

Cohort Graduation Year 2017 2018 2019-1 2019-2 2020 2021 2022 Average
Number of Graduates 13 7 14 9 10 13 12 78 Total
Retention 93% 100% 100% 90% 71% 65% 60% 83%
Positive Job Placement 92% 100% 92% 100% 100% 100% 92% 97%
National Registry Written Test 92% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 83% 96%

This information is intended only to assist with planning, providing an estimate of the expenses EMS students may anticipate. The actual cost may vary and is subject to change. The tuition costs are based off the “in-county residence” rates.

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be eligible for, and receive, an actual financial aid award that includes Federal grant, loan, or work-study assistance. For more information, see below.

EMS 519 (Certificate) Estimated Costs

Tuition and Fees: $5,305
EMS Lab Fees  $890
Text Books: $300
Uniforms  $100
Background Checks: $120
Shoes for clinical: $100
Stethoscope $72-120
Physical examination and immunization: Varies
National Registry Cognitive Exam $175 (per attempt)

Total Estimated Program Costs: $7, 062

The application period for this program is from January 15 through March 31 for  admission into the Fall cohort.

Admission to this program is limited, therefore, selection is competitive. Not yet an EMT? Start here.

Application Process

Apply to Chesapeake College

Completing our online application is always the first step. Chesapeake is an open admissions institution, with start dates in spring, summer, fall and winter. Once your application has been submitted, you’ll receive an email confirmation with additional details for submitting your supplemental items, including information about Placement Testing (as needed), Official Transcripts, and other important documentation. (Check in your SPAM folder if you don’t see it in your inbox.)

Complete the Program Application
Once you’ve applied to the College (step 1 above), you must also apply to the program. Admission into this program is competitive. Please complete the program-specific application at the link below. Note that this application requires the following: 

  • Unofficial high school & college transcripts
  • GED certificate (if applicable)
  • Current Maryland or National Registry EMT card
  • Results from Placement Testing
  • Verification of EMT experience from eMEDs.
  • Two supervisor evaluations

APPLICATION OPENS JANUARY 15

Financial Aid & Scholarships

It’s never too early to explore the many financial aid and scholarship options available to you. Regardless of your financial situation, it is so important to first complete the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing the FAFSA allows us to offer you the greatest possible amount of financial aid. Once your FAFSA is complete, be sure to apply for scholarships from the Chesapeake College Foundation. One application opens up the door to hundreds of potential scholarships.

Program Admission Decision

Program admission decisions are different from the general college admissions process. All students are admitted to the college—the EMS program, however, is competitive. Not all applicants will be accepted. Once program applications have been submitted on March 31, the director will evaluate all EMS candidates.

Decisions for the EMS program will be released via email in late April or early May. 

Pay & Prep
Pay either at the time of registration, or by the due date on your bill. Deferred tuition payment plans are available to students whose bills exceed $100. Before the semester begins, buy your textbooks and other needed supplies, check out the location of your courses, and get ready for your first day of class by attending a New Student Orientation session.

EMS FAQs

General Information

This webpage contains all you need to know about Chesapeake’s EMS program.

The college offers EMT and paramedic education. (EMS 518/519). You can find out more about the different levels of clinicians here.

No. You can become a Nationally Registered Paramedic without an affiliation, but Maryland will require it before issuing your Maryland license.

Yes. It is a national requirement that all paramedic students be certified as an EMT first (regardless of other medical certifications/licenses).

Yes, the national requirements state that all students be at least 18 years old on the first day of paramedic class. (Does not apply to pre-requisite classes.)

No, but experience is desired, applicants are awarded more admissions points based on the number of EMS calls they have handled.

Yes. Please refer to the EMS Application Checklist above for more information. EMS 518 and 519 have different pre-requisites.

For the Fall I, Spring, and Fall II semesters: Classes will meet every Tuesday or Thursday and about 5 Sundays per term. The classes start at 8:30 AM and end at 4:30 PM. Cohorts starting in odd years have classes on Thursdays.  This is a hybrid program.

Yes, the college’s clinical partners require this to be completed before the first clinical class.

The students will start this process in the first fall semester.

MIEMSS will also perform another criminal background check when the graduate applies for a Maryland license.

Employers may also perform a criminal background check and/or drug screening.

No, the college and clinical partners use Pre-Check for this process.

Application Process

Yes. The applications can be submitted from the website. The application period opens January 15th and the applications are due March 31st. The EMS Application Checklist above should be used as a guide.

No. We request that applicants adhere to the schedule.

The EMS Program Director will send applicants an email in late April or early May with the admission decision.

Maximum of twenty new students per cohort.

Estimated Cost

Additional EMS-specific questions? Contact Mr. Jon Longest at [email protected].

equipped for the FUTURE

Start Here. Go Anywhere.

Chesapeake’s degrees transfer where you want to go.

If specific transfer agreements for this program are in place, they will be listed below.
Not seeing your dream university listed here? No worries! Chances are, we can create a transfer agreement specific to your needs. Our advisors will help you plan every credit on your way to your bachelor’s degree.

Apply for Scholarships

This program qualifies for many of our institutional scholarships. Complete one application, and be considered for hundreds of potential scholarships. Make sure to complete your FAFSA as well to receive as much funding as possible.

An emergency medical services certificate can help open the door to your next career. Scroll through the options here to explore careers in healthcare, including projected growth in our five-county service area, and average salary information.

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