EMT Training Program Overview
Learn how to provide emergency medical care to people in critical situations with Cambridge College's EMT training. Acquire skills in symptom recognition and emergency care procedures and techniques.
This program can be taken as a pre-baccalaureate certificate or a post-baccalaureate certificate. Courses in this training program are taught in a hybrid format through scheduled remote classes via Zoom and in-person classes at our Boston campus.
EMT Training Program Highlights
The Cambridge College EMT program offers multiple schedules and a hybrid format (a mix of online and on-campus classes) to make it easier for you to fit the coursework into your life. We offer 6-week, 10-week and 12-week programs. Space for this program is limited.
Program Benefits
- Convenient location: The Cambridge College Boston/Charlestown campus offers free parking and is on the Orange Line (Sullivan Station). The facility offers state-of-the-art classrooms, comfortable study spaces, computer labs and more.
- Experienced faculty: This accredited program was developed by faculty with more than two decades of emergency medical education experience. It is endorsed by seasoned EMT training professionals who have proven track records of educating successful, employed graduates.
- Earn a degree: You will earn 12 credits toward an undergraduate degree at Cambridge College by successfully completing this program.
- Continuing education for professional recertification: Cambridge College will offer continuing education for EMTs using the latest National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) recertification model. EMTs require a total of 40 hours of continuing education in EMS (20 hours of the National Continued Competency Requirement, 10 hours of individual continuing education and 10 hours of local/state continuing education).
Program Schedule
THE FALL SESSION IS CLOSED. WE ARE NOW ENROLLING FOR SPRING 2026.
Choose the EMT Training program schedule that works best for you. (Program schedules are subject to change.)
Falll 2025
Hybrid EMT Course - Section 1 (M/W/S)
September 8 - December 10
12-week programs will be offered in the evening on Mondays and Wednesdays, with on-campus labs on Saturdays:
- Mondays, 6-10 p.m. (remote)
- Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m. (remote)
- Saturdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (in person)
Fall 2025
Hybrid EMT Course - Section 2 (T/Th/S)
September 9 - December 11
12-week programs will be offered in the evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with on-campus labs on Saturdays:
- Tuesdays, 6-10 p.m. (remote)
- Thursdays, 6-10 p.m. (remote)
- Saturdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (in person)
EMT Careers
As an EMT, you’ll be qualified to work in a variety of settings or to pursue further education toward becoming a paramedic or other medical professional.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts is one of the top-paying states for EMTs. In Boston, the mean annual wage for EMTs is $50,290.*
$50,290
Mean annual wage for EMTs in Boston*
#5
Top-paying state for EMTs*
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 29-2042 Emergency Medical Technicians, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292042.htm (visited December 28, 2023).
EMT Jobs
As a certified EMT, you could work in settings such as:
- Hospital emergency departments as an ED technician
- Fire departments
- Ambulances
- Security departments
- Oil rigs (on- or off-shore)
- Scuba diving teams
- Search & rescue teams
- Cruise ships
- Hotels & resorts
- Casinos
- Film and TV sets
Career paths also include:
- Emergency dispatcher
- Member of a disaster medical team
- Police officer
- Harbormaster
- Athletic trainer
- Nursing assistant
- Lifeguard
- Health information technician
- Aquatics manager
- Emergency equipment service technician
- Forensic science technician
- Wildlife or wilderness EMT
- Ski patrol EMT
- Sporting EMT
- Event EMT
- EMS educator
- Safety representative for a construction company
Program Costs
The total cost of the program is $1,600, which includes your student fee and textbooks. There is a maximum class size per course and students are admitted on a first come, first serve basis. The $250 deposit reserves your spot in a course, and is deducted from your tuition cost.
Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to take the state practical exam ($175) and the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) cognitive exam ($104) to become a certified EMT. Note that to work in Massachusetts as an EMT, a MA State Certification application fee of $150 is also required. Also note that the practical exam fee for exam candidates not trained by Cambridge College is $225.
- Is the program synchronous or asynchronous? The Cambridge College EMT Program follows a synchronous class format. Here’s how it works:
- Online Lectures: These are synchronous, meaning they happen at a set meeting time and involve live interaction with an instructor, even though they’re conducted online.
- Practical Skills Sessions: These are also synchronous, meaning they happen at a set meeting time and are held in person at the Boston campus, again with live instructor interaction.
- So, while parts of the program are online, none of it is asynchronous—you’ll need to attend scheduled sessions, whether online or in person.
- Can I make up a class? Yes, you can potentially make up a missed class, but it’s not guaranteed and depends on several factors. Here’s how it works:
- Standard Policy: Typically, missed classes are made up during the same class session in the following semester.
- Possible Exceptions: You may be able to make up a class sooner, but this depends on: instructor availability, classroom availability and whether there’s a minimum number of students who also need the same class/topic.
- All make-up arrangements are handled on a case-by-case basis, and you’ll need to coordinate with the instructor and/or Program Director. So, while it’s not automatic, it’s definitely worth reaching out if you miss a session.
- 100% attendance is mandatory to be eligible for EMT certification through the Cambridge College program. That’s super important to keep in mind. Here’s what that means for you: You need to attend every single scheduled class, whether it’s remote or in person. Missing a class could put your certification at risk, unless you’re able to arrange a make-up (which is not guaranteed and depends on specific conditions like instructor and classroom availability). This rule applies because EMT training is hands-on and time-sensitive, and both classroom and practical hours are closely tracked. If you’re worried about scheduling conflicts, it’s a good idea to discuss that upfront with the Program Director.
- Do I need to be in person for the classes or can I attend remotely? You’ll need to attend both in-person and remote classes—the Cambridge College EMT program is hybrid. Here’s the breakdown:
- Remote (Online) Days: Held on specific scheduled dates, conductedlive with real-time interaction with an instructor, you’ll still need to be online at a set time—it’s not self-paced.
- In-Person Days (Boston Campus): Held on specific scheduled dates, conducted live with real-time interaction with an instructor. Required for hands-on skills training.EMT work involves practical physical skills that can’t be adequately taught online. For example, patient assessment, CPR, airway management, splinting and immobilization techniques.
- Bottom Line: you must be available to attend both remote and in-person sessions on scheduled days. This isn’t a fully online course—you’ll need to go to the Boston campus for certain parts.
- What do I need in order to be eligible for EMT certification? To be eligible for EMT certification through the Cambridge College program, here’s what you need to have completed:
- Complete a State-Approved EMT Training Program - You must successfully finish the course as outlined by the program.
- 100% Attendance - Every class session—whether remote or in-person—is mandatory. Missing any part of the course could disqualify you unless an approved make-up is arranged.
- Complete All Assignments - Every assignment, quiz, or practical component must be submitted and passed.
- Earn the Minimum Passing Grade - You need to achieve at least the program’s minimum passing score in both written and practical evaluations.
- Once all of that is completed, you’ll be eligible to take the NREMT exam or your state’s licensing exam.
- What is the difference between NREMT and EMT? Great question! Here’s the difference between NREMT and EMT:
- An EMT is a healthcare professional trained to provide emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients. EMTs are often the first healthcare providers on the scene and are trained in basic life support (BLS), such as CPR, bleeding control, splinting fractures, airway management, administering certain medications. Becoming an EMT usually involves completing a state-approved EMT course and passing both written and practical exams.
- The NREMT is not a job title—it’s a certifying organization. When people say they are "NREMT certified," they mean they have passed the national certification exams provided by the NREMT for a specific level (like EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic). The NREMT exam is the standardized test used by many states to certify EMTs. Once you pass it, you become nationally certified. Some states require NREMT certification to become a licensed EMT; others may have their own process.
EMT Admissions Application
Click the link below to apply for the Cambridge College EMT training program in Boston. After acceptance, you will be required to register for the class in which you would like to enroll.