Which California Schools Offer Paramedic Training?
Learn about paramedic schools in California. Get information about programs available and admission requirements to make an informed decision about your education.
Preview these four schools from California with paramedic training. Learn about the certificate and degree options for paramedics in the area.
What You Need to Know
Depending on which program you select, you could earn a paramedic certificate in six to 18 months. These programs typically provide the training needed to prepare you to pass the certification exam. You could also earn an associate's degree in the field. A degree program takes 2-3 years to complete and includes general education requirements.
Discover Accredited Online Programs
Find the program that works best for you and apply today.
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you reach them. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you.
University of Maryland Global Campus
University of Maryland Global Campus provides affordable, achievable, and flexible pathways to a college degree for adult learners. With over 90 degrees and certificates, UMGC is built to fit your schedule and goals.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina offers a wide range of online programs designed for working adults. Earn your degree from a nationally recognized institution with flexible scheduling and strong academic support.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers more than 300 online degree programs, certificates and courses. ASU Online delivers the same rigorous academic programs as on campus, with the flexibility you need to succeed.
Paramedic Certificate Programs in California
American River College
American River College (ARC) in Sacramento offers a 1-year paramedic certificate program. To earn the certificate, students must complete roughly 36-43 credit hours in classes and labs, as well as field and clinical experiences. Alternatively, ARC offers a paramedic associate's degree program, which requires the completion of additional general education coursework. In addition to tuition, students must pay roughly $1,200 in start-up costs for items like uniforms, malpractice insurance and lab fees.
- Program Name: Paramedic Certificate
- Program Length: 12 months, full-time
- Tuition and Fees: $1,288 per year for in-state; $9,760 per year for out-of-state (2020-2021)
- Prerequisites: 'C' or better in anatomy, physiology, nursing and premed coursework
- Requirements: Current EMT-1 (Basic) certification, 1 year of EMT experience and high school diploma
- School Type: 2-year, public; 31,265 undergraduate students
Foothill College
Located in Los Altos Hills, near San Jose, California, Foothill College offers a paramedic certificate program for students seeking to enter this career field. At least 56.5 units of credit are required to graduate. Due to the intense nature of this program, the college recommends that students work no more than 2-3 days per week while enrolled. Foothill also offers an associate's degree program, which requires 96.5 credits, including general education courses.
- Program Name: Paramedic Certificate
- Program Length: 12-18 months
- Tuition and Fees: $1,563 per year for in-state; $10,248 per year for out-of-state (2020-2021)
- Prerequisites: Pass a math course or achieve a satisfactory score on the Foothill College Placement Test
- Requirements: 6 months of EMT experience, current CPR and EMT-1 (Basic) licenses and high school diploma or GED
- School Type: 2-year, public; 15,123 undergraduate students
City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco (CCSF) offers a paramedic certificate program that will prepare you for the national paramedic licensure exam. Coursework includes paramedic theory courses about topics like trauma and cardiac care, job roles and human systems. There's also an associate's degree program that combines paramedic training with general education courses. For both programs, the curriculum includes a 12-credit field experience in addition to classroom training.
- Program Name: Certificate of Achievement in Paramedic
- Program Length: About 18 months
- Tuition and Fees: $1,165 per year for in-state; $8,317 per year for out-of-state (2020-2021)
- Prerequisites: Score of 75% or higher on EMT review test
- Requirements: EMT-1 (Basic) certification and 6 months of field experience (recommended)
- School Type: 2-year, public; 24,441 students (all undergraduate)
Mt. San Antonio College
Located in Walnut, California, near Los Angeles, Mt. San Antonio College (MTSAC) offers a paramedic certificate program that lasts 29 weeks and offers 3 start dates annually. All students must complete a pre-course before embarking on program training. There are 39 total units in the program, including clinical and field internships. In addition to its certificate offering, MTSAC also allows paramedic students to earn an associate's degree.
- Program Name: Certificate of Completion for Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic
- Program Length: Just over 6 months
- Tuition and Fees: $1,350 per year for in-state; $10,590 per year for out-of-state (2020-2021)
- Prerequisites: Passing scores on the school's college placement examination, credit for equivalent coursework or a college degree; completion of EMS-1 Fundamentals for Paramedics
- Requirements: EMT-1 (Basic) license, 6 months of EMT experience, physical exam, ambulance driver's license and valid CPR card
- School Type: 2-year, public; 29,799 students (all undergraduate)
Paramedic Associate's Degree Programs in California
American River College
The large suburban campus of ARC is located in the northern part of Sacramento. ARC's paramedic certificate program requires just 1 year of full-time paramedic study, but students who'd like to earn an associate's degree must complete a total of 60 credit hours in both paramedic training and general education courses. Students who take 15 credits per semester should be able to complete the program in about 2 years.
- Program Name: Paramedic Associate in Science
- Program Length: Usually 2-2.5 years, full-time
- Tuition and Fees: $1,288 per year for in-state; $9,760 per year for out-of-state (2020-2021)
- Prerequisites: Grade of 'C' or higher in anatomy, nursing, physiology and paramedicine coursework
- Requirements: 1 year of EMT experience, current EMT-1 (Basic) certification and a high school diploma
- School Type: 2-year, public; 31,265 undergraduate students
City College of San Francisco
Completion of CCSF's paramedic associate's degree program will qualify you to sit for local and national paramedic certification/licensure exams. The coursework for the major includes classroom and practical instruction, as well as both field and clinical internships, for a total of 12 classes (53 credits). To earn the associate's degree, though, you'll need to complete a minimum of 8 general education courses in areas like natural science and humanities. You may also need to complete a math course if you aren't able to test out of it.
- Program Name: Associate in Science Degree with a Major in Paramedic Training
- Program Length: Usually between 2.5 and 3 years, full-time
- Tuition and Fees: $1,165 per year for in-state; $8,317 per year for out-of-state (2020-2021)
- Prerequisites: Pass EMT review test with score of 75% or higher
- Requirements: 6 months of field experience (recommended) and EMT-1 (Basic) certification
- School Type: 2-year, public; 24,441 students (all undergraduate)
In California, Mt. San Antonio College, Foothill College, City College of San Francisco, and American River College all provide certificate programs in paramedic training, with the latter two also offering associate's degrees in the field.
