Emergency Medical Technician Classes Near Me in Colorado Springs
In the Colorado Springs metro, EMT classes cost about $1,295 on average and run roughly 8 weeks, a quick, affordable route into EMS.
Becoming an EMT in Colorado Springs starts with a state-approved training program that usually takes about one semester, with accelerated tracks finishing in a few months. After training, you pass the National Registry EMT exam and clear a fingerprint background check to earn Colorado certification. EMTs in the Colorado Springs metro earn a median wage of $46,180 a year based on 2025 BLS Data. Colorado certifies EMTs through the state health department on a three-year cycle, not the two-year cycle often listed for the national registry. Knowing that difference, along with the exam costs and the EMS employers based in El Paso County, gives you a clear picture of the path before you choose a program.
Key Points
- EMT training in Colorado Springs generally takes about one semester, with accelerated programs finishing in a few months.
- Most programs require applicants to be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or equivalent, with current CPR certification before clinical work.
- Certification runs through the state health department (CDPHE) and involves the NREMT cognitive exam, a state-administered skills exam, and a CBI and FBI fingerprint background check.
- Colorado EMT certification is valid for three years, tracked separately from the two-year National Registry cycle.
- EMTs in the Colorado Springs metro earn a median wage of $46,180 a year, compared with $41,340 nationally.
How to Become an EMT in Colorado Springs
An EMT (emergency medical technician) provides emergency medical care and transports patients, often as the first responder on scene. To work as one in Colorado Springs, you complete a state-approved EMT course, pass the National Registry exam, and earn Colorado certification. The fastest route is an accelerated EMT-Basic course, which condenses classroom work, skills labs, and clinical hours into a few months, while a standard course runs about one semester.
- Meet program requirements. Most EMT programs require applicants to be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have current CPR or basic life support certification before clinical work begins.
- Complete a state-approved EMT course. Colorado requires training through an approved EMS education program that combines classroom instruction, hands-on skills labs, and supervised clinical time. In Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak State College is one school offering an EMT certificate.
- Pass the exams. EMT candidates take the NREMT cognitive exam, which costs $104 per attempt, and complete a state-administered psychomotor skills exam.
- Clear a background check and apply. Submit CBI and FBI fingerprints within 60 days before or after your Colorado OATH application, then apply through the state's online hub to receive your three-year EMT certification.
If that path fits your plans, compare EMT training options in Colorado on Dreambound to see formats and start dates side by side.
EMT Certification in Colorado
Colorado certifies EMTs through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) rather than a separate licensing board. After you pass the NREMT cognitive exam and a state-administered psychomotor skills exam, you apply to the state with a fingerprint-based CBI and FBI background check and receive a certification valid for three years.
That three-year term runs separately from the two-year National Registry recertification cycle, so it helps to track both dates once you start working. You can review the full requirements for EMT certification through CDPHE before you apply. Fingerprints must be submitted within 60 days before or after your OATH application, and first-time candidates receive the three-year certificate once every requirement is met.
EMT Salary in Colorado Springs
EMTs in the Colorado Springs metro earn a median wage of $46,180 a year in May 2025, above the national EMT median of $41,340 back in May 2024. Pay varies with employer type, shift schedule, and experience, and moving from EMT to paramedic raises earning potential considerably.
Nationally, BLS projects 5% employment growth for EMTs and paramedics from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 19,000 openings a year across the country. Much of that comes from replacing workers who move into other roles or leave the field.
Where EMTs Work in Colorado Springs
EMTs in Colorado Springs work across ambulance services, fire agencies, and hospital systems. American Medical Response (AMR) provides emergency and non-emergency medical transport, including 911 ambulance service, across the Colorado Springs and El Paso County area. UCHealth operates EMS services and UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in the city, and the Colorado Springs Fire Department staffs emergency response across the metro. Beyond 911 response, EMTs also work in interfacility transport and event medical services.
Related Emergency Services Programs on Dreambound
Dreambound lets you compare training and degree programs across the United States in one place. The two programs below are advanced or adjacent options rather than entry-level EMT classes. If you are starting out, your first step is a state-approved EMT course. These fit people already working in emergency services or moving into emergency management.
AS in Emergency Medical Services - Columbia Southern University
- Format: Online
- Requires a current paramedic certification to apply
- Associate of Science built to advance the knowledge of those already working in EMS
BS in Emergency Management - Columbia Southern University
- Format: Online
- Bachelor of Science covering the disaster cycle, emergency management, and homeland security
- A related emergency-response field, not EMT training
If you already work in EMS, these two programs are worth comparing on Dreambound. If you are just starting out, a state-approved EMT course locally is your first step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is EMT training in Colorado?
EMT training in Colorado usually takes about one semester, or roughly three to four months. Accelerated EMT-Basic courses can finish faster, while part-time and evening formats may run longer. Programs combine classroom instruction, skills labs, and supervised clinical hours.
How much does EMT school cost in Colorado?
Program tuition varies by school and format, so it helps to compare current options rather than assume a single price. Beyond tuition, budget for the National Registry EMT cognitive exam at $104 per attempt, plus fingerprinting and background-check fees. Browse EMT programs on Dreambound to compare costs in your area.
How do you get an EMT license in Colorado?
Colorado certifies EMTs rather than licensing them, through the state health department. You complete a state-approved EMT course, pass the NREMT cognitive exam and a state-administered skills exam, and submit CBI and FBI fingerprints for a background check. Once approved, your certification is valid for three years.
Can you get your EMT certification online in Colorado?
Not entirely. The classroom portion of many EMT courses can be completed online, but the psychomotor skills labs and clinical hours must be done in person. Fully online EMT certification is not available in Colorado because hands-on skills testing is required.
Planning Your EMT Training in Colorado Springs
Colorado's three-year certification cycle and its fingerprint background-check step are the details worth confirming before you commit to a program, since they shape your timeline more than most candidates expect. With AMR, UCHealth, and the Colorado Springs Fire Department all running EMS operations in the metro, the training you choose is your entry point into that local system.
Compare EMT training programs in Colorado Springs on Dreambound to find a format and start date that work for you.