As the first point of contact in any medical crisis, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics provide critical, often life-saving care to ill or injured patients. Whether responding to a heart attack, car accident or crime victim, these highly-skilled first responders rapidly deliver medical assistance, help transport patients safely to hospitals and even administer advanced treatments enroute when needed.
With Miami‘s expanding population of over 6 million residents plus nearly 24 million annual visitors, ensure quality emergency response systems are vital. As a result, opportunities for dedicated individuals to fill this critical public safety role continue growing at a rapid pace.
This definitive guide provides an extensive overview of South Florida‘s high-quality EMT and Paramedic certificate and degree programs. Plus, it offers helpful guidance regarding careers, salaries, necessary certifications and more to put you firmly on the path to success.
Demand for Emergency Response Roles Keeps Climbing
Recent projections from Florida‘s state workforce agency highlight strong expected growth:
- Paramedic openings to expand over 15% by 2026 – Nearly 1,200 additional paramedic jobs statewide
- EMT roles to grow approximately 10% through 2026 – 400+ positions statewide
- Hefty demand in major metros like Miami, Tampa and Orlando
This outpaces the average job growth rate across all occupations in the sunshine state. Contributing factors include:
- Florida‘s aging populations requiring more emergency treatments
- Retiring first responders needing replacements
- Advances in emergency care procedures and technologies
While most EMTs and paramedics work in metropolitan areas, those willing to locate in small towns and rural areas may enjoy even more abundant openings. Let‘s explore the attractive payscales these essential healthcare workers can also earn.
Salaries Remain High for EMTs & Paramedics in Florida
The latest salary data reveals Florida EMTs and paramedics outearn national averages:
Florida
- EMTs – $35,750 mean annual wage
- Paramedics – $47,990 mean yearly pay
National
- EMTs – $36,370 mean yearly salary
- Paramedics – $39,980 average annual wage
Those working in hospital trauma centers, flight care teams and supervisory roles can potentially earn $55,000 – $70,000+ per year. Excellent salary growth potential also comes with experience and specializations like Critical Care Transport (CCT) or wildland fire Paramedicine.
Overview of Accredited Miami & South Florida Programs
Now that you see the vital role and solid earning potential, where can those in Miami get proper EMT and Paramedic training?
Students have several educational paths to gain licensure including:
- Certificate programs at private training centers
- College EMT and Paramedic Associate and Bachelor‘s degree programs
- Some fire departments and hospitals offer internal training
Most learn through targeted certificate or 2/4-year college programs blending classroom teaching, hands-on skills labs and extensive clinical rotations. Coursework covers areas like anatomy, physiology, emergency response procedures, ambulance operations, trauma care and more.
Let‘s explore some highly-regarded South Florida EMT & Paramedic program options in more detail.
Miami Dade College – EMT-Paramedic Program
As one of Florida‘s largest community colleges, Miami Dade College offers an acclaimed EMT-P program through its School of Health Sciences. This selective admission AS degree program includes 72 credit hours spanning 6 total semesters.
Distinctive program features:
- Format: Associate in Science (AS) Degree
- Length: 2 years (6 semesters)
- Coursework: Classwork plus over 600 hours clinical rotations
- Credits: 72 credits including 36 EMT-specific
- Certifications: EMT-Basic, EMT-Paramedic license
- Cost: Approximately $14,500 in-state; $53,500 out-of-state
- Competitive admission: Fall only, limited seats
This comprehensive program includes over 600 hours of supervised clinical work in hospital ERs, fire rescue trucks, ambulances and other field sites. Graduates can pursue careers across:
- Municipal Emergency Medical Services
- Hospitals
- Ambulance Transport Companies
- Special Operations Response Teams
- Critical Care Transport Teams
Pros
- Strong reputation & experienced faculty
- Excellent clinical rotation opportunities
- Diverse student networking opportunities
- Wide array of general Ed courses available
Cons
- Very competitive admissions
- Can be costly for out-of-state learners
- Limited specialty course offerings
To learn more, visit MDC‘s EMT & Paramedic Program page.
Florida National University – A.S. in Paramedic
Another attractive option is the Paramedic Associate Degree offered on Florida National University‘s main Hialeah campus. This 5-semester program delivers 75 credit hours spanning general education, paramedic skills labs and over 500 hours of supervised field work.
Details include:
- Format: Associate of Science Degree
- Length: 20 months
- Coursework: Range of general Ed & paramedic subjects
- Credits Earned: 75 credits
- Certifications: FL EMT-Paramedic license
- Cost: Approximately $26,000
Students have access to the program at FNU‘s recently upgraded Hialeah campus. The paramedic courses blend traditional classroon teaching with extensive hands-on skills practice. Learners also complete over 500 hours of field work aboard ambulances, fire trucks and hospital ERs to gain invaluable real-world experience.
Program advantages include:
Pros
- Strong faculty guidance & student support
- State-of-the-art campus lab facilities
- Direct work with EMTs onsite at hospitals/EMS
- Solid graduate job placement rate
Cons
- Can be costlier than public options
- Limited enrollment periods per year
- Few general education degree options
Get additional information by visiting Florida National University‘s paramedic degree overview.
Broward College – A.S. in Emergency Medical Services
Since starting its initial EMT program back in 1973, Broward College has cemented a reputation for paramedic training excellence. Its Paramedic Associate Degree offers 72 credit hours spanning 5 semesters of coursework tailored to equip graduates for EMT/Paramedic certification.
Paramedics program quick facts:
- Format: Associate in Science Degree
- Length: 2 years
- Coursework: General Ed & paramedic subjects; 500+ clinical hours
- Credits Earned: 72 credit hours
- Certifications: FL EMT-Paramedic license
- Cost: Approximately $8,500 in-state; $18,500 out-of-state
Students complete clinical rotations across multiple ERs and EMS stations through the county. The college partners extensively with area hospitals and public safety agencies for hand-on emergency response workshops and symposiums.
Pros
- Strong reputation & long history
- High graduate satisfaction ratings
- Flexible learning options
- Solid job placement rates
Cons
- Lower admissions rate
- Can have extensive waitlists
- Out-of-state learners pay more
Get more details on Broward‘s paramedic program at the college‘s website.
Additional Accredited Program Options
Beyond these, students can find other quality programs including:
- Keiser University – Bachelor’s in Public Safety Administration combining paramedic training on multiple campuses
- South Florida Institute of Technology – A.S. in Emergency Medical Services program in Miami Lakes
- Emergency Training Center of South Florida – EMT and paramedic certificate programs through multiple south FL locations
- Various fire departments and hospitals offer internal EMT training as another pathway
With ample great options locally, those committed to securing proper education and hands-on experiences need not look very far. Next let‘s examine key factors to weigh when selecting the right EMT/Paramedic program in Miami.
Choosing the Best Paramedic Training – Key Selection Criteria
All programs are not created equal. When researching the many local options, here are some key aspects savvy students consider:
Accreditation & Certifications
Seeking out CAAHEP-accredited programs validates quality curriculum and training standards are met. Also confirm the provider prepares you for required Florida state EMT-B or Paramedic certification exams.
Costs & Financial Assistance Availability
Carefully assess the full costs – tuition, administrative fees, books, supplies, uniforms, immunizations, equipment, etc. Also investigate potential financial aid opportunities through grants, scholarships or student loans to help defray expenses.
Hand-on Training & Clinicals Offered
Look for ample practical skills training in campus labs plus extensive clinical rotations scheduled. These supervised field experiences within working Emergency Departments, ambulance runs and fire rescue crews are invaluable for honing response capabilities alongside seasoned professionals.
Instructor Experience & Job Partnerships
Programs with instructors holding Paramedic or EMT certifications with field experience offer helpful mentoring and networking. Also seek schools closely partnered with area employers that assist with internships, externships and job placement.
Getting trained by pros and having employer relationships provides graduates huge advantages when securing that first paramedic or EMT position.
Overview of the Paramedic & EMT Certification Process
Let‘s take a quick look at navigating Florida‘s EMT and Paramedic certification process. below are the key steps to licensure:
- Successfully complete certificate or degree program covering required competencies
- Pass cognitive and psychomotor skills portions of Florida‘s state EMT/Paramedic exams
- Submit state EMT or Paramedic license application with fees to Florida‘s Department of Health Bureau of EMS
- Pass federal and state background checks required for licensure
- Maintain ongoing continuing education requirements to uphold certification
National testing is also available through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). This allows certified providers to more readily transfer licenses between states.
Get helpful EMT and Paramedic testing resources at EMT-National-Training.com.
The Many Career Settings & Responsibilities of Paramedics
Once properly credentialed, paramedics can pursue opportunities across a myriad of emergency response entities:
EMS & Ambulance Services
- Municipal EMS departments
- Private ambulance companies
- Air medical transport teams
Hospitals
- ER/Trauma departments
- Specialty care units
- Disaster response teams
Public Safety
- Fire departments
- Law enforcement agencies
- Park rangers
Special Event Services
- Venue emergency care support
- Concert/festival medical teams
- Sports stadium medical response
Industrial
- Oil rigs, mines, construction sites
- Remote location paramedicine
No matter the setting, most paramedics share similar types of job responsibilities:
- Responding rapidly to emergency calls with ambulance or fire crews
- Conducting patient evaluations at the scene
- Determining necessary interventions & transport protocols
- Administering medications, oxygen therapy or advanced treatments enroute
- Monitoring and reporting on patient vitals to hospital ER teams
Skilled paramedics adeptly provide a range of advanced supportive treatments including starting IVs, administering drugs, performing defibrillation and manually stabilizing fractures, wounds or trauma. Strong assessment, critical thinking and communications skills allow these healthcare professionals to restore stability during highly stressful crisis situations.
Outlook for Job Growth Remains Strong
The positive job growth outlook highlighted earlier looks set to keep opportunities plentiful for newly credentialed EMTs and paramedics in Miami and statewide. This undersupply of emergency response personnel across Florida is projected to persist as communities continue expanding.
To learn about specific openings, bookmark and explore these EMS job sites:
- Florida Health Jobs
- Florida Hirer
- Florida EMS Association job board
- Area EMS staffing agencies
- County Fire Department career pages
- Area hospital ER career sites
Start an Exciting Career Saving Lives
From glittering downtown highrises to residential communities, EMTs and Paramedics provide critical healthcare response touching many lives daily in Miami. Whether launching or advancing an emergency medical career, ample rewarding opportunities exist to use your skills in truly making a lifesaving difference across the region.
By picking a quality local program, dedicated individuals can leverage knowledgeable instruction, extensive clinical placements and employer partnerships. Before long, graduates can join the esteemed ranks of emergency response professionals supporting community health and safety across greater Miami.
To get started, reach out to admissions counselors at one or more of the providers above. Discover how proper EMT and Paramedic education can put you on a direct path to securing licensure as well as gainful employment doing meaningful, lifesaving work that keeps our communities safer.