Anyone considering EMS jobs, including EMTs and paramedics, should know that having the proper education and training in the field is crucial to your future career path.
The outlook for EMS jobs is bright, with the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that the industry will grow faster than normal through 2012. There will be strong competition for high-paying jobs as positions shift away from volunteer services and toward paid professionals.
That means having the proper education and training is even more important if you want to have a chance of competing against other potential candidates in the field. While some states require EMTs and paramedics to register with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and some offer their own certification test, there are some higher educational programs in the field that can better prepare students than others.
The top three schools for those preparing for EMS jobs, as compiled by U.S. News & World Report, are:
- Drexel University – This school, located in Philadelphia, Pa., allows students to obtain an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in emergency medical services. The university has 11,960 undergrad students, while incoming freshmen have an average high school GPA of 3.5 and more than 40 percent received a score of 1000 to 1099 on their SAT. The school has a 1:10 faculty to student ratio and tuition averages $23,250.
- Drury University – Located in Springfield, Mo., this school boasts an average freshmen retention rate of 82 percent. The university has 1,562 undergrad students and incoming freshmen have an average high school GPA of 3.7. More than 40 percent of incoming freshmen received a score of 24 to 29 on their ACT, while more than 40 percent had a score of 1000 to 1099 on their SAT. The school has a 1:12 faculty to student ratio and tuition averages $14,669.
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County – This school is considered one of the top research universities in the country. The university has 9,668 undergrad students and incoming freshmen have an average high school GPA of 3.5. More than 50 percent of incoming freshmen received a score of 24 to 29 on their ACT, while more than 40 percent received a score of 1200 to 1299 on their SAT. The university has a 1:19 faculty to student ratio and tuition averages $8,520 for in-state students and $16,596 for out-of-state students.
