Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Services (EMT)
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics respond to emergency situations, perform various medical services and assist with transportation of patients to medical facilities. Our students are trained in many critical skills such as CPR, giving patients oxygen and administering glucose to diabetics. EMTs can perform many medical services which do not require breaking skin such as starting an intravenous line or administering injections. Certified paramedics can administer medications, provide advanced airway management, resuscitate patients and support patients with significant problems such as heart attacks or trauma. Our program is made available through coordination with Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital EMS System.
In our EMS program, you will:
- Gain competency to provide excellent patient care
- Learn and practice your skills in the community to gain real-world, emergency experience
- Participate in an 11 month internship as part of the paramedic program
- Prepare to become a certified paramedic or earn an EMT-Basic license in The State of Illinois
Degrees and Certificates
Program Details
Our emergency medical services program is nationally accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP), with peer review conducted by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
The goal of the Kishwaukee College Paramedic Training Program is to prepare paramedics who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.
- We'll prepare you for a career as an emergency medical technician or certified paramedic.
- The National Career Clusters Framework created a tool to help you find a career that suits your interests and skills. Our emergency medical services program is part of the Health Science career cluster.
- Classroom instruction and labs are held on campus in our modern facilities.
- Paramedic clinical rotations are held at various local locations in conjunction with Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital EMS System.
- Students in our emergency medical services program (EMT-basic and paramedic) are qualified to take a licensure exam through Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital EMS System. Graduates may elect to take the Illinois State Licensing Exam or the National Registry Exam.
- Those who complete a certificate in paramedic may choose to continue their studies to earn an associate degree.
- Each student who successfully completes the paramedic program and obtains a license will also be recognized/certified as a provider in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS).
Paramedic Program
Along with applying to Kish, students seeking admission into the paramedic program must meet special program requirements and complete a separate application. Applications for the Fall 2025-Summer 2026 program are due by 3 pm Friday, April 18.
EMT Program
Students seeking admission into the EMT program must meet special program requirements. No program application is required.
2024
- NREMT Paramedic Exam Pass Rate - 100%
- Cohort Retention Rate - 90%
- Positive Job Placement - 100%
2023
- NREMT Paramedic Exam Pass Rate - 100%
- Cohort Retention Rate - 75%
- Positive Job Placement - 100%
2022
- NREMT Paramedic Exam Pass Rate - 50%
- Cohort Retention Rate - 100%
- Positive Job Placement - 50%
2021
- NREMT Paramedic Exam Pass Rate - 80%
- Cohort Retention Rate - 83.3%
- Positive Job Placement - 100%
The Emergency Medical Services program is designed to prepare students to apply for licensure or certification in Illinois. Program completion may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in a state other than Illinois.