Student Resources
Wake Tech EMS Program
Your path to becoming a credentialed EMS professional starts here.
Apply Now · Registration & Orientation
How it works
The path to becoming an EMS professional starts with the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course. EMT courses are typically one semester, or about 4½ months. After you complete the EMT course, you're eligible to take the North Carolina and/or National Registry credentialing exam.
Once credentialed, an EMT can work for an EMS agency, fire department or medical facility.
EMTs who want to go further can take courses to earn their Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) or Paramedic credential. After completing either course, you're eligible for the North Carolina and/or National Registry credentialing exam.
Wake Tech offers two pathways to become a credentialed EMS professional: Non-Degree (CE) and Degree (CU). You can apply for any course at the bottom of this page.
Choose your pathway
Open each pathway below to compare. For a full side-by-side comparison, see CE vs CU Pathways.
CE Pathway (Continuing Education)
Also known as: non-degree, non-credit or workforce.
What it means: offered through Workforce Continuing Education (Public Safety Division). It does not lead to an initial degree. After you earn a credential from the NC Office of EMS or the National Registry of EMTs, you can receive credit toward an Associate Degree in Applied Science: Emergency Medical Science, based on specific criteria and processes.
Courses include: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), AEMT-to-Paramedic Bridging, Paramedic.
Schedule: flexible; courses can start at any time during the year.
Financial aid: fee waivers are available for eligible NC fire department, 9-1-1 and law enforcement personnel. Federal financial aid does not apply to CE courses.
Expense: typically less expensive than the CU pathway. You pay for the entire course as one unit.
CU Pathway (Curriculum Education)
Also known as: degree or credit.
What it means: applies to the Associate Degree Paramedic and Paramedic Bridge Option. Offered through Curriculum Education Services (Public Safety Division) and leads to an Associate Degree in Applied Science: Emergency Medical Science.
Schedule: semester-based; courses begin in January, May or August.
Financial aid: federal financial aid can be applied to CU courses. Fee waivers do not apply.
Expense: typically costs more, because it includes a collection of courses leading to a credential plus general education courses. You pay per credit hour.
Course descriptions and eligibility
The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Course
Overview: This course introduces basic emergency medical care. Topics include preparatory, airway, patient assessment, medical emergencies, trauma, infants and children, and operations.
Eligibility: Meet the following criteria before entering the EMT course. Submit all of the information below before registering. Registration is not complete until every eligibility requirement is met.
The candidate MUST:
Be at least 17 years of age on or before the official end date of the course. High school students under 18 may have to complete a minor release form.
Complete the current reading and writing assessment test and score basic reading comprehension at the eleventh grade level. (Students with a high school or college transcript showing successful completion of an English course beyond the eleventh grade level are exempt from the reading and writing assessments.)
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Course
Overview: This course provides the essential information on pre-hospital management techniques appropriate to the Advanced EMT level. Topics meet current credentialing and/or regulatory guidelines for the Advanced EMT as outlined by the NC Office of EMS.
Eligibility: Meet the following criteria before entering the AEMT course. Submit all of the information below before registering. Registration is not complete until every eligibility requirement is met.
The candidate MUST:
Possess certification as a North Carolina EMT or present proof of a reciprocity request through the North Carolina Office of EMS. (Wake Tech EMT students who successfully completed the EMT course within the last 30 days are waived from this requirement, but must have EMT certification before starting field-clinical rotations.)
Complete the current reading and math assessment tests and score reading comprehension and math skills at the post-secondary level. (Candidates with an official college transcript showing successful completion of a college-level English and/or Math course are exempt from the reading and/or math assessment.)
Provide a copy of a current credential in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.
Paramedic Course
Overview: This course provides the essential information on pre-hospital management techniques appropriate to the Paramedic level. Topics meet current credentialing and/or regulatory guidelines for the Paramedic as outlined by the NC Office of EMS and/or the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP).
Eligibility: Meet the following criteria before entering the Paramedic course. Submit all of the information below before registering. Registration is not complete until every eligibility requirement is met.
The candidate MUST:
Possess certification as a North Carolina EMT (or AEMT) or present proof of a reciprocity request through the North Carolina Office of EMS.
Complete the current reading and math assessment tests and score reading comprehension and math skills at the post-secondary level. (Candidates with an official college transcript showing successful completion of a college-level English and/or Math course are exempt from the reading and/or math assessment.)
Provide a copy of a current credential in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.
Submit verification of successful completion of an eligible Anatomy & Physiology course before starting field-clinical rotations. (Courses may include EMS-3163, BIO-163, BIO-165 & 166, or BIO-168 & 169.)
Ready to apply?
Choose the pathway and course you want and apply below.
Requirements & orientation: program costs, testing platforms, clinical requirements, uniforms and textbooks are listed on the Wake Tech EMS Registrations & Orientation page.
NC Community College EMS Programs · CE vs CU Pathways · Continuing Education for credentialed providers