How to Become an EMT in New York (2026)

Q: How long does emt training take in New York?

Most people become an EMT in New York through a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification.

Q: How much do EMTs earn in New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), EMTs in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,400. Employment concentration in New York is about 1.32 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: Do EMTs need a license in New York?

Yes. New York requires state-level licensing or registration for EMTs, administered by the NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

Q: What is the job outlook for EMTs in New York?

New York currently employs approximately 14,840 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New York emergency medical technicians earn a median annual wage of $48,400 ($23.27/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 14,840 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 8.8% above the national median of $44,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,400 ($23.27/hr)
25th percentile: $43,270 per year
75th percentile: $63,870 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $69,210 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,890 per year
Workers employed in New York: 14,840
Versus national median: 8.8% above the U.S. median of $44,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.32 - this occupation is more concentrated in New York than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

New York employs about 14,840 EMTs earning a median $48,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an EMT here means completing a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification, then applying through NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems.

New York employs approximately 14,840 EMTs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,400 ¹. The state’s concentration of emt jobs is 1.32x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, emt employment is projected to grow 5.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an EMT in New York, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: state-approved EMT course at a community college, fire academy, or EMS training program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification
Licensing authority: NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems
Exam: NREMT (most states)
Median wage (New York): $48,400 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an EMT in New York

How to become an EMT in New York? Complete a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification. Apply through NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems. See the NREMT ³ for the national exam.

How long does it take? Most people finish a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification. Confirm current hour totals with the training program and NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems.

Do I need a license in New York? Yes. New York certifies EMTs through NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems ⁴. You also pass the NREMT exam in most states. See the licensing section below.

What do EMTs earn in New York? The median annual wage for EMTs in New York is $48,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,890 and experienced professionals can earn $69,210 or more ¹.

How to Become an EMT in New York

Meet basic requirements. Most New York EMT courses require you to be 18 (some allow 16 or 17 to train), hold a high school diploma or GED, and hold current CPR or BLS. Confirm the current age and health-screening rules with the training program.
Complete a state-approved EMT course. Finish a state-approved EMT course in New York. Courses are usually a few months at a community college, fire academy, or EMS training program, with classroom hours plus skills labs and clinical time. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass the NREMT exam. Pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT exam. Most states use NREMT as the cognitive test; some still require a psychomotor exam. See the NREMT ³.
Get your New York EMT certification. Apply through NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems. Some states also issue a local EMS agency card on top of the state credential. You cannot practice as an EMT until that certification is current.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

EMT License Requirements in New York

The NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems oversees EMS certification in New York ⁴. Most candidates also take the NREMT exam ³.

Typical EMT path

Meet age, diploma or GED, and CPR requirements.
Complete a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months).
Pass the NREMT EMT exam.
Apply for New York EMT certification (and a local EMS agency card if the state uses one).

EMT is the entry credential. Advanced EMT and paramedic are later rungs on the same ladder, not the first license to chase.

Hour totals, background checks, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the New York EMS office before you enroll.

EMT Wages by Metro Area in New York

Emergency Medical Technicians Wages by Metro Area in New York

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), emergency medical technicians wages in New York vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	13,780	$53,820	$56,910	$42,450	$73,800
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	780	$44,120	$44,190	$38,760	$47,970
Rochester	650	$43,330	$43,330	$37,370	$48,150
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	520	$41,580	$43,780	$39,070	$51,320
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	500	$48,400	$49,070	$43,120	$59,180
Syracuse	490	$44,090	$45,440	$38,280	$55,420
Utica-Rome	230	$43,060	$44,580	$39,690	$61,220
Glens Falls	190	$42,790	$42,820	$38,750	$46,520
Binghamton	160	$42,720	$43,910	$37,530	$57,370
Kingston	150	$45,280	$45,040	$38,940	$48,150
Watertown-Fort Drum	110	$41,190	$41,270	$32,690	$44,940
Ithaca	50	$41,710	$44,780	$40,180	$54,230

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for EMTs in New York? New York currently employs approximately 14,840 EMTs ¹. Nationally, emt employment is projected to grow 5.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New York.

How much do EMTs earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for EMTs in New York is $48,400, which is $7,060 above the national median of $41,340 according to BLS data ¹.

In New York

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NREMT - National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians: https://www.nremt.org/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Department of Health - Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems - Licensing Information: https://www.health.ny.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)