Paramedic Training Illinois (IL)

Paramedic is the highest level of Emergency Medical Technician and involves a significant amount of training in advanced life support (ALS) practices. The amount of extensive training allows a Paramedic to treat a very large amount of injuries and illnesses.

Paramedics candidate have an option of taking either the state of Illinois or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians(NREMT) in order to eligible to practice within the state and deemed licensed.

Paramedic License Requirement

The following is a list of requirements you will need to satisfy prior to becoming a licensed Paramedic in the State of Illinois:

• you need to be at least 18 years old
• have a high school diploma or GED.
• hold a valid EMT certification/licensure.Most states recognize national certification, and will grant you a state license (likely with more paperwork to fill out) without any further testing.
• nationally certified with the NREMT
• State approved CPR course certificate
• Criminal background check, criminal records may result in rejection; if you have a criminal record it’s best to contact your local EMS Agency before you invest time and money
• State approved EMT Paramedic training
• Pass NREMT-P exam
• Valid driving license
• require proof of immunizations such as TB skin test, Hepatitis B vaccination, MMR vaccination and chicken Pox.

Educational Requirement

Find a local approved training facility and register for the EMT Paramedic training. Most colleges offer two types of training programs, one being a Paramedic Certificate and the other Paramedic Degree. Prior to contacting the training facility you should get proof of immunization and verify with the training facility what other immunizations you will need prior to registering.

It is very important that you only register for an approved training program at a state approved facility, as non-approved courses will not be accepted for an EMT license. Before you sign up for an EMT-B course check with the IDPH EMS Agency whether it is an approved course.

Training programs are usually spread over a 14 to 24 month period, depending on whether you choose to do a certificate or degree, and cost usually ranges between $6,000 and $15,000.

Application Process

In order to submit an application you must do the following:

1. Complete the Illinois Department of Public Health EMS Agency’s application form (http://www.idph.state.il.us/ems/EMT_Application_for_Licensure.pdf)
2. Bring the application form with you to the training program for details on section VII
3. Signature by course coordinator is required to complete application
4. Include fee of $40 for the application plus the examination fee of $110 (check or money order payable to Continental Testing Services)

Alternatively you are able to apply online as follows:

1. Submit your application electronically here: https://www.continentaltesting.net/IDPH/application/applicationIDPHForm.aspx?iProfessionID=72
2. Inform your course instructor that you submitted application online

Examination Requirement

Paramedic license applicants must pass the NREMT exams, which are made up of two parts, a written cognitive exam and a psychomotor exam. For the written exam an applicant will need to register with the NREMT (http://www.nremt.org) and pay the $110 application fee. When the applicant is ready to take the exam they will need to get in touch with Pearson Vue (http://www.vue.com) who provides the computer based testing for the NREMT exam.

For the psychomotor examination you should check with your Paramedic training provider whether they are able to provide such certification in conjunction with the Paramedic course. Alternatively contact your local EMS Agency for details about test schedules. Note that this exam tests the applicant for 12 separate skills and is likely to incur a fee by the training facility.

Once the applicant has received certification for both exams they will be issued with an NREMT certificate which is valid for 2 years; this certificate is needed for the state EMT license application.

For some tips and recommendations on preparing for these exams take a look at our Preparing For NREMT Exams page.

CPR Certification

A lot of approved training facilities also offer CPR certification courses. It would make sense for you to choose a training facility that does indeed offer both the EMT and CPR training courses. Applicants should also talk to the training provider about the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examinations and whether they will be able to provide such a certificate. Registration with the NREMT can be done through the EMT course facility.

Upon completion you will receive a certificate that is needed for the state EMT license application.

Criminal Background Check

All health care professionals are required to undergo a criminal background check in order to ensure patient safety. If you have a criminal conviction you should contact the IDPH EMS Agency and discuss the nature of your criminal conviction, as some crimes will not allow you to become a licensed EMT professional.

The process for the criminal background check is started during the application process for the EMT-B course and instructions for this are supplied by the training facility. You should expect fees to be about $87, but they can be higher if you have lived or worked in other states than Illinois.

Knowing all these steps in advance will greatly help in planning your training and ensuring a quick and efficient process as possible.

Paramedic Training Schools in Illinois

• Advocate Bromenn Medical Center, OSF St Joseph Medical Center, and McLean County Area EMS System Paramedic Training Program Consortium – Normal, IL

705 N. East Street

Bloomington, IL – 61701

• Advocate Christ Medical Center – Oak Lawn, IL

4440 W. 95th

Oak Lawn, IL – 60453

• Advocate Condell Medical Center – Libertyville, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

801 South Milwaukee Avenue

Libertyville, IL 60048

• Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital – Downers Grove, IL

3815 Highland Ave.

Downers Grove, IL – 60515

• Advocate Lutheran General Hospital – Park Ridge, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

1775 Dempster Street

Park Ridge, IL 60068

• Advocate Sherman Hospital – Elgin, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

1425 N Randall Rd

Elgin, IL 60123

• Black Hawk College – Moline, IL

6600 34th Avenue

Moline, IL – 61265

• Blessing Hospital – Quincy, IL

Broadway at 14th Street

PO Box 7005

Quincy, IL – 62305

• Cadence Health at Central DuPage Hospital – Winfield, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

25 North Winfield Road

Winfield, IL 60190

• Edward Hospital – Naperville, IL

801 S. Washington Street

Naperville, IL – 60540

• Illinois Central College – East Peoria, IL

1 College Drive

East Peoria, IL – 61635

• Illinois Valley Community College – Ogelsby, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

815 N Orlando Smith Road

Ogelsby, IL 61301

• Ingalls Memorial Hospital – Harvey, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

One Ingalls Drive

Harvey, IL 60426

• Kaskaskia College – Centralia, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

27210 College Rd

Centralia, IL 62801

• Kishwaukee College – DeKalb, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

2727 Sycamore Rd

Suite 1A

DeKalb, IL 60115

• Lewis & Clark Community College – Godfrey, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

5800 Godfrey Rd

Haskell Hall Room 128

Godfrey, IL 62035

• Loyola University Medical Center – Maywood, IL

2160 South First Avenue

Building. 110LL, Room 0223

Maywood, IL – 60153

• Malcolm X College – Chicago, IL

1900 West Van Buren Street

Room 2617

Chicago, IL – 60612

• Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers – Morris, IL

150 W. High St

Morris, IL – 60450

• Northshore University Health System Highland Park Hospital – Highland Park, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

777 Park Avenue

Highland Park, IL 60035

• OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center – Rockford, IL

5510 East State Street

Rockford, IL – 61108

• Parkland College – Champaign, IL

1309 North Mattis Ave

Champaign, IL – 61821

• Presence Saint Francis Hospital – Evanston, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

355 Ridge Avenue

Evanston, IL 60202

• Presence Saint Joseph Hospital – Elgin, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

77 North Airlite

Elgin, IL 60123

• Presence St. Mary’s Hospital – Kankakee, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

500 West Court St

Kankakee, IL 60901

• Rend Lake College – Mount Vernon, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

327 Potomac Blvd

Mount Vernon, IL 62864

• Riverside Medical Center -Kankakee, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

400 S. Kennedy Drive

Kankakee, IL 60901

• Silver Cross Hospital – Lenox, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

1900 Silver Cross Blvd

Lenox, IL 60451

• Southwestern Illinois College – Belleville, IL

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

2500 Carlyle Rd., BCMC 2441

Belleville, IL – 62221

• Southwestern Illinois College – Belleville, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

ANDERSON HOSPITAL

2500 Carlyle Ave

BCMC 2441

Belleville, IL 62221

• Swedish American Hospital – Rockford, IL

1401 East State Street

Rockford, IL – 61104

• Vista Health System – Waukegan, IL

1324 North Sheridan Road

Waukegan, IL – 60085

• Waubonsee Community College – Geneva, IL

Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program

Northwestern Medicine – Delnor Hospital

300 Randall Road

Geneva, IL 60134

FAQs

• Where can I find an accredited paramedic training program in Illinois?

In general, make sure you visit the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) to find an accredited paramedic training program.

• Do I need EMT experience to apply to a paramedic training program?

Typically, experience is not required because proper experience can take years to acquire. Still, experience is often encouraged by many program directors.

• How long will it take me to become a paramedic?

This really depends on the college and training program you select.  Typically, a paramedic program can take anywhere from 6 months to two years to complete.

• How much will a paramedic training program cost?

You can expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000 for a quality and thorough paramedic training course.  Some programs can most certainly exceed that cost, however.