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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Get on the healthcare pathway by taking classes at WDT to prepare for the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians Exam. Students will gain instruction and hands-on practice in all aspects of emergency medical care at the Emergency Medical Technician level in accordance with the National Registry and the Department of Transportation guidelines. Classes are offered to WDT students and the general public. 

Please note, the EMT certificate program does not qualify for Financial Aid.  You can contact Student Accounts to discuss payment plan options. 

Degree Description

This training program focuses on care of life-threatening conditions, care of non-life threatening situations, and other issues related to the care of the sick or injured. The EMT is responsible for providing or continuing the initial care and transporting the patient to the hospital in an ambulance.  Students opting to become licensed in the State of South Dakota will need to register and pay for the National Registry Exam separately. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2019 mean annual wage is $22,170 - $34,660.

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Application Process

1. Complete Western Dakota Tech Admissions Application
2. Complete the ACCUPLACER test ($15 fee)
3. Schedule your Admissions Advising Session
4. Provide an official copy of a High School transcript or GED scores. If you graduated from an international high school, you must submit your transcript to Educational Credential Evaluators to determine U.S. equivalence. Additionally, an official transcript must be submitted if you have attended other post-secondary institutions or universities.
5. Submit Immunization Records verifying two doses of MMR vaccinations
6. Once you receive your acceptance letter, schedule a time to register for classes

(The ACCUPLACER test will be waived if you have an ACT sub-score of 18 or better in English, Math, and Reading, or a SAT sub-score of at least 440 in Verbal and Math.  The scores must be within the last five years.)

Please call 605-718-2565 to make an appointment.

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Career Description

Emergency Medical Technicians respond to emergency calls to provide efficient and immediate care to the critically ill and injured and to transport the patient to a medical facility. After receiving the call from the dispatcher, the EMT-B drives the ambulance to address or location given, using the most expeditious route, depending on traffic and weather conditions. The EMT must observe traffic ordinances and regulations concerning emergency vehicle operation.

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Licensure and Certification

Professional licensure and certification requirements often vary from state to state. If you are not planning to locate and work in South Dakota and are considering an academic program that leads to a professional license or certification, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in the state you plan to work before beginning the academic program. If you need assistance locating a state licensing agency, please contact the Vice President for Teaching and Learning: Tiffany.Howe@wdt.edu or 605.718.2905.

Current as of June 8, 2020:

  1. The program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following states: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NV, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
  2. The program curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following states: NH, NJ
  3. WDT has not determined whether the program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following states: American Samoa, CA, DC, Guam, HI, KS, ME, MI, MS, NM, NY, OH, OK, The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of Palau, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Virgin Islands, TN, TX, UT
General Education EMT

After Earning Your Degree

The job outlook in this field is very good. In South Dakota, positions for Emergency Medical Technicians are expected to grow by 15.3% by the year 2020. EMT training will prepare you for an advanced degree in Paramedic or Fire Science.

Meet Your Faculty

Western Dakota Tech has a low student-to-faculty ratio, meaning more one-on-one learning. Individual attention from your professor can make your college experience more fulfilling.


  • Mary Grassrope

Financial Aid

Continuing your education is crucial and Western Dakota Tech wants to make sure that any student who wants to attend school, has the opportunity to do so. For this reason, WDT is dedicated to administering the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IV Financial Assistance Program fair and consistently to anyone who needs it.

Build Dakota Scholarships

The Build Dakota Scholarship at Western Dakota Tech will pay all your tuition and fees and prepare you for a career that is in-demand and growing in South Dakota. Build Dakota Scholarships will be awarded to students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota’s technical institutes to fill the state’s technical careers with skilled professionals.

Student Housing

While Western Dakota Tech does not offer on-campus housing, we understand that finding a place to live within town while you go to school can be difficult. We have a few resources to help prospective students find affordable housing.

Child Care

Finding child care during school is a challenge for many students. Western Dakota Tech currently does not offer on-campus child care, but here are some resources that may help you in your search.

Youth & Family Services is an organization dedicated to helping children in Western South Dakota. They offer a variety of services, including child care at multiple locations.

The Y of Rapid City offers child care and other services.

Disclaimer: Western Dakota Tech provides these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply affiliation, endorsement or adoption by Western Dakota Tech of any site or any information contained therein. When you leave wdt.edu, you should be aware that our terms and policies no longer govern. Western Dakota Tech makes no claim or representation regarding, and accepts no responsibility for, the quality, content, nature or reliability of third-party websites or vendors.

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