Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)

Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMT) are healthcare professionals whose primary focus is to provide basic and limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. AEMTs function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight, and perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance.

Program objective. In this certificate program, you will build on your existing skills as a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to advance your training and knowledge. Through hands-on, real-world training, students will learn to manage patients on scene and safely transport them to a hospital or emergency department. The curriculum includes anatomy and physiology, advanced patient assessment—including pediatric and geriatric emergencies—various forms of trauma, medical emergencies and disaster response. Individuals must be certified EMTs to qualify for the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) program.

Why Choose Advanced Emergency Medical Technician?

Upgrading from EMT to AEMT expands your clinical versatility, increases earning potential, and equips you to deliver advanced intermediate interventions when every second counts.

AEMTs perform expanded responsibilities such as:

• IV/IO access for fluid & drug delivery
• Advanced emergency medication administration
• Advanced airway management (supraglottic/dual-lumen)
• 4-lead cardiac monitoring & ECG interpretation
• Advanced trauma care & shock treatment
• Complex pediatric/adult/geriatric crisis management
• Emergency response team leadership

Core skills you’ll develop.

• Assessment: Advanced assessment and triage of non-urgent, urgent, and emergency medical care requests, pediatric and geriatric emergencies
• Airway: Advanced airway management and supraglottic device placement
• Pharmacology: IV cannulation and IO insertion techniques, pharmacokinetics, dosage calculation and ECG monitoring basics
• Trauma: Management of various medical and trauma emergencies and disaster response
• Operations: Advanced scene command and incident decision-making, complex patient care documentation and inter-facility transport care for critical patients.

About Pima Medical Institute. Pima Medical Institute started changing lives in 1972, when Richard L. Luebke, Sr., and his wife, JoAnn, opened the first campus in Tucson, Arizona. Over 175,000 graduates have since advanced their education, and many are serving their communities through meaningful health care careers. The school’s mission is to improve the quality of people’s lives by providing the best value in medical career education.

Eligibility requirements.

• Possess a high school diploma or recognized equivalency
• Active EMT Certification/License
• Additional requirements may apply by campus

Program-specific requirements. In addition to the Admissions requirements listed in the Prospective Students section of this catalog, applicants must provide proof of EMT certification. This must be evidenced by providing current NREMT certification, or an SNHD attendee License or certificate; and any other forms of EMT certification requiring Program Director approval (requirements must meet or exceed the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards for the Emergency Medical Technician). Refer to the program specific Prospective Student Handout for more information.

High school verification. Proof of valid high school completion or equivalent must be submitted (high school diploma or transcript, GED report and certificate, or an official associate or bachelor’s degree transcript). Pima Medical Institute does not enroll ability-to-benefit students, and applicants under the legal age must have written approval of a parent or legal guardian.

Entrance exams. Applicants for non-degree programs are required to take the Wonderlic SLE and receive a minimum score of 14. The exam may be waived for applicants who submit official transcripts that document completion of an associate degree or higher.

Background check, drug testing and vaccinations. Depending on the program, a background check and/or drug screening may be required prior to enrollment, during the program, and/or prior to externship/clinical training; the cost of the background check/drug screen is an out-of-pocket expense. The cost of required vaccinations and titers is also an out-of-pocket expense, and students are required to follow all clinical experience vaccination requests and policies.

At a glance. Course length: 15 Weeks (approximate); Lab hours: 60; Class hours: 160; Externship hours: 48. Active EMT Certification/License required prior to enrollment.

Las Vegas campus. The 2026 tuition price list shows 13 semester credits and 268 clock hours over 15 weeks, including 2 externship credits (48 hours).

• Certification: Pima Medical Institute's Advanced Emergency Medical Technician program prepares graduates to apply to sit for the NREMT Advanced EMT exam.*
• Find out more: Entry-level roles
• Career advancement: Paramedic, EMS supervisor, emergency services coordinator

Certification and state registration requirements vary.

Careers. The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician certificate program prepares students to apply for roles and other related career opportunities including:

• Advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT)
• Emergency medical services (EMS)
• First responder

Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians may find employment in:

• Public and private Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance services
• Fire departments and municipal emergency agencies
• Rural and frontier emergency medical services requiring higher care capabilities
• Hospital emergency departments and urgent care clinics (as ER Technicians)
• Industrial site medical units and specialized transport agencies

Job outlook. 5% Growth — The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this occupation to grow faster than average over the next 10 years with a median pay of $46,350 per year. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, EMTs and Paramedics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm (visited June 07, 2026).

Career Services. When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.

Clinical externships. At Pima Medical Institute, most programs allow students to work in their field through clinical externships—a chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.

In addition to real-world experience, clinical externships offer students resume-worthy opportunities, letters of recommendation from supervisors and sometimes job placement directly after graduation.

Student Services. Our team of student service professionals are on hand to see students through the challenges they might face during their academic career. We offer guidance and resources to ultimately help build employable medical professionals.

Application process.

• Submit the form below. A few quick details so we can get to know you before we connect.
• Chat with our team. They'll ask about your goals, your background, and what's drawing you to healthcare. From there, they'll help you find the right program and campus for where you are in life right now.
• Attend your campus tour. Experience Pima Medical in person and picture yourself in a career that matters. We'll walk you through programs and what to expect.
• We help you complete your application. Our team guides you through every step, including enrollment and financial services, so nothing stands between you and getting started.