Illinois
While you may not see currently scheduled courses for Illinois, School of EMS regularly adds new training opportunities throughout the year. For employer partners interested in a new course for your team, we will be happy to schedule new classes upon request. Check back often for new offerings or contact us to discuss training opportunities.
Build Your EMS Career in Illinois
Looking for paramedic and EMT training near Chicago or Springfield? Look no further. From the fast-paced urban environments of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs to the regional healthcare and EMS systems serving Springfield and Central Illinois, Illinois offers EMS professionals the opportunity to develop skills across a wide range of emergency response settings.
At School of EMS, we connect students with approved Illinois clinical and field training sites, giving you hands-on experience in the communities where you can begin building your EMS career. Whether you're training alongside high-volume ambulance services, gaining experience in busy emergency departments, or serving communities throughout the Chicago and Springfield regions, our clinical network helps prepare you for the real-world challenges and rewards of a career in emergency medical services.
We understand the licensing requirements, clinical expectations, and workforce needs unique to Illinois EMS. Our programs are built to meet national education standards while aligning with Illinois Department of Public Health and state EMS requirements.
As you’re starting your EMS journey or advancing from EMT to paramedic, School of EMS helps you move forward with confidence.
Your Journey with the School of EMS
Online Coursework
Engage in comprehensive online coursework to acquire the vital knowledge where you'll gain the knowledge and skills necessary for your new career as an EMS Provider.
Hands-On Skills Lab
Participate in live skills labs: engage in hands-on learning, practice essential techniques, and showcase proficiency needed to excel in EMS.
Clinical & Field Training
Embark on Clinical & Field Experiences at top-tier hospitals, clinics, and ambulance services, where you'll apply your skills in real-life scenarios, solidifying your expertise through practical immersion.
Capstone Internship
Take on the role of Lead Paramedic aboard a 911 ambulance within your region, offering guidance to your colleagues and delivering top-tier EMS care at the forefront of the field.
Clinical education is where classroom learning becomes real. As a School of EMS student in Illinois, you’ll complete clinical rotations at approved healthcare and EMS locations throughout the state, including:
- Emergency departments
- Ambulance services
- Fire-based EMS agencies
- Specialty care and hospital-based units
These experiences give Illinois EMT and paramedic students the chance to:
- Apply patient-care skills in real emergencies
- Work alongside experienced Illinois EMS professionals
- Build confidence in fast-paced, unpredictable environments
- Prepare for real job expectations across Illinois EMS systems
Clinical availability varies by program and location. Students are placed at approved sites based on program requirements and site availability.
Absolutely. Our programs are designed to help students meet Illinois EMT certification requirements and prepare for national certification exams.
Yes. We provide paramedic training for Illinois students, including advanced clinical rotations and field experiences required for paramedic certification.
Clinical placements are completed at approved Illinois hospitals and EMS agencies based on availability and your program requirements.
Yes, all clinical rotations can be done within the state.
Yes. Our programs emphasize real-world skills, professionalism, and confidence, helping Illinois EMS students transition smoothly from training into the workforce.
We do NOT. Not all programs are taught in all states. If you would like more information on potential future EMT classes in Illinois, email us today.
Emergency Medical Technician
(EMT) - Illinois
Start your EMS career in Illinois with comprehensive training that covers patient assessment, trauma care, medical emergencies, and prehospital operations. Programs available with live, lecture/lab, and clinical courses.
Paramedic - Illinois
Advance your career with indepth paramedic education, clinical rotations, and field internships focused on advanced life support, critical decision-making, and leadership in prehospital care.
Built for Illinois’ EMS Environment
From the bustling streets of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs to the communities of Springfield and throughout Central Illinois, Illinois EMS systems serve a diverse range of populations and emergency response needs. At School of EMS, we focus on preparing you for:
• Diverse call types across urban, suburban, and regional healthcare settings
• Real-world response scenarios
• The professionalism and adaptability required in EMS careers
• The unique challenges of serving high-volume metropolitan areas, growing suburban communities, and regional Illinois healthcare systems
Training locally helps you better understand the Illinois communities you’ll serve and gives you a stronger start in your EMS career.
See Our Students in Action
If you don't see your city listed, reach out. New clinical partnerships are added regularly.
Clinical sites are subject to change or close without notice, please ensure you have multiple sites selected for clinical rotations.
Learn from experienced instructors and practice essential skills in labs and simulations that mirror real-world EMS scenarios.
Build confidence through supervised patient care and ride-along opportunities with EMS partners.
Prepare for certification exams with structured review, skill validation, and professional development resources.
- Immunizations Declination Forms/Waivers: Immunizations@schoolofems.org (Flu and COVID Declination/Waivers are under the Immunization Section of the EMS9000 Clinical Services Canvas Course)
- Assistance uploading my EMT License in Campus Cafe: Alexandria Hernandez admissions@schoolofems.org
- Questions regarding Labs and Live Weeks : Labs@schoolofems.org
- SOE ID Badge issues - ID Badges FAQ
- Never received a badge: ITSupport@schoolofems.org or submit a request through your profile above
- Need a replacement badge: studentservices@schoolofems.org
- SAP Dashboard issues: ITSupport@schoolofems.org
- SAP Questions (including requirements, fails, etc) : arc@schoolofems.org
- Clinical shift scheduling: ClinicalScheduling@schoolofems.org
- Clinical Onboarding : ClinicalScheduling@schoolofems.org
- General Clinicals questions : clinicals@schoolofems.org
Once your clinical requirements have been completed and confirmed, our Student Services team will begin the course completion process. They will check all four elements of your course for completion: didactic with a successful GPA and exam passes, labs with all days attended, all card courses completed, skills successfully completed, clinical hours, PCRs, PEs, impressions, and age groups completed, and finally, all fees are paid. A "terminal competency report" (course completion) is generated upon success in all four areas. This report is sent to the Medical Director and Program Director for review and signature. Once that is completed, your course completion certificates will be emailed and mailed to you. This process can take up to two weeks. You may want to check with Student Services to make sure we have your updated mailing address on file and to ensure you have paid all required fees. Please ensure you have created your application on the NREMT website.
Student Services FAQs
Your access to Canvas will be activated by 1700 (5:00pm) on your scheduled cohort start date.
Yes! SOE has an articulation with Columbia Southern University which awards college credit hours to SOE courses. You can request a transcript here.
Yes, by contacting the Finance Department at 888-390-5081.
An agreement was signed upon enrollment that states you remain financially responsible to make payments even if you voluntarily withdraw from the program or are administratively withdrawn (i.e. expelled). SOE is not a "pay as you go" institution. If you fail to make payments on time, you may be sent to collections.
You may submit an appeal here to request to stay in the program. Appeals hearings may be scheduled up to two weeks after your appeal request. After your hearing, a formal decision will be made and sent to you via email. To request an appeal of any Lab Psychomotor Testing Results click here.
For the full uniform dress code, please see Volume 2 of the Institutional Catalog, page 16. To purchase uniform items and course required books (except for EMS pants, which you will need to purchase independently through any EMS uniform retailer) please visit the bookstore.
Yes, you can return unused uniform items through the bookstore directly. Please see their return policy for more information.
SOE has several options for students who wish to stay within the program but are experiencing major life changes (marriage, divorce, child birth, death of a family member, etc.). Please reach out to Student Services with a brief description of the reason you are requesting an LOA and they will assist you through the process.
Contact Student Services to notify them of your wish to return to the program and they will assist you through the process.
You may submit a legal name change request by filling out this form. Please allow 30 days for requests to be processed. A $20 fee will be added to your tuition balance for requests requiring a new ID badge, transcript or other course documentation editing.
ID badges can take 2 to 4 weeks to process and ship from date of submission. If you have still not received your badge, please submit an IT ticket requesting a replacement and/or temporary badge. Please see the FAQ ID Badge Problems for more information.
Send a request to Student Services for a replacement badge with a verified shipping address. There is a $15.00 fee for a replacement badge (this will be added to you account).
CORE stands for Connecting Opportunity through Relationships & Engagement
For questions or clarification on any Employer Sponsor issues, please contact the CORE manager Christina Bratton or call Click Here to Call.
Sponsor Dashboard & Employer Access
Once your sponsorship paperwork is complete, the CORE team will set up access for your employer. If they have not received login instructions, have them contact the CORE team.
Contact the CORE team and they will verify your sponsorship and make sure the right contact at your agency is added.
Yes. Your sponsor can request additional authorized users by contacting Christina Bratton.
Notifications & Progress Reports
Contact the CORE team and they will review the information, make corrections if needed, and update your sponsor.
Sponsors are updated at major checkpoints such as SAP reviews, labs, and clinical milestones.
Yes, sponsors are notified when appeals are filed or when students are placed on High Risk.
Labs & Course Information
Yes. Sponsors are notified of lab performance.
Yes. These results appear in the Sponsor Dashboard.
Have them contact the CORE team and they will connect them with the right department if needed.
Join School of EMS and take the next step toward a rewarding career as EMT or Paramedic professionals.
