It looks like 3 of the CUNY campuses offer EMT programs that would be eligible for a student to be awarded Federal student aid and maybe New York state TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) funds:
- Kingsborough Community College - It is referred to as a continuing education program.
http://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/http://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/continuinged/Documents/Fall_2012/EMT_Program.pdf - La Guardia Community College
http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/home/http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/nas/NAS2f.htm - Borough of Manhattan Community College
http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/j2ee/index.jsphttp://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/allied-health/paramedic.jsp It looks like the program is for paramedic training. Note: All paramedics are EMTs. Not all EMTs are paramedics.
A paramedic program of study is longer, among other things.
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The scope of practice differences between EMTs and paramedics can be summed up by the ability to break the skin. Most states do not allow basic emergency medical technicians to give shots or start intravenous lifelines. Paramedics, on the other hand, can give shots as well as use more advanced airway management devices to support breathing. Basic EMTs are usually restricted to using oxygen, glucose, asthma inhalers, and epinephrine auto-injectors (a common exception to the no-needles rule). Paramedics are trained in the use of 30-40 medications, depending on the state.
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Source: About.com - The Difference Between an EMT and a Paramedic
http://firstaid.about.com/od/emergencymedicalservices/qt/06_EMTBvsP.htm You will need to talk with an admissions counselor and a financial aid adviser at each school to find out for sure if Federal student aid can be used for each school's program.
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Added:
Regarding studying to become a dialysis technician being a better choice or not, I can't say. Whatever course of study you look at, be sure it is through one of the CUNY campuses, and not with a for-profit/career/proprietary school, which first and foremost is a business with the focus of earning profits for its owners/shareholders. For one thing, the CUNY colleges are accredited by the reputable academic accrediting organizations in the USA. Proper academic accreditation is a Big Deal and will ensure you that potential employers will not just toss out your job applications in the future.
Unfortunately, many for-profit "schools" have poor reputations as well as not having the reputable accreditations. Students graduating from such "schools" are often not considered for the kinds of jobs for which the "schools" led them to believe they could be hired.
Sources:
U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) reports:
- Undercover Testing Finds Colleges Encouraged Fraud and Engaged in Deceptive and Questionable Marketing Practices, GAO-10-948T, Aug 4, 2010
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http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-948T - Stronger Department of Education Oversight Needed to Help Ensure Only Eligible Students Receive Federal Student Aid, GAO-09-600, Aug 17, 2009
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http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-600 Librarians--Ask Us, We Answer!
Find your local Public Library at:
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http://www.publiclibraries.com/ Best wishes