First responder training in Washington

90 first responder programs in 5 fields of public safety, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

38 schools offer these programs, and Washington has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 5 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

First responder training covers the people who come when you call 911: EMT and paramedic classes, police and corrections academies and fire academies, along with criminal justice and fire science certificates and degrees. It also takes in security guard training.

All job training programs in Washington, every line of work

Accredited first responder schools in Washington, each school with its accreditor

First responder training by state, to compare Washington with other states

Compare first responder programs in Washington: cost, pay and results

EMT classes (emergency medical technician)
40 programs at 22 schools
Most cost
$1,202 to $1,948
Earned a year, estimated
about $43,500
Working 6 months later
94%
Finished
88%
Criminal justice programs
26 programs at 18 schools
Most cost
$6,578 to $11,349
Earned a year, estimated
about $29,900
Working 6 months later
84%
Finished
54%
Fire academy
16 programs at 14 schools
Most cost
$946 to $9,242
Earned a year, estimated
about $36,800
Working 6 months later
90%
Finished
69%
Police academy
7 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
$2,961 to $3,526
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Security guard training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Washington may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free first responder training in Washington?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most EMT and paramedic programs in Washington cost $1,202 to $1,948, and most criminal justice programs $6,578 to $11,349. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Washington, by line of work

Programs approved in Washington in each line of work.

Where the Washington first responder numbers come from

Which Washington programs are counted?

Programs Washington approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Washington offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about first responder programs in Washington

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

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