First responder training in Minnesota

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

27 schools offer these programs, and Minnesota 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 Minnesota, every line of work

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

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

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

EMT classes (emergency medical technician)
39 programs at 17 schools
Most cost
$2,007 to $10,129
Earned a year, estimated
about $28,000
Working 6 months later
85%
Finished
51%
Criminal justice programs
26 programs at 17 schools
Most cost
$9,924 to $11,557
Earned a year, estimated
about $29,200
Working 6 months later
79%
Finished
33%
Fire academy
24 programs at 7 schools
Most cost
$2,713 to $9,391
Earned a year, estimated
about $46,000
Working 6 months later
81%
Finished
40%
Police academy
20 programs at 15 schools
Most cost
$2,128 to $5,148
Earned a year, estimated
about $33,700
Working 6 months later
84%
Finished
56%
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 Minnesota may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free first responder training in Minnesota?

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 Minnesota cost $2,007 to $10,129, and most criminal justice programs $9,924 to $11,557. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Minnesota, by line of work

Programs approved in Minnesota in each line of work.

Where the Minnesota first responder numbers come from

Which Minnesota programs are counted?

Programs Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

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