First responder training in Ohio

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

79 schools offer these programs, and Ohio 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 Ohio, every line of work

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

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

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

EMT classes (emergency medical technician)
96 programs at 50 schools
Most cost
$1,268 to $6,011
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Fire academy
53 programs at 26 schools
Most cost
$998 to $2,784
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Police academy
39 programs at 33 schools
Most cost
$4,421 to $7,119
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Criminal justice programs
34 programs at 21 schools
Most cost
$10,355 to $13,434
Earned a year, estimated
about $60,400
Working 6 months later
83%
Finished
41%
Security guard training
10 programs at 5 schools
Most cost
$300 to $2,475
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data

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 Ohio may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free first responder training in Ohio?

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 security guard programs in Ohio cost $300 to $2,475, and most criminal justice programs $10,355 to $13,434. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Ohio, by line of work

Programs approved in Ohio in each line of work.

Where the Ohio first responder numbers come from

Which Ohio programs are counted?

Programs Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

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