What Sets SOLO Southeast EMT Training Apart: Preparing Students to Pass and Perform

For people considering a career in emergency medical services, there’s good reason to get started. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) and paramedics to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with approximately 19,000 openings projected each year over the decade. EMTs work in ambulance services, local government, hospitals and other healthcare settings, responding when patients need immediate assessment and emergency care.

But becoming an EMT requires more than completing a course. EMTs routinely enter unpredictable and physically demanding situations where they must assess patients, make decisions, provide emergency treatment, and safely transport patients for additional care. That reality shapes the way we teach at SOLO Southeast.

Our intensive, 26-day EMT-B training program at Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina, is designed to prepare students for two important moments: the exam that earns their credential and the real-world situations that follow.

EMT Training with a 100% First-Attempt Pass Rate

Passing the EMT exam isn’t the only measure of a great education, but it’s an important one.

SOLO’s EMT curriculum includes 240 hours of training, with 192 hours of classroom work and another 48 hours of clinical observation with local EMS agencies and emergency departments. Successful students qualify to take the North Carolina State EMT Exam and/or National Registry EMT Exam.

From January 1, 2025 through August 5, 2026, SOLO Southeast students achieved a 100% first-attempt EMT exam pass rate. During that same reporting period, the first-attempt pass rate was 85.63% for North Carolina programs and 73.64% across all programs in the United States.

But SOLO’s approach isn’t centered solely on preparing students for a written test. The goal is to build an understanding of emergency medicine that students can demonstrate on an exam and then apply when caring for an actual patient.

Hands-On Learning with Experienced Instructors

Hands-on learning is central to SOLO Southeast’s EMT training. Along with classroom lectures and textbook study, students participate in practical skills labs, hands-on scenarios, and clinical rotations at local EMS departments. Training covers everything from patient assessment and airway emergencies to bleeding and shock, trauma, lifting and moving patients, triage, incident command, teamwork, communication, and medical decision-making. Students train outside, practicing skills that introduce additional challenges, including single-rescuer care with limited patient access and safe patient transport.

Most importantly, they are learning from experienced instructors and emergency medicine professionals. Jeremy Cabe brings a particularly valuable perspective to the SOLO classroom. He’s both a SOLO EMT instructor and Director of Macon County EMS. That means he sees SOLO students while they’re learning and working as EMTs.

Cabe says:

“I believe SOLO’s rigorous curriculum, experienced instructors, hands-on training approach, and intensive course structure provide a more immersive learning experience than many traditional EMT programs. My experience has been that the students are prepared for more real-world practice rather than being prepped to pass an exam.”

That distinction is important. Because EMTs work in unpredictable scenarios, training should reflect that reality. Cabe has seen the results from an employer’s perspective, too.

“For many years our agency has actively recruited and employed several of SOLO’s past students. Those employees were and are very motivated individuals and more prepared for field work at the EMT level than many other programs. I believe that is a great reflection on the level of student the program attracts as well as a direct reflection on the level of training and preparation they receive from the SOLO EMT program.”

An Accelerated EMT Program Built Around Immersive Learning

SOLO Southeast takes a different approach to the traditional academic schedule. Our 26-day accelerated EMT program condenses the required curriculum into an intensive learning experience, allowing students to complete 240 hours of EMT education and clinical observation in approximately four weeks.

The accelerated format means students make EMT training their focus. Instead of spreading coursework across a longer academic term, they’re immersed in lectures, skills practice, scenarios and clinical experiences as they progress through the curriculum. And the classroom extends beyond four walls.

SOLO Southeast is based at Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina, in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Students should expect to spend significant time outside during training, and the course incorporates hands-on scenarios appropriate to the conditions and terrain. That environment is well-suited to a profession that doesn’t get to choose where emergencies occur.

Stay Where You Train

For students traveling to Western North Carolina for the accelerated program, lodging is available right at NOC’s Nantahala River campus. The Basecamp Bunkhouse is a popular option for SOLO Southeast students, who can share rooms with other course participants and receive a discounted lodging rate. NOC has two onsite restaurants, with hours varying seasonally, as well as a general store.

This creates the opportunity for an experience that’s more than simply commuting to class: students can live, learn, and train in the same environment throughout an intensive four weeks. For someone who wants to focus on becoming an EMT, that immersion is part of what makes SOLO Southeast different.

Prepared to Pass. Prepared to Perform.

For students serious about training and ready to get into the field, SOLO Southeast offers an opportunity to fully commit to becoming an EMT. In just 26 days, you can build the knowledge, hands-on skills, and real-world preparation necessary to approach both exams and future careers with confidence.

Explore SOLO Southeast’s accelerated EMT training program at Nantahala Outdoor Center and take the first step toward being prepared to pass the exam and perform on the job.

EMT Training Frequently Asked Questions

Who attends your EMT program?

Our students come from all walks of life. Some want a fast track to a career in EMS; others are healthcare professionals expanding their skill set. Our students include wildland firefighters, medical students, wilderness guides, ski patrollers, raft guides, wilderness therapy professionals, and more.

Are meals and lodging included in the price?

Meals and lodging are not included in the cost of tuition; however, SOLO students are eligible for discounts on both. We have several lodging options on campus, the most cost-effective being a shared room in our Basecamp Bunkhouses. Students receive discounts at our on-campus restaurants, and those who lodge in our Basecamp Bunkhouses have access to a full kitchen (must provide their own pots/pans, etc.)

What does a typical day look like?

Each morning begins with a quiz. Classroom time is split between lectures and hands-on practice.  Lectures focus on the previous evening’s reading assignments and practical activities are related to those topics.  There are daily reading assignments and most evenings include skill practice and check-offs.

How do I sign up for clinical rotations?

During the first week of class, the course director assigns times and locations for clinical rotations. We will make sure you know where to be and when to be there.

What do I receive upon completion of the course?

• Certificate of completion for 240-hour state and nationally-certified Emergency Medical Technician course (qualification for NREMT/NCEMS written test)
• NREMT psychomotor testing
• 2-year Basic Life Support certification
• NAEMT EVOS driver certification

Where can I find more information?

Explore the EMT training program page, course packet, full list of FAQs, or call 828-366-7517 to speak with SOLO Southeast.