Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Life support technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a life support technician. Life support technicians usually study nursing, business, or psychology. 40% of life support technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 836 real life support technician resumes to see exactly what life support technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for life support technicians are the Northern Michigan University and the Northern Michigan University.
There are also many online life support technician courses to help get the education required to be a life support technician.
There are certain life support technician certifications that you should consider. These life support technician certifications include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).
What education do you need to become a life support technician?
What degree do you need to be a life support technician?
- Bachelor's, 40%
- High School Diploma, 24%
- Associate, 21%
- Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become a life support technician?
- Nursing, 14%
- Business, 12%
- Psychology, 10%
- General Studies, 10%
- Other Majors, 54%
Most common colleges for life support technicians
| Life support technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Northern Michigan University | 12.50% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 7.14% |
| University of Central Arkansas | 7.14% |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 5.36% |
| Miami University | 5.36% |
Best majors for life support technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursing | 13.9% |
| 2 | Business | 12.0% |
| 3 | Psychology | 10.0% |
| 4 | General Studies | 9.6% |
| 5 | Aviation | 6.7% |
Best colleges for life support technicians
The best colleges for life support technicians are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A life support technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for life support technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become life support technicians.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Enrollment
9,394
8. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for life support technicians
Advertising disclosure
1. Emergence of Life
How did life emerge on Earth? How have life and Earth co-evolved through geological time? Is life elsewhere in the universe? Take a look through the 4-billion-year history of life on Earth through the lens of the modern Tree of Life! This course will evaluate the entire history of life on Earth within the context of our cutting-edge understanding of the Tree of Life. This includes the pioneering work of Professor Carl Woese on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus which...
2. Desktop IT Support Level 1 & 2 in real life (Troubleshooting
Learn everything in real life Troubleshooting for IT Help Desk , Helpdesk , IT Support , System Administration and IT...
3. Emergency Life Support First Aid Training
Learn important life saving first aid. Treatment of major illness and injuries...
4. Ultimate ATLS 10 Prep [2021-Advanced Trauma Life Support]
130+ Ultimate ATLS Written Practice Test Questions & Answers Practical Exam ATLS Questions Chapters 1 & 2 FREE!...
5. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment
Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...
6. Life Coaching Certificate
Become a certified professional life coach; master coaching, psychology and adult learning theories...
7. Life Coaching: Start Up Your Own Life Coaching Business
Life Coaching : Learn What It Takes To Start Up Your Own Life Coach Business or Life Coaching Practice...
8. Life Purpose Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
Become a Certified Life Purpose Coach! Learn powerful tools & strategies to help clients find their purpose & passion...
9. Life Coach Certification Associate ACELC Life Coach Training
Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared and Ready-To-Work ACELC Professionals in Life Coaching...
10. Life Coaching: Create Your Signature Life Coaching Package
Sell results, not your time! Package your GIFT, get MORE life coaching clients, COMMITTED clients & PREDICTABLE income...
11. Life Story Coach Certification
Coach your clients to rewrite their life story scripts. identities and beliefs using neuroscience, psychology, CBT & TA...
12. Life Purpose Quest Workshop Facilitator Certification
Life Purpose Workshop Blueprint: Help Others Find Their Passion, Rewrite Their Story & Fulfill Their Life Purpose...
13. Life Purpose Coach Practitioner (ACCREDITED)
Help others to open their Life Purpose & discover your Life Purpose in this FULLY ACCREDITED Coach Practitioner Course...
14. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp
Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Professionals...
15. Mindfulness Life Coach Certification & Mindfulness Blueprint
Mindfulness: Complete Life Coaching Blueprint with 50+ Mindfulness Exercise & 21 Day Mindfulness & Meditation Challenge...
16. Professional Life Coach Certification & Guide (Accredited)
Become a certified life coach & grow your life coaching business! Done-for-you forms, tools, processes & best practices...
17. Strategic Life Coaching Practitioner Cert (ACCREDITED)
A fully comprehensive combined Life Coaching & Strategic Life Coaching Certification - become a Life Coach & help others...
18. Women Empowerment Certification Holistic Life Coach Training
Women Empowerment Life Coach Training Prepares and Graduates Empowerment Life Coach Professionals in Women Empowerment...
19. Essential Life Coaching Skills Certification
Beginner to Advanced: Develop the skills to become a super-effective life coach...
20. Life Skills: Finding Your Purpose, Happiness & Success
Call it Personal Growth, Personal Development, Transformation, Life Coaching. It's You in Charge of Designing You...
Top 10 most affordable universities for life support technicians
The most affordable schools for life support technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - dominguez hills.
If the best universities for life support technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for life support technicians.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
6. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
9. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for life support technicians
The hardest universities for life support technicians to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for life support technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for life support technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for life support technicians
The easiest schools for life support technicians to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, d'youville college, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a life support technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for life support technicians.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
5. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
8. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
9. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
10. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
Average life support technician salary by education level
| Life support technician education level | Life support technician salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $82,665 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $52,905 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $64,396 |
| Doctorate Degree | $76,098 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $54,984 |
Life support technician education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for life support technician jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025