A method and apparatus for transmitting an emergency call in a portable terminal includes determining whether an emergency call through a currently executed first radio access technology (RAT) is available when the emergency call is requested, selecting a second RAT from among a plurality of RATs supported by the portable terminal when the transmission of the emergency call is unavailable, determining whether transmission of the emergency call through the second RAT is available, and if so, transmitting the emergency call through the second RAT.