Federal financial aid is now available for a new certification program at Butler County Community College.
The EMT certification is a requirement for students pursuing an associate degree in emergency services at BC3. The college says because it was a non-credit course, it was previously ineligible for federal financial aid.
That has now changed, so students can save some money instead of paying the full $700 for the course.
The number of job openings for EMTs and paramedics will grow by 7 percent through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
EMS West and EMMCO West are councils that oversee EMS activities in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer and 16 other western Pennsylvania counties for the state Department of Health.
While the councils have a combined 14,000 EMS providers, “There is a shortage of all levels of EMS providers, not just throughout the commonwealth, but nationwide,” said Kiley Cribbs, coordinator of BC3’s EMS and police training programs. “A lot of the smaller services are in competition to find people.”
“There are dire needs for EMS providers in Pennsylvania and across the country,” said Richard Kaufman, regional education coordinator of EMS West.
More info on the six credit course can be found at bc3.edu.