A new academy is coming to Butler County that looks to help the EMS workforce crisis.
Butler County Commissioners approved a new EMS academy that will be based out of Butler County Community College.
The academy will be offered two times a year and accept 12 students each time.
Officials with the program say the program is not only free to students, but they will be paid during their training. County officials say it will be $13 per hour. Students are also expected to work for one of the 11 EMS providers in the county upon graduation.
Commissioners say the goal of the academy is to eliminate the barriers of entry to becoming an EMT.
A recent study showed that Butler County is short about 125 EMTs.
