Guilford County Emergency Medical Services has created its first-ever in-house training academy for emergency medical technicians.
New employees in the EMT Launchpad class will be in full-time, benefitted positions while they train for their EMT certification. The four-month program will include class time paired with real-world experience on emergency medical services calls.
It's the first time the county is training would-be technicians who don't yet have EMT or paramedic certification.
Scott Muthersbaugh is a spokesperson for Guilford County EMS. He says that with staffing shortages due to the pandemic, his department decided to get creative with its hiring practices.
"And part of that is to open up the pool not just from people who have had a chance to get certified in emergency services, but also people who would like to do that but are already working a full-time job," says Muthersbaugh.
In addition to employee pay and benefits, Guilford County EMS will cover certification costs and fees, uniforms, equipment, and course materials. The starting salary is just over $31,000.
Applications are being accepted through March 20, with classes expected to begin at the end of April.