Del Mar College to offer free EMT-training program
Del Mar College is launching a free emergency medical technician training program as the result of a state grant award.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded Del Mar College $250,000 through the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education grant program, which aims to help institutions quickly meet community workforce needs. The funding will run through December 2024.
Del Mar College is launching a new short-term Emergency Medical Responder and Health Care Program. The TRUE grant will cover tuition, books and other materials, testing and certification fees and uniforms for all students accepted into the program.
Through the program, participants will train to become emergency medical technicians. The program can be completed in six months.
EMTs provide medical care and transportation for critical and emergency patients.
The program includes four courses on basic life support and first aid, medical terminology, electrocardiography and becoming an emergency medical responder.
If a student chooses to continue to pursue their education beyond the program, the credentials they earned to become an EMT can also count towards further degrees.
"It's a great opportunity to provide some real career training and opportunity for students that might have an interest in pursuing a healthcare-type industry," said Leonard Rivera, associate vice president for continuing education.
In the past, the college has secured TRUE grant funding to cover the costs associated with welding, construction and HVAC-related programs. Hundreds of students have completed those programs, with some using it as a jumping off point to find employment or complete a further degree, Rivera said.
"We've been able to serve a lot of students that otherwise wouldn't be able to make their way into college because of economics, if they don't have the means to pay, or they might not have the academic background," Rivera said.
To be eligible for the program, participants must be at least 18 years old, have at least a high school diploma or GED and be a U.S. citizen or certified to work in the U.S.
Participants can earn CPR and first aid, EKG technician and emergency medical responder certifications.
All participants will also have access to Del Mar College support services, including resume writing, counseling and food pantry services and assistance, as well as industry job fairs.
For more information and to apply, visit https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Rx0VL6vZR06wMKZ5eQv_3BEQw4cykHRBkd-REccusN9UOExWVUlUWjU3SFdQOTJZUDZEVzA1OE9VSS4u.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Del Mar College earns state grant for workforce program
