FDTC Corporate & Workforce Development students Unique McFarland, Lisa Marie Kiernan, James Michael Caltrider III and Brianna Hughes train loading patients into FDTC’s Ambulance Simulator.
FLORENCE, S.C. (March 1, 2022) – Florence-Darlington Technical College’s (FDTC) Corporate & Workforce Development division has recently helped launch a new apprenticeship program that will help address the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) shortage in the Pee Dee region.
Over the next 10 years, the national job growth for EMTs is expected to grow from 11-15%, and FDTC hopes to contribute to the success in its service area that includes Florence, Darlington and Marion counties. The EMT program at FDTC consists of 240 hours, and it prepares graduates for their national certification with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
“Florence-Darlington Technical College is eager to help its local EMT services fill the jobs that will better serve the Pee Dee region,” said FDTC President Dr. Jermaine Ford. “One of the primary goals of the college is to fill the void in local industry so it is our duty to create programs that meet the community’s needs. We are excited about the future of the EMT program.”
Beginning March 14, Darlington County will launch their EMT apprenticeship program, and their students will have no out-of-pocket expenses thanks to a U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded to FDTC by Apprenticeship Carolina, a division of the South Carolina Technical College System.
“Darlington County is pleased to have a working partnership with Florence-Darlington Technical College to provide on-the-job training opportunities for individuals working to become Emergency Medical Services technicians,” said Darlington County EMS Director, Kenny Bowen. “Through this partnership, individuals will have an opportunity to work with Darlington County EMS as they obtain their EMT certification. This partnership will assist Darlington County EMS to recruit, train and retain certified emergency medical services personnel.”
Medshore Ambulance Service was the first local business to take advantage of EMT apprenticeships with FDTC. The company is already on its third cohort with FDTC, and so far, nearly 30 students have been educated through the program.
“We know that EMTs are essential workers, and we are excited that our college is a part of the solution to this critical workforce need,” said Lauren Holland, FDTC Associate Vice President of Corporate and Workforce Development.
Dr. Mark Roth, Vice President of the SiMT, added, “Our new ambulance simulator is another exciting component of our EMT instruction, and it will greatly enhance this program, and our associated apprenticeships.”
FDTC recently installed a state-of-the-art ambulance simulator in the SiMT to help support the EMT program. Students will have the opportunity to simulate EMT scenarios with sophisticated mannequins inside of an ambulance setting. The simulation will help students learn how to load people in and out of an ambulance, and it will also help them get used to operating in a tight space during high-stress situations.
Click here to watch a YouTube video on FDTC's EMT Academy.
For more information, please email Michael.Hatfield@fdtc.edu or call FDTC Corporate & Workforce Development at 843-413-2715.
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