Santa Fe College Expands EMT Program to Bradford County Amid National EMS Shortage

July 23, 2024

July 23, 2024 – In response to shortages of EMTs in the region, Santa Fe College has expanded its Emergency Medical Technical certificate program to Bradford County.

The 16-week industry certification course prepares students for a career caring for the sick or injured in emergency medical situations. EMTs provide on-scene life support, working with paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement officers, to stabilize and transport patients to hospitals.

Michael Anderson, who leads the College's Emergency Medical Services programs, said community partners came together to support expanding EMT training into Bradford County.

The lecture and skills labs will be offered at Santa Fe College's Andrews Center in Starke. The hospital clinical experience will be completed at HCA Starke Emergency Department, and the rescue clinical experience will be provided at Bradford County Fire Rescue.

"We are pleased all of the partners came together to help address the need," Anderson said. "Students will be fully prepared for current openings."

EMT shortages are occurring across the U.S. as qualified personal retire or move to other employment. That also means that people who complete the program have a high probability of landing a job in the field quickly.

 Santa Fe College's program consists of 320 hours of classroom, lab, hospital emergency department clinical, and ambulance rescue clinical components over a four-month period (one semester).

Classes begin August 19, 2024. Learn more at sfcollege.edu.