The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has supported the creation of both Virginia’s first emergency medical technician (EMT) registered apprenticeship program and Virginia’s first registered paramedic apprenticeship program.
Virtually every industry is struggling to maintain a skilled workforce, and the emergency medical services (EMS) field is no exception.
With higher call volumes, increasing demand for services, and the persistent threat of burnout among EMS professionals, the need for innovative workforce strategies has become even more critical.
Two Southern Virginia EMS providers have recently created registered apprenticeship programs as a creative, win-win strategy to grow and maintain their workforces. These programs are appealing because they allow apprentices to earn fair wages during employer-sponsored on-the-job and classroom training.
Two cohorts totaling 18 employees are participating in the Danville Life Saving Crew’s EMT Registered Apprenticeship program – the first in the commonwealth of Virginia – which launched in October 2023 and takes a year to complete.
Franklin County Public Safety has five people enrolled in the first cohort of its Paramedic Registered Apprenticeship program, which launched in January 2024 and was created with several partners.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), which supports the creation of registered apprenticeship programs across Southern Virginia through its Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) program, has helped both EMS organizations navigate the creation and implementation of a successful apprenticeship program. Staff are using this experience to work with and educate other localities and EMS providers across Southern Virginia.
“Construction and utilities sectors are commonly associated with apprenticeship. But there’s a wave of exciting opportunities in nontraditional sector apprenticeships, such as healthcare and emergency medical services, early childhood education and technology. Apprenticeship can absolutely be implemented in nontraditional sectors.” – Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator, IALR
Apprenticeship in Southern Virginia
State Registered Apprenticeship provides on-the-job training, related technical instruction (RTI) and a paid job as one cohesive experience, making them the “pinnacle” work-based learning opportunity. Registered apprenticeship is a high-quality, industry-driven workforce training strategy that combines on-the-job training and classroom instruction to develop highly skilled employees in a particular occupation.
Trainees receive pay increases as they acquire skills and training milestones, culminating in a nationally recognized journeyworker credential upon completion. This credential, along with practical experience, enables them to mentor future apprentices, ensuring a steady supply of skilled talent for businesses.
Apprenticeship programs mandate at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom instruction, which can typically be completed within a year. However, some programs may require as much as 10,000 hours of on-the-job training, depending on the complexity of the occupation and the skills involved.
Employers can customize the related technical instruction according to their specific needs. They can choose the instruction provider or even deliver the instruction themselves, ensuring that the training aligns precisely with the skills and competencies required for the role.
From 2022 to the present, IALR’s ExTRA program has helped register 60 apprentices and 24 registered apprenticeship programs. Many more programs are in varying stages of development. Through ExTRA, as a state-approved and award-winning apprenticeship intermediary, IALR provides the following types of support to employers across the 15 localities in GO Virginia Region 3:
- Stakeholder education
- Technical assistance to develop and register apprenticeship programs and apprentices with Virginia Works, the State Apprenticeship Agency
- Grant funding to support employer-related technical instruction costs up to $2,700 annually per apprentice
- Connections to employers and talent
- Apprenticeship consortium network
Reducing Barriers
Historically, the Danville Life Saving Crew had few options for recruiting EMTs. They could hire people who already had their training from somewhere else, or people could pay for EMT courses on their own on a part-time or full-time basis.
The EMT Registered Apprenticeship program, an extension of a paid recruit academy framework that the Danville Life Saving Crew implemented earlier in 2023, allows them to hire and train those with no previous experience.
“With the apprenticeship program, we can select people who have the right mentality but don’t have the means to obtain the certification on their own. This allows us to bring that group together and create this class of people who wouldn’t be able to do this without the apprenticeship program.” – Johnny Mills, CEO of the Danville Life Saving Crew
The apprentices spend most of the first 10 weeks completing their RTI with the Danville Area Training Center, preparing for their EMT-Basic exam. After passing their exam, the apprentices will be certified EMT-Basics and continue on-the-job training with increased duties alongside a mentor. After their one-year term, these apprentices will receive their journeyworker credential.
The paid on-the-job training and front-loaded RTI have simplified the process of finding quality candidates.
“The participants know up front that they’ll get paid to be here and complete the training. That’s a big recruitment tool for people jumping into the EMS field.” – Brian Alderson, Director of the Danville Area Training Center
Lily Hensley, one of the eight apprentices in the second cohort, which launched in early March, had spent her career to date working in customer service. She had tried part-time classes while working full-time, but that format did not work for her.
“This paid on-the-job training is a great way for me to absorb this information and get more hands-on instruction. I’m glad to be able to come in all day and focus on this, get a better experience and more ride time. All while getting a paycheck.” – Lily Hensley, EMT Apprentice with the Danville Life Saving Crew
The Danville Life Saving Crew will open a third station on the east side of the City of Danville later this year, requiring additional staff.
“This apprenticeship program is helping make it easier for the City of Danville to staff the extra ambulances.” – Johnny Mills, CEO of the Danville Life Saving Crew
Taking it to the Next Level
While the Danville Life Saving Crew uses an apprenticeship program to get more people in the door as EMTs, Franklin County Public Safety uses apprenticeship as an opportunity to upskill and recruit.
In the EMS world, EMT is the entry-level. Then there is Advanced EMT, and finally there is Paramedic.
And that has proven to be the most challenging position for Franklin County Public Safety to keep filled.
“We’re understaffed. We’re short at least one paramedic on every shift. In essence, that’s a truck down. Then if we have staff who are sick or taking vacation, we are scrambling to find people.” – Hamp Ingram, EMS Coordinator, Franklin County Public Safety
Franklin County Public Safety launched the Paramedic Apprenticeship program early in 2024 with the support of several partners.
- IALR: Provided support and education throughout the registration and program creation process, making connections to state partners and funding resources.
- The Franklin Center: Houses the classes.
- Virginia Commonwealth University Health System: Provides the related technical instruction (classroom curriculum).
- Carilion (Franklin Memorial): Offers a venue for clinicals and provides some equipment and supplies.
- Ferrum College: Plans to create a Fire/EMS bachelor’s degree to connect to this apprenticeship.
“A primary reason we started the program is the hope that we could recruit EMS providers to join our organization and become advanced-level providers while working with us. It’s going to help all the way around.” – Hamp Ingram, EMS Coordinator, Franklin County Public Safety
Most paramedic programs take about two years to complete; Franklin County Public Safety designed their course to take just fifteen months. Holding an EMT certification is a prerequisite to participating in the apprenticeship program, which includes paramedicine basics and advanced life support skills. These apprentices are largely completing their classroom, clinical and truck time simultaneously and will continue to add responsibility as they progress and gain more skills.
The first and current cohort has 10 participants. Five of these are registered as apprentices and work for Franklin County Public Safety; the others are participating in the instruction to become certified paramedics and work other places.
Andy Pendelton is a fire marshal with Franklin County Public Safety. With experience in law enforcement and EMS, Pendleton has held his EMT for about fifteen years in total. He was thrilled to hear about the paramedic apprenticeship program that would allow him to continue earning as he went.
“I want to be able to go to the next level and provide more care, and I wouldn’t have been able to get my paramedic without this program.” – Andy Pendleton, Fire Marshal and Paramedic Apprentice, Franklin County
Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors
Traditionally, apprenticeship programs have been synonymous with the construction and trades industries, where hands-on experience and specialized skills are critical. The combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction is perfect for traditional fields such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work and welding.
While IALR has supported organizations in those sectors, the ExTRA program is helping Southern Virginia employers navigate the creation of programs in non-traditional sectors like EMS. Other apprenticeship programs in the works include digital marketing, UX design and early childhood education. Based on the success of the Franklin County and Danville Life Saving Crew programs, other EMS agencies are exploring apprenticeship options with Natori Neal.
“We helped Danville Life Saving Crew and Franklin County Public Safety through the entire registration process, and we are ready to help other employers, no matter what sector they’re in, create effective apprenticeship programs.” – Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator at IALR
