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July 14, 2009

Calhoun Receives Grant for Pilot EMT-Basic Dual Enrollment Program

Calhoun Community College has been awarded a $31,500 grant from the Alabama Office of Workforce Development to establish a pilot Dual Enrollment program in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)-Basic certificate program. The pilot program will be established at Sparkman High School during the fall 2009 semester which begins in August.

According to Debi Garrison, grants coordinator at Calhoun, grant funds will be used to provide tuition, books and equipment for the 20 students to be enrolled in the program and to offset travel expenses for the instructor. The pilot program will target seniors at Sparkman and will provide EMT-Basic training, that once successfully completed, will prepare the students to take the National Registry EMT exam.

“Students who pass the exam will receive their EMT-Basic certificate and will be qualified to directly enter the workforce,” said Garrison. “The students will also be qualified to enter paramedic training at Calhoun or other two-year colleges offering paramedic programs; to complete a four-year degree in a medical career; or to receive valuable on-the-job training as volunteers with local volunteer fire departments,” Garrison added.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor St atistics Occupational Outlook Handbook , employment for EMTs and paramedics is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2016, and career prospects are strong. In fact, employment of EMTs and paramedics is expected to grow by 19% between now and 2016.

According to Garrison, Sparkman High School was selected to pilot program because the school has an established Medical Academy with a proven method of identifying high-achieving students who have a genuine interest in health education and entering health care professions. “ Sparkman High School also has a strong Dual Enrollment relationship with Calhoun,” Garrison commented. Sparkman is currently one of 88 area public and private high schools and home schools with which Calhoun has Dual Enrollment agreements.

The Calhoun-Sparkman High pilot Dual Enrollment EMT-Basic program is the first program in the state allowing high school students the opportunity to complete the EMT-Basic certification entirely through Dual Enrollment. Calhoun will pilot the program this fall for establishment of Dual Enrollment EMT-Basic classes within the college's service-area and for other community colleges and high schools statewide to offer the program.

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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