Public Safety

First North County EMS Corps class graduates 18 trainees

The 20-week county program combines EMT instruction, hands-on scenarios, college credit and career support for young adults entering emergency medical services.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth / Wikimedia Commons, public domain; archival 2017 medical-training exercise in Ohio, illustrative and not connected to the San Diego County class

San Diego County Fire graduated 18 young adults from its first North County Emergency Medical Services Corps class, the County of San Diego announced September 25. The cohort follows two earlier EMS Corps graduations at Southwestern College in February and June.

What it means locally

The 20-week program prepares participants to become emergency medical technicians and earn a California EMT card. Graduates complete more than 400 hours of EMS training, including classroom instruction and realistic emergency scenarios, plus more than 150 hours of mentoring, tutoring, career coaching, fitness and counseling. Participants can earn up to 12 Palomar College credits and receive a $1,500 monthly stipend, job assistance and other support. The state-grant-funded program is open to eligible California residents ages 18 to 26; the county said applications will reopen soon.

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