BAY MILLS — Individuals holding a basic EMT certification will have the opportunity to upgrade their skills this fall as Bay Mills Community College begins offering paramedic certification.
The five-term paramedic certification program was given Letter of Review status from the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP), signifying that a program seeking initial accreditation has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the accreditation Standards through the Letter of Review Self-Study Report. Letter of Review is recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for eligibility to take the NREMT’s Paramedic credentialing examination(s).
The first cohort will begin during the fall semester, with the first course on Aug. 27. Tuition, fees, and books for the first year of the program will be covered by the State of Michigan Emergency Medical Services Workforce grant, with the possibility of funding all expenses related to the certification.
It’s no secret that first responders, including paramedics, are in short supply throughout the state. In recent months, townships have been forced to consolidate their departments and expand their service area.
“Paramedics throughout the country are in demand. Local agencies throughout Chippewa, Luce and Mackinac Counties have been limited to the extent of hiring paramedics due to the available programs available throughout the State of Michigan,” said Randy Miller, program director and department chair of EMS education. “Now that BMCC has a LoR, it gives an opportunity to the atypical 8-5 student that would like to continue their education while working in their current career and to be able to provide a level of care that will provide potential life-saving pre-hospital emergency care here in the rural areas of an Advanced Life Support Agency.”
Anyone interested in the program or who would like to enroll can reach out to Diana McKenzie at dmckenzie@bmcc.edu or Randy Miller at rmiller@bmcc.edu.
The new program will be fully accredited after the first cohort has completed the program and compliance has been demonstrated.
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