SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Mohawk Ambulance Service recently hired eight EMTs who completed their free five-month training program.
The five-month course, which is administered twice annually, is free of charge to applicants, making it possible for a candidate to become certified without having to make a $1,000 personal investment. Traditional EMT training programs can cost upwards of $700 for the course and another $250 to cover costs associated with books and materials.
Mohawk Ambulance started offering the program in 2016 as a way of recruiting new talent into the EMS industry. Since the inception of the course, Mohawk Ambulance has started to integrate some of its orientation process into the EMT program, streamlining the onboarding and training process and placing skilled medical providers in the field more efficiently.
The eight graduates represent the second class to complete the program. Combined, the first two course offerings produced 13 certified EMTs.
Prospective course participants are first interviewed, then partake in a physical agility test and are then enrolled in an AHA Professional CPR Course. Mohawk Ambulance utilizes information obtained during these three screening tools to ensure the EMT course candidate is a good fit for a career as an EMT and a good fit for Mohawk Ambulance.
Those who are accepted into the course are enrolled in the program, which combines classroom learning with hands-on and in-field instruction. The class meets an average of twice per week, one classroom instruction and one in-field instruction session per week. The final step to graduation is the successful completion of the New York State Department of Health’s Practical and Written Emergency Medical Technician Exam.
“Mohawk Ambulance Service established a thorough orientation program to ensure our high standards for excellent emergency medical care are consistently provided by all of our team members,” said James McPartlon, III, president, Mohawk Ambulance Service. “We are pleased to have this group of smart, talented and caring professionals joining our team providing assistance to those in need in our local communities.”
Mohawk Ambulance is currently administering its first course offering of 2017, which runs through June 15. Interested applicants wishing to take part in the fall/winter course can complete an online application starting in July at mohawkambulanceservice.com. Specific dates for this course have yet to be announced.