Wash. may open EMT courses to high schoolers as young as 16

TUMWATER, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Health has filed a proposal to begin legislation that would update state regulations to allow 16-year-old students to enroll in Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and EMT training courses.

The proposal stems from House Bill 1722, which allows younger students to begin supervised EMS education. On Oct. 7, the department’s Office of Community Health Systems filed a notice to consider amendments to the sections that govern EMS training program requirements, approvals and application procedures, DailyFly reported.

| MORE: Case report: Should all states lower the minimum age for EMS training to 16?

The initiative expands high school access to EMS training to build a future workforce and help address the state’s EMS staffing shortages.

A virtual kickoff will be held with stakeholders, educators and EMS professionals are encouraged to attend. Details are on the department’s Rules Development page.

What do you think about letting 16-year-olds start EMT training?

Would your agency partner with a high school program — and how could this impact staffing?

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