LANSING, Mich. — As Michigan grapples with an emergency medical personnel shortage, two state lawmakers want to widen the pipeline of EMTs by adjusting the minimum age for licensure.
The House Health Policy Committee took up the issue Wednesday, hearing testimony on House Bills 5488 and 5489 from Reps. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township) and David Prestin (R-Cedar River). Under the proposed legislation, 17-year-olds could earn an EMT or medical first responder license with a parent’s consent, according to the Michigan Advance.
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Prestin, who is a licensed paramedic, said the legislation targets the field’s two entry-level credentials. He noted that first responder training takes roughly 60 hours, while EMT certification spans a full semester and requires at least 32 hours of clinical work, including hands-on patient care in hospital emergency rooms.
“By the time a student completes an approved EMT program and passes the national registry exam, they have already been exposed profoundly to real-life emergencies,” Prestin said. “Community colleges have long provided these programs, and high schools across the state have increasingly embraced them through career and technical education.”
Prestin said concerns about whether 17-year-olds are emotionally ready are addressed by the training itself, which weeds out those not prepared for the work. He added that these students won’t drive ambulances, as drivers must be 18 or 21, depending on the agency, and require additional training.
Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told the Advance the department is committed to addressing health care workforce shortages. She said the bills aim to boost EMS staffing by lowering the licensing age from 18 to 17, since many candidates pass their competency exams before turning 18 but can’t yet get licensed.
Allowing earlier licensure would let them invest in the EMS career path sooner and could bring younger responders into agencies with aging workforces, fostering mentorship and longevity.
Would licensing 17-year-olds help fill the EMS pipeline, or is 18 the right minimum age for this work? Tell us what your agency has seen with young EMTs.
EMS1 readers respond
“Rural Nebraska is short of EMTs as well. Allowing 17 year-olds to be licensed seems to me a good alternative. Age isn’t always a good indicator of maturity or commitment. I agree that the curriculum and hands-on requirements, along with a good instructor will impact the quality of people testing out of the course. As important to their success will be guidance and mentorship from their co-workers, so we don’t lose them from a ‘rocky start’!”
“Seems a little strange that a young person can treat a pt with life saving skills but can not drive the vehicle to get them to the pt. There is a multitude of depts that operate like NYFD. With no negative consequences. Why can’t NYFD EMS also?”
“I think this would be of great benefit, especially in states that have large rural areas in need of coverage.”
“17 y/o would not help the pipeline if they cannot drive an ambulance. Even if you have a EMT on the ambulance who will drive if the medic is in the back. Most services you have to be at least 21 to be covered by the insurance to drive.”
