EMS Training Programs Tuition Assistance
The CTCCE and the Injury Violence and Prevention Program have received two grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the US Department Health and Human Services (HHS). These grants fund several projects include providing tuition vouchers for EMS training Programs.
Qualifying individuals may receive a tuition voucher that can be applied to tuition for a VCU CTCCE-sponsored Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), or Paramedic course.
The voucher is only applied to tuition/registration fees - it cannot be used for books or other expenses.
| Course | Max Voucher* |
|---|---|
| EMT | $1200 |
| AEMT | $3000 |
| Paramedic | $4500 |
*The amounts shown, the amount of each voucher awarded to qualifying individuals, and number of vouchers available are subject to change and to funding availability during the current grant cycle.
To Qualify
To qualify for a voucher, the applicant needs to meet one of the following criteria:
- Member of a racial, ethnic, or gender group underrepresented in Emergency Medical Services, or
- Currently work or volunteer as a minimum as an EMT or higher in an agency services an area classified as "rural" by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Requirements
Please note individuals who qualify and elect to participate and receive a voucher will we required to participate in training on public health, addiction, response to substance abuse, mental health, domestic and intimate partner violence, and patient motivational interviewing. Awardees must also agree to participate in grant data collection and course surveys.
CARA Grant Programs
The EMS Scholarship program is made possible by a Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery (CARA) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This 4-year, $3.2 million grant was awarded to the VCU CTCEE and the VCU Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP) and will fund three major initiatives.
- Increase diversity of EMS workforce.
- Provide access to EMS education to underserved areas.
- Bolster EMS training programs with additional information on public health, addiction, response to substance abuse, mental health, domestic and intimate partner violence, and motivational interviewing.
Breaking Barriers EMT Program
This program is an extended in-person Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training course designed for working adults that may have struggled with adequate access to education and employment due to proximity, income, or status. The program includes a traditional EMT course plus additional workforce skill development such as resume building and interviewing. Once certified, these individuals are qualified for employment with ambulance transport services, fire departments, and in hospitals.
EMS Initial Training Programs Tuition Scholarships
The underrepresentation of women and minorities in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the United States is a complex problem that has ramifications for workforce diversity and the provision of healthcare. The development of culturally competent care can be hampered by the lack of various viewpoints and experiences, which can eventually lower the standard of care given to diverse groups (Crowe et al., 2020).
The VCU Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education was awarded a federal grant to address these inequalities by designing programs to help promote diversity in EMS by supporting the advancement and training of minorities, women, and LGTBQ+ in EMS roles.
After prospective students apply to our EMS Initial Training Programs, they receive information about applying for vouchers to cover all or part of their course fees.