Northern now offering EMT training

Thanks to a federal grant, Montana State University-Northern is beginning an emergency medical service program and will be teaching its first group of paramedic students this fall.

The first EMT class - emergency medical technician - was held in the spring, a sort of trial course. Northern EMS Program Coordinator Mark Benjamin said all of  the courses needed for students to become paramedics or earn a bachelor's degree in emergency health services are now available at the university as well.

The program was launched thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's grant program known as TAACCCT4 grant. It's part of the $450 million Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative and the fourth round of federal investments meant to help community colleges expand their training capabilities.

"This final round will help scale what works, strengthen career pathways and improve the way employment and education data are used in assessing programs throughout the country," U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said in an April 2014 press release.

Benjamin said the program is an answer to the needs of the community.

After getting the grant, the university began looking into what would benefit the community best - what would be the best way to invest that money?

"We actually called up the hospitals, the clinics, the EMS agencies in the area, and said, 'what do you need?' And the biggest answer that came back was EMT volunteers," he said.

Benjamin said the availability of EMT training makes this an ideal time for people to learn valuable lifesaving skills and volunteer in their communities as EMTs.

The EMT course can be taken on its own, without having to take other paramedic or medical health science courses. It includes CPR training and every other skill needed to be a volunteer. The EMT class is all that is needed to have an EMT certificate.  And it is offered at night, from 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday nights, to increase access for working people.

He said that for anyone looking to serve as an EMT - especially in smaller communities in the area – this is the way to go about it.

"I think there's one EMT in Kremlin. And they want more," he said. "Because if that person is out of town, or on their combine, they can't respond."

Benjamin said the training opportunity is also good news for everybody who wanted to get an EMT certificate but couldn't move or drive to Great Falls or Billings to be trained.

"Now you can do it right here and then you can volunteer and start working with your ambulance," he said.

Since EMT training is required for any paramedic training, it also goes toward a paramedic bachelor's degree.

The EMT course is seven credits and one semester, 15 weeks long. It runs from Aug. 29 to Sep. 6. Since it's over six credits, Benjamin said anyone eligible for financial assistance should be able to qualify.

Whether the plan is to stay in the area, or to one day work as a paramedic in a different region, Northern is now a training option, Benjamin said.

The deadline to sign up is fast approaching. Anyone interested needs to call school admissions immediately.