Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BEAUMONT – If you’re interested in emergency medicine, an upcoming program will provide free training.

Acadian Ambulance is partnering with the National EMS Academy to create a 12-week, tuition-free class for residents of Texas that begins July 15. Deadline for orientation dates is July 9 through 10 with a $20 registration fee.

“The class itself is going to be held in Beaumont at our national EMS Academy site,” Casey Sullivan-Flood, regional recruiter for Southeast Texas in Southwest Louisiana, said. “Basically, we’re trying to remove the financial barrier for people who maybe want to break into the healthcare field. And this is a good opportunity for them to try something new.”

The Beaumont site is located at 3720 Corely Ave.

“Regular tuition is about $1,400,” she said. “And then there are some administrative fees associated with the class as well like a drug test, background check, and uniforms and your book. But we are covering tuition, the drug screen, background check, and uniform. However, the book would be required to be covered by the student, but it’s still considerably less than what they would be paying if they were paying for a whole course.”

Flood said the students will attend hybrid classes, online and in-person.

“It’s two in-person class days per week and coursework is done online,” she said. “The coursework modules and exams are work at your own pace, so, you don’t have to be logged into a computer at a certain period during the day. We have a secure browser that will allow them to take their tests on their own time just as long as the tests are done before the due date.”

Students will learn how to deal with emergency situations.

“They’re going to learn how to do CPR, using airway adjuncts, oxygen therapy, splinting, and bandaging, childbirth,” she said. “The biggest difference between EMTs and paramedics is that EMTs do basic non-invasive procedures, whereas paramedics do more invasive procedures.”

Flood said this opportunity can provide a long-term career with benefits.

“Some people use EMT as a steppingstone,” she said. “But through our company, they are actually able to have a long career, retirement, and be able to live your life and have a better work-life balance than a lot of a lot of other places throughout the country.”

To apply, visit www.becomeamedic.com, hit the link select Beaumont, select July 15 option or call Casey Sullivan-Flood at (409) 273-2496.

This article was written by Sierra Kondos for The Orange Leader.