EMS Boot Camp

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Lancaster County, South Carolina’s Emergency Medical Services Department, responding proactively to the shortage of qualified Emergency Medical Technicians statewide, took the initiative to develop the first-of-its-kind in South Carolina EMS Boot Camp program! This initiative moved rapidly from concept to implementation with the enthusiastic support of the County’s leadership team. EMS Boot Camp takes qualified applicants through an approximately 12 week program of classroom, self-study, skills lab and direct observation on an ambulance to prepare the individual to care for victims of sudden illness or injury. Upon successful completion, students are eligible for National and State certification exams. Once required certifications are obtained, part-time employment is guaranteed! Launched in January, 2020, the program graduated its first 5 students and Lancaster County gained 5 new highly energetic, enthusiastic and very positive staff members! In 2020 the EMS Boot Camp was recognized by the South Carolina Association of Counties with the prestigious J. Mitchel Graham Award, a first-ever for Lancaster County! We are proud to share that all 5 students passed their National Registry Exams and have hit the road running! The 2021 EMS Boot Camp is underway with 6 students who, upon successful completion of the program, will become Lancaster County’s newest employees!