West Virginia Northern Community College receives West Virginia EMS Workforce Education Grant
The $294,616 grant comes from the U.S. Department of Labor and will allow the college to provide paramedic training to current EMTs.
West Virginia Northern Community College has received a $294,616 West Virginia EMS Workforce Education Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The funding will cover tuition costs of the college’s paramedic program for individuals who are currently working in Emergency Medical Services. The goal is to increase the number of people working as paramedics to help combat the shortage of them throughout the state’s workforce.
According to an article on West Virginia Northern Community College’s website, Mike Freeman, who serves as the college’s EMS Program Director, was quoted as saying of the grant funding, "This grant represents a tremendous opportunity for current EMTs to advance their careers while helping meet the growing demand for highly trained emergency medical professionals throughout our region. By removing financial barriers, we can help more individuals gain the skills needed to serve their communities and strengthen emergency healthcare services across West Virginia."
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is providing $1.8 million throughout the state of West Virginia to help grow the paramedic workforce. The West Virginia EMS Workforce Education Grant will cover tuition for eligible individuals to complete the paramedic training program at the college. Tuition for the program costs $6,999.
In order to be eligible to receive the tuition coverage, individuals must hold a current West Virginia, Ohio, or National Registry EMT certification and meet WIOA eligibility requirements. The grant intends to expand access to the training to individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, young adults, veterans, low-income residents, and those who are seeking to change careers.
While the grant funding will cover tuition to the program proper, which starts on September 21, 2026, it does not cover the fees for a required prerequisite, the Paramedic Anatomy and Physiology course, which runs from August 3 through September 13 and costs $249.
For more information about West Virginia Northern Community College, visit the school’s website.