MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Wednesday, December 1, 2021) – Berkeley County Emergency Medical Services recently obtained a certification from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) to serve as an EMS Training Center site. Only one other EMS agency in South Carolina—Greenville County—holds this same training certification.
Through SC DHEC, Berkeley County EMS also renewed its continuing education program and its agency license, a process that’s completed every two years.
The training certification will allow Berkeley County EMS to host and provide EMT classes for anyone across the state interested in becoming an EMT. Berkeley County EMS already maintains the equipment, systems, and instructional personnel to satisfy all requirements needed to teach EMT classes.
“This is one of several initiatives EMS is pursuing to solve the EMT shortage that has struck all EMS agencies throughout the nation. We can now ‘grow our own’ EMTs. Soon, we will be able to train uncertified candidates to gain their EMT certification and employ these home-grown EMTs right here in Berkeley County.” -Chief Michael Shirey, Berkeley County EMS
Earlier this month, S.C. Governor Henry McMaster announced the creation of the Workforce Scholarships for the Future program, set to go into effect on January 1, 2022. The program will allocate $17 million from the state’s COVID-19 education relief money to cover the cost of two years of technical college training for EMS training and other high-demand jobs in fields like healthcare and manufacturing. Learn more about the program HERE.
Berkeley County EMS is also currently hiring certified paramedics and EMTs. To apply, visit berkeleycountysc.gov > Careers.
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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-
