City Offers Paid EMT Training Internships

Starting April 1, the Minneapolis Fire Department is taking applications from men and women ages 18-30 for a certification course in emergency medical services (EMS). The Fire Department offers the EMS Pathways Academy with Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) to train Minneapolis residents from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds as emergency medical technicians. Twenty-five candidates will be accepted into the program. Graduates of the program will get preference points on the next Fire Department entrance exam, which will take place in the spring of 2017. Graduates will be eligible to apply at HCMC for jobs in EMS, and if hired they’d have the option of further education for paramedic certification. There is no cost to trainees. Trainees will be considered City of Minneapolis student interns and will earn $14.93 hourly to take this college-level course two days a week for 12 weeks.

The goal is to provide a pipeline of candidates for the fire service and the Hennepin EMS workforce. This career pathway program will provide free EMT training and certification to young adults from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and low-income families. Becoming a certified emergency medical technician opens the door to many career paths. This is a rapidly expanding field, and as more jobs for EMTs are created demand will increase for qualified candidates who reflect the multilingual and culturally diverse communities they serve.

Candidates follow four steps to apply:

1. Check out the basic eligibility requirements.
2. Attend an information session April 5, 7 or 9.
3. Apply by 11:59 p.m., April 18, at www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs/index.htm under “Internship Opportunities.”
4. Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for the program will attend further screening.

Find more information at www.minneapolismn.gov/fire.