February 26, 2021

City of Hartford teams up with American Medical Response to offer paid training for residents who want to be EMTs

By JESSIKA HARKAY on February 26, 2021

HARTFORD — The City of Hartford has teamed up with American Medical Response to pay Hartford residents to train to become emergency medical technicians in order to help diversify the first responder workforce.

The “Earn While You Learn” Program, a 10-week academy, covers costs related to obtain EMT certification, pays students while they complete their training and provides job opportunities as soon as they’re certified.

“Oftentimes people may actually have another job or may have family and they can’t necessarily take time away to go learn a new trade, or profession to pay for that education,” Chris Chaplin, regional director for AMR in Northern Connecticut, said. “With this program what we’re saying is, come to us. We are going to educate you. We’re also going to pay you. We’re wrapping that in one.”

Chaplin, who’s been with AMR for 22 years and began his career as an EMT, said that the program wasn’t just created because of a need for EMTs, but with “the intention to diversify our workforce.”