FRANKLIN COUNTY, VA – The Franklin County Department of Public Safety has launched the first and only Paramedic Registered Apprenticeship Program in Virginia.
The launch of this initiative was done in collaboration with The Franklin Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Carilion, Ferrum College and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.
The program will offer apprentices the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with FCDPS while completing 4,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and more than 280 hours of related technical instruction.
This will create a robust pathway for aspiring paramedics and foster an internal workforce pipeline while reducing the reliance on external recruitment, according to a news release.
The release said this comprehensive training regimen is aimed at achieving national certification and acquiring additional related credentials.
“Through IALR’s Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship program, we are thrilled to have supported this new apprenticeship opportunity,” said Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator II for IALR, which, as an intermediary for the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, helped initiate and complete the registration with the state apprenticeship agency. “This program serves as a powerful precedent for expanding apprenticeship opportunities across diverse healthcare professions.”
The program is set to support the county's paramedic workforce by providing tailored training programs that cater to the county's specific needs, the release said.
The inaugural cohort consists of 9 participants.