This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
Centre LifeLink EMS recently became officially accredited as an EMS Education Institute under the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
The designation will now allow Centre LifeLink to offer EMS certification courses, including as an Emergency Medical Responder and an Emergency Medical Technician, all on-site. Centre LifeLink has been offering EMT courses for years through partnering with neighboring training centers, but the organization can offer its first-ever in-house EMT course beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
“Ambulance services across Pennsylvania and the nation continue to face critical staffing shortages and inadequate reimbursement rates,” Centre LifeLink wrote in a news release announcing the accreditation. “By offering this course multiple times each year, Centre LifeLink aims to be part of the solution. With a strong emphasis on high-quality, hands-on training and education, Centre LifeLink is committed to preparing the next generation of skilled, professional EMS providers.”
The EMT course Centre LifeLink is offering will loosely follow Penn State’s academic calendar with spring, summer and fall semesters. The course will be held at Centre LifeLink’s Main Station on Puddintown Road in State College.
Registration for the fall EMT course is open now, but Centre LifeLink expects it to fill up quickly. For more information, visit centrelifelink.com or email program director Brandon McMinn at bmcminn@centrelifelink.com.