Across the country, EMS leaders are running into the same issue: traditional recruiting strategies aren’t bringing in enough new clinicians. Programs are competing for the same pool of candidates, and many are finding that even when they can fill seats, keeping students through completion to NREMT certification can be a challenge. 

At the same time, there are communities full of capable, motivated people who either never consider EMS as a career path, or don’t have a clear way to access training. 

Programs like EMS Corps are working to bridge this gap. And while not every agency can replicate the model exactly, there are lessons for anyone thinking about how they can strengthen their recruitment and training pipeline. 

Expanding Who Enters EMS 

EMS Corps is a five-month EMT training program designed for young adults (ages 18-26) who have faced barriers to traditional education and employment, such as under-resourced systems, housing insecurity, or involvement with foster care or the justice system. Instead of expecting those students to find their way into EMS programs on their own, EMS Corps builds a pathway around them. 

A combination of training and support is central to student success. EMS instructors are well aware that when learners struggle, it’s often not due to the content itself, but to challenges outside the classroom. EMS Corps is structured to account for those factors from the beginning.  

In addition to EMT instruction, participants receive a monthly stipend along with wraparound support, including mentorship, career guidance, and job placement assistance after graduation. By combining training with this level of support, the program helps students stay on track through program completion and into NREMT certification, while also creating accessible career pathways for individuals who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to enter the field. 

A Model with Real Results 

The EMS Corps model began in Alameda County, California, and has continued to grow, including new and expanding sites across California and programs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and New Orleans. In Albuquerque, a collaboration between state agencies, the University of New Mexico, and Albuquerque Fire & Rescue launched a local EMS Corps program to address workforce shortages and create new training opportunities, while programs nationwide have also adopted the model. 

Over the years, EMS Corps programs have trained more than 500 participants for careers in EMS, fire service, and other areas of public safety. Graduates are entering the workforce, earning certification, and going back to serve their own communities, helping strengthen local EMS systems with clinicians who already understand the people and environments they serve. 

Addressing Longstanding Challenges in EMS Education 

Programs like EMS Corps are gaining attention because they address several long-standing challenges in EMS education and workforce development. 

Many programs continue to rely on the same recruitment channels, which can limit growth and make it difficult to expand the candidate pool. By reaching individuals who may not have previously considered EMS as a career, programs like EMS Corps introduce new, motivated candidates who are often underrepresented in the profession. 

There’s also a less visible challenge: many students enter programs believing they are not capable of succeeding in a traditional academic environment.  

“The biggest win for me has been hearing students say things like, ‘I never thought I was a good student until this class.’ We have students who came into EMS Corps believing they just were not ‘school people’ because traditional classrooms never worked for them,” says Melissa Corney, an EMS instructor and paramedic with the Oxnard Fire Department. “Watching them realize that they are intelligent, capable, and able to succeed when instructors create active, supportive learning environments has been one of the most rewarding parts of being an EMS Corps Instructor.” 

By integrating mentorship, financial support, and structured guidance, EMS Corps helps reduce these barriers and improves the likelihood that students complete training and successfully sit for the NREMT. 

The Role of Structured and Engaging Training 

While the support model is a big part of what makes EMS Corps effective, the training itself still must prepare students for certification and the realities of the field.  

Effective training requires high-quality, structured educational resources that help students develop and reinforce clinical skills, support critical thinking, and give students the foundation they need to succeed both on the NREMT exam and on the job. This includes not only classroom learning, but also hands-on practice through scenario-based simulation that allows students to apply knowledge in realistic, high-pressure situations. Well-designed scenarios help learners build clinical decision-making skills, practice communication, and gain confidence before entering the field. 

Real-world experience is just as important. Field ride-alongs give students exposure to active EMS environments, where they can observe patient care, understand team dynamics, and begin applying skills in context. Together, simulation and field experience create a more complete training model that prepares students not just for exams, but for the realities of what they’ll see in the field.  

EMS Corps programs have incorporated Public Safety Group (PSG) and NAEMT education into their training approach, including PHTLS: Prehospital Trauma Life Support, AMLS: Advanced Medical Life Support, AHDR: All Hazards Disaster Response, and Public Safety Group’s popular Flipped Classroom model built around Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured.  

The flipped approach allows students to engage with core content ahead of time and apply it during class through discussion, scenario work, and skills practice, and has been successful across multiple EMS Corps sites, including those in California and New Orleans. Corney says this approach has transformed both the teaching and learning experience: 

“Using the Flipped Classroom in EMS Corps has honestly changed and shaped me into the educator I am today,” she said. "Our classroom time has become less about me talking at students and more about students working through scenarios, asking questions, talking through critical thinking, and learning by doing, which is exactly how EMS works in the real world.” 

We’re proud to support EMS Corps programs across the country with these resources. 

Lessons Your Program Can Learn from EMS Corps 

While most EMS agencies may be unable to build a program identical to EMS Corps due to financial or staffing challenges, there are practical elements that can be applied. 

Recruitment is one place to start. Expanding outreach beyond traditional channels can help bring in candidates who might not otherwise apply. This can include partnering with community-based and social service organizations, as well as using targeted digital campaigns to reach individuals where they are, rather than relying solely on program-centered outreach. 

Support during training is another area to consider. Even small changes, like structured study time, mentorship, or more flexible course delivery, can make a difference in keeping students on track. As programs think about how they deliver training, Corney says that confidence and belonging should be part of the equation. Engaging students, reinforcing knowledge through application, and building confidence early can make a difference in how prepared students feel as they move toward certification and employment. 

“The Flipped Classroom does more than help students learn EMS content. It helps build confidence, ownership, and the belief that they belong in this profession,” said Corney. And that sense of confidence can carry through to certification and beyond.  

“One of the greatest rewards for me has been watching students who once doubted themselves go on to earn their NREMT card and become [clinicians] that I would trust to care for my own family and friends,” she said. 

While there remains no single solution to EMS workforce challenges, programs like EMS Corps offer a practical and proven example of what can happen when recruitment and training models are designed around access, support, and engagement, with a clear focus on helping students reach certification and enter the workforce. 

Learn more about Public Safety Group’s EMS training resources and Flipped Classroom solutions to support student engagement, retention, and success in your program.