Innovative Earn While You Learn program offers Long Island residents a cost-free way to begin a rewarding career in EMS
March 16th, 2022 – Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter, Suffolk County Legislator Steve Flotteron and Babylon Councilman Terrence McSweeney this week joined with Global Medical Response (GMR) and Hunter EMS for the graduation of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) on Long Island during a ceremony at Good Samaritan Hospital.
The graduates were part of a unique program operated by GMR that paid them to “Earn While You Learn” as they trained to become EMTs. Upon today’s graduation ceremony, they will each receive a raise and a promotion. The celebration comes as the country faces a critical EMT shortage and continues the battle against COVID-19.
This is the second class to graduate from the program on Long Island since American Medical Response (AMR) and its parent company, GMR, acquired Hunter EMS last summer. EMTs who graduate from the program will be eligible to work for AMR, Hunter EMS or Crowd Rx, which provides high-profile EMS services at NYC sites and landmarks such as Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium.
“A crucial part of governing is to form long-lasting public-private partnerships to ensure the health and safety of our community,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “I don’t think there is a better way to show the success of this program and our state’s brave fight against COVID than by welcoming 11 new EMTs to our county.”
Following successful completion of the EWYL program, the graduates are given the opportunity to become full-time employees with a commensurate pay increase.
"We in Suffolk County are extremely proud of the 11 new EMTs graduating today,” said Suffolk County Legislator Steve Flotteron. “Thankfully, we have remarkable programs like AMR’s Earn While You Learn, which allows these students to earn money while learning how to administer pre-hospital care during training, and I’m sure each and every one of them will now embark upon successful careers and get a well-deserved raise.”
AMR launched the award-winning EWYL program as a way to ease the financial transition for those wanting to become EMS professionals. The innovative program allows for paid on-the-job training while taking the necessary certification courses to become EMTs.
“The Earn While You Learn program is a landmark advancement for the EMS industry,” said Babylon Councilman Terence McSweeney. “As a former EMT, I can tell you that there are plenty of people who want to break into the industry, but financial problems can make it difficult. Earn While You Learn lends a helping hand to all those who want to serve their community but can’t find the money to pay for certifications.”
“Hunter EMS has been serving Long Island for a long time and we are proud to be here today with our partners, AMR, and our 11 Earn While You Learn graduates,” said Dan Leibowitz, President and CEO, Hunter EMS. “Building these partnerships helps us all. We are so happy that today, our community in Suffolk County becomes a little bit safer and we are proud to continue to offer this program to the great residents of Long Island.”
Earn While You Learn has graduated more than 900 EMTs since its inception in late 2018 and received a national honor from the American Ambulance Association in the best Employee Programs Category.
Similar programs have also been launched in Alabama, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.