Wiregrass Tech has signed the college’s first Paramedic Registered Apprentices on the Coffee Campus. The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and its 22 technical colleges serve as Registered Apprenticeship sponsors making it the largest Registered Apprenticeship network in the state.
Wiregrass Paramedic student, Joshua Branch, signed with Atkinson County EMS. Paramedicine students Corey Carver, William Clements, Tiffani Ellis, and Jenny Medders all signed with Coffee Regional Medical Center. All five of the students will be full-time employees and part-time students on Wiregrass Tech’s Coffee Campus.
Despite the proven success of Registered Apprenticeships, students who do not qualify for tuition assistance may feel roadblocked from participating. Thanks to the Apprenticeships for Economic Recovery (AER) grant, these Paramedicine students have access to additional funding that directly addresses those challenges. The AER grant is federally funded and allocated to the State of Georgia to provide support for apprenticeships in key industries, like healthcare, that are critical to Georgia’s economic recovery. AER funds can be used to support their work or school-related expenses including tuition, fees, textbooks, emergency medical equipment, and uniforms.
A registered apprenticeship is a career pathway where individuals obtain paid work experience, related classroom instruction, and a nationally recognized credential. “Apprenticeships represent another way we can meet the workforce needs of our local employers, and Wiregrass is thrilled to offer our students and local business and industry this opportunity,” shared Wiregrass President DeAnnia Clements.
In recent years, Wiregrass has sponsored more than 135 apprentices for 54 local employers. Currently, Wiregrass has 43 active apprentices working for 21 local employers.
To get involved or learn more about Wiregrass Tech’s Apprenticeship Program, contact Wiregrass Executive Director of Workforce Development, Nicole West, at 229-333-2100 ext. 4837 or by email at Nicole.west@wiregrass.edu. Fall Semester classes begin on August 12. Visit Wiregrass.edu to learn more.