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Clark County to Celebrate 26 New Advanced EMTs as Program Reaches 151 Graduates
Clark County will honor 26 graduates of its Advanced EMT Academy on Monday, the sixth cohort since the program launched in early 2025 to address emergency medical staffing shortages and ambulance response times.
Clark County will recognize 26 graduates of its Advanced EMT Academy at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. The ceremony marks the sixth cohort to complete the county's EMT training program since it began in early 2025.
Advanced EMT certification provides additional medical training and patient-care capabilities beyond the basic EMT level, allowing graduates to take on a greater role in emergency response and pre-hospital care, according to the county.
The academy was created after local ambulance providers and public officials identified challenges with emergency medical staffing and ambulance response times in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. County leaders treated the shortage as a public safety concern and as an opportunity to connect residents with high-demand careers in health care and emergency services.
"The Clark County Fire Department and other first responders identified a need for more trained emergency medical professionals to serve our community," Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said in a news release. "County leadership saw this program as a way to meet that need and as an opportunity to connect residents with high-demand careers. The graduates being recognized have earned credentials that can lead to rewarding careers while helping strengthen Southern Nevada's emergency medical workforce."
Shani Coleman, director of the Clark County Office of Community and Economic Development, said the program is producing tangible results. "We're seeing residents gain industry-recognized credentials, enter high-demand careers and help fill critical positions throughout Southern Nevada's emergency medical system," Coleman said.
Participants complete accelerated training that combines classroom instruction, hands-on skills development, clinical experience and state and national certification requirements. The nine-week Advanced EMT Academy is free and open to certified EMTs, according to the county's economic development website.
Since the program opened, it has produced 151 graduates, including 97 EMTs and 54 advanced EMTs. The county reported that 99 graduates are employed and 78 are working in EMS-related careers, and that 66 graduates have passed credential examinations.
The program operates through partnerships with Workforce Connections, the EMS Training Center of Southern Nevada and the Clark County Fire Department.