CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (News Release) - Starting later in February, Dell Mar College will begin a new six-month Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and Health Care Program, which is designed as a pathway to becoming an in-demand Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The program requires online application and acceptance, which is now underway.

 The EMR and Health Care Program is made possible from a $250,000 Texas Reskilling and Upskilling Through Education (TRUE) Grant awarded to the College by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) in mid-December. The grant runs through the end of this year.

 “This TRUE Grant allows Del Mar College to support our regional healthcare industry partners’ skilled workforce needs by providing career training that uses innovative short-term educational programming developed as a collaboration between Continuing Education and the academic degree program with our Public Service Department,” said Dr. Leonard Rivera, Associate Vice President of Continuing Education & Off-Campus Programs, adding: “That collaboration makes the Emergency Medical Responder and Health Care Program unique and will provide various exit or ‘off-ramps’ for students upon completion of every credential earned should they need to work while continuing their path to becoming an EMT.”

The EMR and Health Care Program is designed for short-term completion and certification and stacks Continuing Education credentials upon the Public Service Department’s requirements for an Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Technician degree. The EMT pathway is listed as a high-demand occupation on both the THECB’s 2024 high demand occupational field list as well as the local Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend’s Targeted Occupation list for 2022-2023.

 TRUE Grant funding for the new program allows DMC Continuing Education to cover accepted applicants’ tuition, textbooks and other training materials, uniforms and testing and certification fees. Students are required to follow the course progression and certification exam schedule to successfully complete the program (available on information and application page).

 Questions may be directed to DMC Continuing Education at 361-698-1769 or cegrants@delmar.edu or the Public Service Department at mstuive@delmar.edu.

For individuals interested in applying for the program, eligibility requirements are as follows:

• must be 18 years of age or older,

• must be a U.S. citizen or certified to work in the United States,

• must have a high school diploma/GED or higher education,

• pass a background check,

• pass a drug screen, and

• must be available for an in-person follow-up to provide required documents.

“This TRUE Grant will have a tremendous impact among our healthcare partners as we meet their skilled workforce needs, along with Coastal Bend communities where residents can benefit from either participating in the EMR and Health Care Program or being served by the professionals Del Mar College produces over this next year,” Dr. Rivera noted.