A new initiative is in the works to provide Ocean County high school students with training to become certified EMTs and firefighters before they graduate. The two-year program, proposed by County Commissioner Robert Arace, would be offered through the Ocean County Vocational Technical School District.
With emergency service staffing shortages becoming a growing concern, officials hope this program will create a pipeline of trained first responders. The number of EMTs in New Jersey has significantly declined in recent years, even as demand for emergency services continues to rise.
County officials plan to spend the next six months developing the proposal, determining what resources, instructors, and regulatory approvals will be needed. While financial details have not yet been disclosed, the initiative would mark the county’s most significant investment in first responder education since the 1990s.
If implemented, the program would offer students a direct path into essential public safety careers, addressing both local workforce needs and community safety.
AP