First cohort of graduates finished 10 months of classroom training and hands-on practicals in simulated and clinical settings
The Erie County Department of Health is pleased to announce that 16 students have completed the inaugural Paramedic Academy course, a rigorous 10-month program that recently earned New York State and CoAEMSP Letter of Review accreditation. These graduates are eligible to test for the NYS Paramedic Certification Exam and the National Registry Paramedic Certification Exam, qualifying them to serve as paramedics in paid or volunteer roles.
Erie County recruited students for the Paramedic Academy in late 2024 for the 2025 program, which aims to increase the number of certified paramedics able to work and volunteer with local ambulance services, including Erie County’s Ambulance Service.
“Just as our county’s Ambulance Service strengthens the network of available transportation, our Paramedic Academy is building a pipeline of qualified, certified and motivated professionals to the regional workforce,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “These initiatives are making our local pre-hospital transport and medical care in the field more efficient, more effective, and ultimately, improving health outcomes for accidents, injuries and sudden illness.”
“Our ceremony recognizes the significant achievement of graduation and congratulates students on taking the next step in their career, especially given the intensive study and extensive clinical work involved in this program,” said Deputy Commissioner of Health Gregory Gill. “These students came into the program with a strong set of EMT skills and experience, and provided ongoing feedback to strengthen this program, and we are looking ahead to welcoming our next two classes in 2026.”
The program included 500 hours of classroom and laboratory instruction and 425 hours of hands-on clinical training in hospitals and healthcare settings. Paramedics are trained to provide advanced life support services, including intubation, IV insertion, EKG interpretation, and the administration of more than 30 medications in the field—skills that go beyond the scope of EMT-level care.
In response to interest and regional demand, two paramedic classes are scheduled in 2026: one daytime and another for evening classes in response to the need for additional availability of classes. Both classes are scheduled to start in January 2026 with a total class of 28 students.
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Erie County Paramedic Program: https://www3.erie.gov/ems/erie-county-paramedic-program
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