Beaufort County Community College has joined Washington County Schools and Washington County Government to launch the Emergency Medical Responder Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The initiative gives high school students a head start on careers in emergency medicine and health care.
A New Pathway for Washington County Students
The first cohort includes rising seniors and health science students from Washington County High School. Through a mix of online coursework and hands-on training, participants will earn industry-recognized credentials while still enrolled in high school.
The program pairs the college’s instruction with clinical and field experience. This gives students a direct pathway into high-demand health care careers before they graduate.
College Leaders Weigh In
Sara Watson, director of customized training and apprenticeships at Beaufort County Community College, said the partnership reflects the college’s commitment to expanding access to career training across the region.
“This program gives students in Washington County a real head start,” Watson said. “They are earning college credit and hands-on experience before they even graduate high school, and that puts them ahead on a path toward a career that matters in their own community.”
Billy Respass, director of EMS training at Beaufort County Community College, said the program gives students an early, realistic look at the field before they commit to it as a career.
“Being faced with an emergency is much different than learning about it in a textbook. We’re showing them what the job actually looks like,” Respass said. “The earlier students get that exposure, the better prepared they are to decide if EMS is the right path for them, and the stronger they’ll be once they get there.”
Building Skills for the Future
Students in the program will develop real-world skills, explore career opportunities in emergency medicine, and build a foundation for future employment or postsecondary education. College officials said the program is designed to grow in future years to match demand for emergency medical responders in the region.
Beaufort County Community College plans to expand the partnership with Washington County Schools in future semesters, offering additional cohorts of students the opportunity to earn credentials through the program.
For more information about the EMR Pre-Apprenticeship Program, contact Billy Respass at 252-940-6468.