Grants for Paramedic School – Pursuing a career as a paramedic can be very rewarding, but everything always starts with a good education, right? While it is true that this line of career offers many things, but getting a degree for it requires a lot of cash. The cost of paramedic school is often too high for many families. With that in mind, we are here to provide you with information on the available grant opportunities for paramedic school!
Getting a grant is an excellent way to get an affordable higher education, simply because you are given free money, much like a scholarship. However, the main difference is that the scholarships are usually given based on merits, while the grants are given based on several other things, including income, gender, race, etc.
Government Grants for Paramedic School
The first source you should be seeking is financial assistance from the government, preferably in the form of grant. I am sure you already know about the Federal Pell Grant, which is basically the most well-known grant program available in the United States. However, you do have to attend an accredited school or college. It is important to remember that the EMT Grant from the government won’t be handed down to hospitals. Therefore, we highly recommend you to contact your nearest community college and see if they offer paramedic program. If you already have a school in mind, please do refer to the official website of Free Application for Federal Student Aid and use the “Look up a school code” search to see if the school is accredited.
PRO TIP: When you are considering to apply for a Pell Grant, it is recommended to enroll in an accredited community college for the associate degree and at the same time obtain your EMT certification. If you are already not supported by your family for at least a year, you should get some kind of a proof (such as a bank note stating that your family won’t apply for any loan for your school) to increase your chance in getting the Pell Grant.
The Pell Grant is a very important grant, because it can really widen your funding options. Students who are qualified for a Pell grant are usually eligible for a number of other scholarships or grants. Furthermore, grant and scholarship providers prefer students who received Pell Grant.
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)
The NAEMT provides up to $5,000 for professionals who are currently attending an EMT-Paramedic course. Meanwhile, they also provides up to $500 for those who are attending the EMT-B training. Upon completion of the certification, they can also provide you with $2,000 so that you can continue your education. Members of the NAEMT are eligible if they can submit a 1,000 words essay describing about the importance of the grant and the reasons they want to get the paramedic training.
Carlos Lillo Memorial Paramedic Scholarship
This one is an excellent need-based scholarship for paramedic students, as well as other emergency medical technician students. It’s one of a few scholarships that can give you a full tuition, as long as you are selected. This program is a tribute program for a paramedic named Carlos Lillo who lost his life during the September 11 attack on the WTC. If you’re interested, you should write an essay, complete the application, submit a resume, and provide proof of financial need.
Bound Tree Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship is based on the parent’s job. The program is available for children of paramedics, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. The children must be planning on enrolling at an accredited paramedic program or other EMS training program. Up to $2,500 is available for each child depending on the academic program and achievements.
More Information
You can find further information, including paramedic grant in your local area by contacting your state’s Emergency Medical Services agency or association. This would be your best shot in getting information about available scholarships or grants in your state.
Last but not least, we would like to remind you once again that you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) because most of these grant award programs are available for those who are federally recognized as the people in need of financial assistance for their education. The FAFSA is the standard measurement for that. We hope that you can find your grants for paramedic school!
References:
- Bound Tree Medical – Scholarship Program – https://www.boundtree.com/scholarship-program.aspx
- National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians – http://www.naemt.org/
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