Prestonsburg, Ky. – Big Sandy Community and Technical College’s (BSCTC) Workforce Solutions division is helping remove barriers to emergency medical services (EMS) education through TRAINS funding, creating new opportunities for aspiring paramedics while addressing Kentucky’s critical workforce shortage.
Through funding provided by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System’s (KCTCS) TRAINS initiative, BSCTC Workforce Solutions partnered with the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), Big Sandy Area Community Action Program (BSACAP), and Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) to eliminate the cost of the college’s 2026 paramedic cohort.
The TRAINS initiative provided funding for 75 percent of tuition and fees, while workforce partners covered the remaining tuition, uniforms, credentialing requirements, background checks, drug screenings, and each student’s first attempt at the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification exam.
“Providing affordable, high-quality workforce education is central to our mission at Big Sandy Community and Technical College,” said Dr. Samuel Todd Brand, President and Chief Executive Officer of BSCTC. “We are expanding access to life-changing educational opportunities and strengthening the EMS workforce our communities depend on every day.”
To further expand access, BSCTC partnered with Hazard Community and Technical College and Ashland Community and Technical College, allowing students to complete laboratory and clinical requirements closer to home while participating in hybrid classroom instruction through BSCTC.
“The TRAINS Program opened the door for people in our region to become paramedics at no cost,” said Chris Gilley, Director of EMS programs at BSCTC. “It allows students to pursue their career goals while helping communities by placing more highly trained paramedics in the field.”
The current cohort, the first funded through the TRAINS initiative, enrolled 28 students from across Eastern Kentucky.
“The TRAINS initiative demonstrates what can happen when workforce partners come together around a common goal,” said Joyce Wilcox, Director of Workforce Solutions at BSCTC. “By working alongside EKCEP, BSACAP, SOAR, and our KCTCS partners, we’ve removed financial barriers, expanded access across Eastern Kentucky, and created a pathway that helps students build meaningful careers while meeting one of our region’s most critical workforce needs.”
The 11-month program is designed to accommodate students through a flexible hybrid format that combines online coursework, weekly labs, and clinical experiences scheduled around students’ work commitments. Students’ complete classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and clinical requirements before transitioning into field capstone experiences alongside practicing EMS professionals.
“This program is about creating opportunities,” Gilley said. “Many of our students are working hard to improve their lives and advance their careers. Our goal is to give them every possible opportunity to succeed.”
As workforce shortages continue to impact EMS agencies across Kentucky, BSCTC is preparing for its next paramedic cohort beginning in January 2027. College leaders continue working with regional workforce partners to secure future funding and expand access to paramedic education throughout Eastern Kentucky.
For more information about BSCTC’s Paramedic Program or upcoming enrollment opportunities, visit bigsandy.kctcs.edu.