LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — The Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) is expanding its offerings in its medical program to meet the rising need for healthcare workers.
LPSS Public Information Officer Allison Dickerson said LPSS is expanding the medical program at the W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center. This fall students will be able to take classes to become emergency medical technicians (EMT), patient care technicians (PCT) and medical assistants (MA).
Because healthcare professionals are in high demand, Dickerson said many employers even offer signing bonuses for new recruits. Acadian Ambulance, for example, is offering $1,000 sign-on bonuses for recent high school graduates with their EMT certification. The company also offers tuition support for those who are interested in pursuing further training and certification as a paramedic.
The EMT class was previously only available at Lafayette High