When an emergency happens, communities need people who are ready to respond. Barry University is preparing a growing number of students for careers as EMTs, paramedics, firefighters and emergency management professionals.

About 600 students are enrolled in Barry’s emergency services programs this semester, with more than half entering through the university’s high school EMT program. Now offered at 18 sites, the program gives students an early start in emergency response and a pathway to continue their training in firefighter and paramedic programs before pursuing a bachelor’s degree in emergency management.

The emergency services programs have grown significantly in recent years. The university now graduates about 1,170 emergency services professionals annually, compared with 261 in 2019, which accounts for about a 350% increase.

President Michael Allen highlighted the importance of that growth and the support behind the university’s expanding emergency services programs: “We see this as such a critical need for our community. We have a great foundation of a program, it’s been growing exponentially, and through the help of the incredible support that we received.”

Students gain direct experience in the field through hands-on training and ride-time with fire-rescue agencies and ambulance services across South Florida. These experiences allow students to put their training into practice in real emergency response settings while gaining valuable experience for their future careers.

With strong employment outcomes and continued growth, Barry is expanding opportunities for students while helping meet Florida’s need for trained EMTs, paramedics, firefighters and emergency management professionals. The university plans to continue growing these programs with the goal of becoming the state’s largest provider of emergency management professionals.