LCC Supports Apprenticeships at the Lansing Fire Department

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In 2023, Lansing Community College developed a program to provide tuition for 25 Emergency Medical Services apprentices with the Lansing Fire Department (LFD). The apprentices included 14 first responders, nine fire medics, and two paramedics.

These innovative, high-quality apprenticeships helped address a critical shortage of emergency healthcare workers in mid-Michigan. Careers in emergency medical fields tend to provide stable, largely recession-proof careers with room for advanced training and promotion to higher levels of responsibility.

Emergency medical service jobs were a natural fit for these apprenticeships since the career pathways benefit from a combination of mentorship, on-the-job training and classroom instruction. However, a challenge to overcome was the initial apprehension some healthcare employers felt at the idea of applying this training model in their various fields. To address this reluctance, it was important to illustrate how apprenticeships can act as a career ladder for employees while benefiting employers through higher employee retention.

Employees who complete a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship tend to have greater retention on the job because, unlike in most internships, employers make an investment in the training and upskilling of their apprentices. Apprenticeships have structured training plans that guide the apprentice through the program. Mentorship is a key differentiator between apprenticeships and other work-based learning models, as is the employer’s fiscal contribution to the employee’s training.

Funding for these apprenticeships is provided by a U.S. Department of Labor Strengthening Community College Grant, funding designed to build “the capacity of community colleges to collaborate with employers and the public workforce development system to meet local and regional labor market demand for a skilled workforce.” Additional funding was coordinated through Capitol Area Michigan Works and the Workforce Development Institute. This strategic approach to developing robust workforce pipelines through meeting the needs of our community partners will contribute to the welfare and safety of our community and the Capital Region for years to come.

To learn more about apprenticeships at LCC, visit lcc.edu/apprenticeship. To learn more about LCC, or to register for classes, visit lcc.edu/register.