Florence Students Earn EMT Certification in High School
Families in the Killeen area can ask their school counselor about dual credit health programs that let students earn certifications before graduation.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Central Texas College has launched its first all-female dual credit EMT cohort, enrolling Florence High School students who are learning emergency medical skills while still in high school. The program offers access to equipment and training not typically available in a traditional high school classroom.
Why it matters
For Killeen-area families, the program offers a route to emergency medical certification during high school at no cost to the student's future career timeline. It gives students hands-on experience in simulation labs that a standard classroom cannot match.
Central Texas College launched its first all-female dual credit EMT cohort with Florence High School students. Students will earn EMT and EKG technician certifications when they graduate in May 2027.
The players
Central Texas College
A Texas community college offering dual credit programs and simulation-based health training for high school students.
Florence High School
A Texas high school whose students are participating in the new dual credit EMT program with Central Texas College.
The details
Students practiced patient movement, airway management, and oxygen administration in CTC simulation labs. The program is delivered as a dual credit partnership between Florence High School and Central Texas College, so students earn college credit alongside their high school coursework. Upon graduation, students will complete national registry requirements and become eligible for state licensure.
Timeline
Recent training exercises at CTC covered patient movement and airway management before publication.
Students are scheduled to graduate with EMT and EKG certifications in May 2027.
The Home Front
Dual credit partnerships between Texas community colleges and high schools let students earn postsecondary credentials before graduation. Programs like this one reduce the time and cost families face when pursuing skilled health careers.
If your teen is considering a health career, ask their high school counselor whether a dual credit program like this one is available locally. Keep a record of any certifications earned so they can be presented to employers or licensing boards later.
The takeaway
Dual credit programs can give high school students a head start on certifications that lead to paid work. Families should ask their school counselor about similar options available in their district.
What happens next
Students are scheduled to graduate with EMT and EKG certifications in May 2027.
Further reading
Explore more Secondary Education coverage to see how programs like this one are reshaping high school pathways in Killeen.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KWKT - FOX 44.
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Should high schools offer dual credit emergency medical training to students?
