CAL-JAC


Cal-JAC Graduates First Fire Paramedic Academy Class

On December 7, 2023, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento, the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (Cal-JAC) Academy held its first paramedic graduation.

After completing the 10-month-long program, twenty cadets graduated from Class 22-1, and almost half were licensed paramedics by the start of 2024.

The Cal-JAC Academy offered the full curriculum and experience needed for licensure as a paramedic. The training included 515 hours of didactic and skills laboratory training, 160 hours of hospital clinical rotations and a minimum of 480 hours of field internship with Cal-JAC partner fire departments. This rigorous course was the cornerstone of the Cal-JAC Academy and provided the necessary EMS skills to find employment as a full-time Paramedic or entry-level Firefighter Paramedic.

The Cal-JAC Academy is a unique and groundbreaking program established to remove barriers to entry for qualified individuals whose path might be blocked by economic need. Accepted candidates attend free of charge and the program covers costs for uniforms, exams, and the NREMT state license fee. Candidates with financial need can also apply for travel and childcare reimbursements.

This academy was made possible through CPF-Sponsored Assembly Bill 579, and the partnership between Cal-JAC, the Department of Industrial Relations Division of Apprenticeship Standards, Alameda Fire Department, Cosumnes Fire Department, El Dorado Hills Fire Department, Orange County Fire Authority, Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, and Vacaville Fire Department.

“We could not have done this without the support from CPF and our partner departments that helped us host this academy. We hope that we can give back to these departments by providing them with a pool of well-trained paramedic recruits,” said Yvonne de la Peña, the Executive Director of Cal-JAC.

Cal-JAC’s second Paramedic Academy is already underway in Sacramento, and recruitment has begun for their third Paramedic Academy class, which will be held in Southern California.

If you know anyone who might be interested in applying for the next Paramedic Academy, or Cal-JAC’s Pre-Apprenticeship EMT Academy, please encourage them to learn more and apply at caljacacademy.org.