“Who likes free?”

Those were the words of the Warrior EMS Academy announcing its free and full EMT certification program that is meant to remove the cost barrier for people seeking EMT certification in west Alabama. To be eligible for the program, students must be from Greene, Pickens, Marengo, Hale, or Sumter counties.

The Academy partnered with Wallace Community College and West Alabama Works for the classes, which start Sept. 11. Tuition, license test fee, and textbooks are all covered.

Next month’s classes are full but the Academy is considering hosting a free certification program in October.

The classes being offered typically range in price from $1,000 to $1,500. The new program has been made available through a grant from West Alabama Works.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.