Issue Statement: As part of the State of Florida Paramedic training requirements, each student is required to complete a clinical field externship. This externship program consists of the student's affiliated school providing the necessary availability to ride on functional 911 EMS / Rescue units. City College reached out to the City to establish a field externship program. City College has agreed to provide an educational benefit to our firefighters in exchange for field externship ride access.

In order to participate in an externship program, the EMS/ Rescue unit must be a State of Florida licensed unit and a functional part of a State of Florida licensed 911 response department. Although meeting these requirements, the City of Oakland Park Fire Rescue does not currently participate in a student rider program

Typically, colleges will reach out to local Fire/EMS departments and obtain access, authorization and availability to ensure their students will have the required field externship completed.  These contracts, while serving the purpose for the school and the student's compliance, usually fail to provide a direct benefit for the EMS/Fire Department other than for future recruiting purposes. Through the proposed Agreement, City College will provide an annual scholarship to the A/S program for 1-firefighter as an in-kind exchange for the student rider field externship program at Oakland Park Fire Rescue.