The Rural EMS Grant Program is a Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) initiative, authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2025 with $2.5 million in funding, to help address EMS staffing shortages in rural and underserved areas of the state.
How it works:
- Grants are awarded to DSHS-licensed EMS providers (not directly to students or to Axon Education) to fund scholarships for their trainees or employees pursuing EMT-Basic, EMT-Advanced, or Paramedic training.
- The EMS provider applies on the trainee's behalf and is responsible for making tuition payments to the training provider (Axon Education) once approved.
- Funding priority goes to EMS providers serving rural counties (population over 50,000 that are isolated/sparsely populated) or underserved areas where EMS coverage is diminished or absent.
Trainee eligibility:
- At least 18 years old
- Employed with the sponsoring EMS provider for 6+ months
- Enrolled in a DSHS-approved course
What the grant covers: Course tuition and NREMT exam fees (reimbursed with receipts).
What it does NOT cover: Transportation, lodging, per diem/meal costs, equipment, textbooks, student uniforms, or lab coats.
How to apply: EMS providers (not students) submit the TWC Grant Application for the Emergency Medical Response Service Staffing Program to [email protected]. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis — open for two months, then closed for one month for review and grantee selection.