Texas Rural EMS Grant Program

Texas Rural EMS Grant Program is sponsored by Texas Legislature (administered by Texas EMS School). This program provides grants to EMS providers to pay for scholarships for aspiring emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to address emergency medical response staffing needs in rural areas across Texas.

Rural EMS Grant Program - Texas EMS School In 2025, the Texas Legislature authorized $2. 5 million in funding to support rural EMS staffing. Available in FY2026 with carryover into FY2027, the program aims to address emergency medical response staffing needs across the state by providing grants to EMS providers to pay for scholarships for aspiring emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Emergency Medical Response Service Staffing Program This initiative will award grants to Department of State Health Services (DSHS)–licensed EMS providers for trainees and employees pursuing EMT-basic, EMT-advanced, and paramedic careers.

Funding priority will be given to EMS providers that offer coverage to rural and underserved areas as defined by the following: a county with a population of 50,000 or less; or a relatively large, isolated, and sparsely populated area in a county with a population of more than 50,000 Underserved: a county or area where the minimum level of EMS care is diminished or does not exist An EMS provider eligible for grant funding is: licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

EMS providers must select courses approved by DSHS. EMS providers must include the total number of participants in their grant application. It is the EMS providers’ responsibility to verify their participants’ eligibility for EMS certification and licensing.

To be eligible for an EMS basic scholarship, trainees must meet the following requirements: Be at least 18 years old. Have a high school diploma or GED certificate. If the participant has disclosed criminal history, EMS providers must work with the participant to submit a Pre-Screen Petition for Review of Criminal History using the DSHS online licensing system.

EMS provider employees eligible for EMS advanced and EMS paramedic scholarships must meet the following criteria: Be a full-time employee with the employer that is applying for funding. Have an established employment history of six months or more with the employer.

EMS providers may apply by completing the TWC Grant Application for the Emergency Medical Response Service Staffing Program and submitting a completed copy to the Texas Workforce Commission at EMSapplications@twc. texas. gov The following course information is needed to apply for the TWC Rural EMS Grant.

For questions or assistance, please email us at partnersupport@axoneducation. com. FAQs for EMS Providers & Employers What may be paid for using grant funding?

Training course tuition is an allowable cost and must meet the following criteria: Training must be provided by a DSHS-approved EMS training course. If more than one EMS training provider will be used, and costs vary bytraining provider, the applicant must separate costs by EMS trainingprovider. National Registry exam fees are a reimbursable cost.

TWC will reimburse exam fees for the NREMT exam upon submission of receipts and documentation that the participant has passed the exam. TWC will not reimburse exam fees for failed exam attempts. Note: This grant will not fund transportation or lodging to attend training, per diem costs, or meal allowances.

It also excludes equipment, books, student uniforms, and lab coats. If awarded a grant, employers may be required to detail training costs on a course-by-course basis. Who is eligible to receive grant funding?

Any Department of State Health Services (DSHS)–approved emergency medical services (EMS) provider is eligible. An up-to-date database of licensed DSHS EMS providers can be found on the DSHS website . May funding go to an individual student directly?

No. Funds can only be distributed to DSHS-approved EMS providers for the benefit of students participating in the scholarship program. May funding go to an EMS education provider directly? No. Funds can only be distributed to DSHS-approved EMS providers, who are then responsible for making tuition payments to the education providers.

How do I submit my grant application? Submit your completed grant application via email to EMSapplications@twc. texas.

gov . Please refer to the grant application document for detailed instructions. Only complete applications from eligible entities will be considered for funding.

When is the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) receiving grant applications? TWC will accept applications on a rolling basis, with applications open for two months, then closed for one month for grant application reviews and grantee selection.

Please see the schedule below: Closed for grantee selection September 1–October 31, 2026 November 1–November 30, 2026 December 1, 2026–January 31, 2027 February 1–February 28, 2027 What courses can be covered with grant funding? TWC will cover courses for emergency medical technician (EMT) basic, EMT advanced, and EMT paramedic. EMS providers must select courses approved by DSHS.

An up-to-date list of DSHS-approved programs can be found on the DSHS website . What happens after the grant application is submitted? After TWC receives the complete grant application package, TWC will review your eligibility and whether your application is complete.

You will receive an email about your approval or denial status within 10 business days. Please note that a grant approval notification indicates that a grant will be awarded after the open application window is closed. How will TWC select its grantees?

TWC will first evaluate grant applications for completeness and for the entity’s eligibility (that is, DSHS licensing). All incomplete or ineligible applications will be rejected, and the applicant will be notified. All remaining eligible and complete applications will be prioritized by counties of EMS coverage.

EMS providers serving rural or underserved counties will be prioritized. Funding will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are exhausted. What happens if a participant drops out AFTER they have begun an EMS course?

If a participant begins an EMS course but subsequently withdraws or fails to complete the program, the tuition funds allocated for that participant will be considered earned by the EMS education provider, and no refund to TWC will be required from the grantee. What happens if a participant drops out BEFORE they have begun their EMS course? The grantee must contact TWC.

If a participant is awarded a scholarship but does not begin the EMS course, the grantee has the two following options: Amendment: Substitutions are subject to TWC and EMS education-provider approvals. The grantee may work with their TWC grant specialist to amend the grant agreement and substitute a new, eligible participant in place of the original participant.

The new participant must be enrolled in the same course level (basic, advanced, or paramedic) as the original participant. Refund: If the grantee is unable to substitute a new participant within 60 days of the course start date, the tuition funds allocated for the original participant must be refunded to TWC.