JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are the first to get to you in a medical emergency, but across New York state — and the U.S. — there’s a shortage of certified personnel stepping up for the job.

One of the people who is stepping up is AlStar Ambulance paramedic Will Isaman. He's wanted to be in EMS ever since he was a kid.

“I just really liked the idea of it," he said. "The idea of being able to help people in their biggest moments of need."

He volunteered at the fire department at 14, signed up to get his EMT certification at 17, and not long after, got his paramedic certification.

None of that came with a college degree.

“I looked into getting an associate's, but it honestly seemed like too much work than I was interested in at the time,” he said.

Two years ago, a program launched to count paramedic training as 30 credits toward a 60-credit Allied Health associate's degree with Jamestown Community College.

Isaman is working his way through that now.

“This will hopefully get the public in the state to see us as more than ambulance drivers,” said Isaman.

That's important as recruiting efforts continue nationwide.

“It's at a crisis level, the entire medical field and especially EMS," said Brian Wilcox, the program director for the regional paramedic program. "That doesn't matter if you're in Jamestown, New York, Buffalo, New York or New York City.”

Wilcox hopes this partnership will boost numbers, especially in rural areas.

“We don't have the pool that some of the bigger cities have,” he said.

They keep it affordable by not having to charge per credit hour for the paramedic program.

Not to mention it’s convenient, since their locations are only 20 to 30 minutes for most people in the area.

“If we didn't have this program here, our providers would have to travel an hour and a half, best case, to be able to attend a paramedic program,” Wilcox said.

Only one person has the degree so far. Isaman would be the second. Wilcox hopes as time goes on, those numbers grow.

“When you have a degree attached to your title, it brings more credibility, respect and more attention to our career field, instead of just being certified,” he said.

Isaman knows this degree can be helpful down the road.

“Having the associate's degree, I'd be able to get my CSE, which would allow me to be able to teach and instruct as a lead instructor for future EMT and paramedic programs,” Isaman said.

That's why it’s good to have, even if he doesn’t need it.

“I prefer to be in the ambulance than in the classroom,” he said.

If it inspires more to join, then even better.

“More paramedics in the ambulance [is] always a good thing,” said Isaman.