UTSA and ArcLight Academy Forge Strategic Partnership to Expand Healthcare Education and Training in San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) division has entered into a strategic partnership with ArcLight Education, marking a significant step forward in the city’s healthcare workforce development efforts. The collaboration aims to expand access to high-quality medical training, beginning this fall, with a focus on preparing students for essential entry-level healthcare roles.
Through this agreement, UTSA PaCE participants will gain access to ArcLight Academy’s comprehensive suite of medical certification programs, starting with the introduction of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic training. The new offering is designed to address the critical demand for qualified emergency medical personnel, equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and clinical readiness required to serve in the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of emergency care.
Expanding Career Pathways Through Medical Certifications
ArcLight Academy, a rapidly growing leader in healthcare training in San Antonio, offers a variety of medical certification programs that go beyond EMT Basic. Students can pursue certifications such as Advanced EMT, Phlebotomy, EKG Technician, Mental Health Technician, and American Heart Association (AHA) certifications. Each program is designed to provide hands-on training, industry-aligned coursework, and real-world clinical experience.
One of the standout features of ArcLight Academy’s model is its emphasis on accessibility. Tuition assistance is available, with many programs offering paid tuition options. This financial support removes one of the largest barriers aspiring healthcare workers face, enabling more individuals—whether fresh out of high school, mid-career changers, or those seeking to upskill—to enter the medical field without prohibitive upfront costs.
In addition to tuition assistance, ArcLight Academy also provides job placement support. Graduates are connected with employment opportunities in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, EMS agencies, and other healthcare settings. This career-oriented approach ensures that students are not only trained but also guided toward meaningful employment, helping to fill the pressing need for skilled healthcare workers in the San Antonio region and beyond.
ShurMed EMS: Supporting Both Education and Athletics
The partnership’s benefits extend beyond the classroom. ShurMed EMS, the sister company of ArcLight Academy, will serve as the official emergency medical service provider for UTSA athletics. This means that UTSA athletes, coaches, and staff will have access to top-tier EMS services during training, games, and special events.
By aligning the educational and operational arms of emergency medical care, the collaboration offers a unique, integrated model. Students can see firsthand how EMS providers work in real-world scenarios, while UTSA athletics benefits from the assurance of high-quality medical response capabilities.
An executive involved in the partnership expressed enthusiasm about the new alliance:
“We are excited for this partnership and believe this will help fill the much-needed entry-level medical positions in San Antonio,” the executive said, underscoring the broader community impact the initiative aims to achieve.
Meeting a Growing Demand in Healthcare
The healthcare industry nationwide faces a persistent shortage of qualified workers, from frontline emergency responders to specialized technicians. In San Antonio, as in many cities, the demand is compounded by population growth, an aging population, and an increasing focus on preventive and urgent care. Entry-level positions such as EMTs, phlebotomists, and EKG technicians are in particularly high demand, serving as critical support roles in hospitals, urgent care centers, outpatient clinics, and ambulance services.
By offering EMT Basic training and other certifications through a partnership with a respected higher education institution like UTSA, ArcLight Academy is helping to create a steady pipeline of qualified professionals ready to enter the workforce. This initiative also aligns with broader workforce development strategies at the city and state levels, where healthcare is consistently identified as a priority sector for training investment.
ArcLight Academy: Building a Reputation for Excellence
ArcLight Academy has quickly established itself as a premier provider of healthcare training in San Antonio, thanks to its cutting-edge curriculum, highly qualified faculty, and emphasis on practical skills. Its instructors bring years of field experience, providing students with insights into the realities of working in healthcare settings.
Class sizes are intentionally kept small to promote personalized instruction and allow for individualized feedback. Training includes both classroom instruction and hands-on lab work, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for certification exams and the demands of the job.
With a growing reputation as the number one medical education and training center in the city, ArcLight Academy has become a go-to choice for aspiring healthcare workers. This partnership with UTSA will further cement its position as a leader in the field, expanding its reach and integrating its programs into a larger academic ecosystem.
UTSA PaCE: A Gateway to Lifelong Learning and Career Advancement
UTSA’s Professional and Continuing Education division plays a crucial role in the university’s mission to serve the community. PaCE offers a wide array of non-credit programs, professional certifications, and skill-building courses designed to meet the needs of adult learners and working professionals.
The division is known for its agility in responding to market demands, creating targeted programs in collaboration with industry partners. The new alliance with ArcLight Academy is a textbook example of this approach—identifying a workforce gap, sourcing an expert partner, and rapidly deploying training solutions to benefit both students and employers.
A Partnership with Broad Community Impact
Beyond the direct benefits to students and UTSA athletics, the UTSA–ArcLight Academy partnership has the potential to make a lasting impact on the broader San Antonio community. By increasing the number of trained healthcare professionals, the initiative can help improve emergency response times, reduce staffing shortages in clinics and hospitals, and support public health goals.
The collaboration also sends a strong signal about the importance of cross-sector partnerships in education. By combining the academic credibility and outreach capacity of UTSA with the specialized expertise and industry connections of ArcLight Academy, the two institutions are creating a model that other cities could emulate.
