Austin-Travis County Emergency Services said they’ve seen more interest from potential candidates than ever before. Captain Shannon Koesterer said ATCEMS received 350 applications by their September 15, 2025 deadline, the largest amount of applications in the agency’s history. Koesterer said ATCEMS graduated 17 cadets in December, hoping to help fill the 100 vacancies in the department. She largely attributes the growth to their recruiting efforts the last few years.
In 2017, ATCEMS established a recruiting ambassador program to reach applicants across the nation. The team goes to colleges, high schools and other recruiting events to attract potential emergency responders to Central Texas.
“They’re high demand, they pay well and you can work pretty much anywhere you want, said Acadian’s Ambulance Director of Public Affairs Butch Oberhoff. “If you’re a certified EMS professional.”
Also looking for potential EMT’s, Acadian Companies, a private ambulance and air med company that services 32 counties in Texas. “Over the last few years, we’ve seen experienced medics have opportunities to go work in industry or go work in hospitals,” Oberhoff said. “So there is a true career path.”
