When state officials doubled the fee to be certified as an emergency medical technician this spring, it meant William Schulz and his fiancee, Alyssa Gagne, had to find an additional $150 in their household budget. Schulz, a full-time firefighter and EMT, and Gagne, a call EMT, work for the Town of Millis.

[Louise Goyette] said the state does not expect the fee increases to prompt an exodus of EMTs from local departments. After a rate boost two years ago, she said, "We actually retained a higher percentage of EMTs that year, which was interesting."

William Schulz, a Millis firefighter, opposes the doubling of state EMT certification fees this year. William Schulz, a Millis firefighter, says doubling of the state EMT certification fee to $150 is creating financial hardships. GLOBE STAFF PHOTOS/MICHELE McDONALD