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my buddy just started talking to me about how he thinks he might want to get his EMT certifications and possibly go on to become a paramedic. They offer some health/emt classes at our college for credit and i said i would take the first class with him next semester because i need a health class and it seems pretty interesting. i dont know if i want to persue this as a future full time career or anything but i know i do get some sort of certification for passing the class, and it might be useful for when i need a job this summer when the shop i work at closes. i guess im just looking for general information from anyone who is an EMT or has taken anything to get any of the certifications. any info really would help. thanks
have you ever taken any BLS or ALS courses before? im not a EMT but i am a first responder, basically same thing w/ out ALS and the fancy title. from what i have heard EMT-basic is challenging but not overwhelming to get. and paramedic requires a good amount of schooling. if you like medicine, and first aid it would be worth it to take with your buddy.
Disclaimer: Passing the class does not automatically mean you get certified.
There are state and national certification tests. I was EMT certified at seventeen. It's a fun course, and you'll learn a lot. There were a few people in my class who did everything except take the certification tests (they took the school finals, but not the actual state and national issued tests).
ah ok thanks guys, yes the class ill be taking next semester will be the first responder class. it makes sense that i would not just be handed a cert but i would most likely take whatever test the class is supposed to prepare me for upon finishing the course. thanks again and if anyone has any more info or insight i appreciate it.
They're both good things to have, EFR, and EMT. I have both my EFR (emergency first responder), WFR (wilderness first responder), and EMT-B training. If you have any specific questions i can certainly answer them, shoot me a PM.
I have my EMT-A and have been working in the ER for about a year and a half. That would be my suggestion if you are wanting to go anywhere with it. There are just too many paramedics who think that they are god when in fact they are just a jackass delivery boy. Its better to work directly with the docs instead of working with a bunch of assholes that think they know everything about everything when in fact they really dont.
well right now my buddy is the one who is actually looking to persue a possible carrer in this. im just trying to gather up some basic info for myself, but ill definitly hit you with some PM's if i have some specific questions. thanks for all the advice guys
EMT-D - very easy basic course - common sense stuff. Just bag/tag the patient and take em the hospital
EMT-CC (Critical care) - Now your getting into real life saving - great course, challenging drug math/calcs - I.V use, defib (not automatic but the real deal), advanced airway managment - 1-year course, hard testing, lots of field work
Medic - next step, same items as EMT-CC but far more autonomy in the field, no doctor telling you on the phone what to do, hard core deciosions, leadership skills, everyone at the scene is looking at what you are doing - very rewarding! about 2-years to finish
This was the type of training/certification I got, but it didn't go by that exact name. Yeah, it's a lot of field work and a shit load of fun. Doing the ambulance ride-ons was my favorite, although a very high percentage of the calls involved inebriates.
Seriously though, just getting even an EMT basic opens up a much wider variety of jobs. Hell, construction companies will pay you big bucks to just sit on the site and chill in case of an emergency. It's definitely worth it: you gain resepect from the community, you help people, it provides more job opportunities, and you have fun (unless you absolutely hate blood and needles). Definitely go for it!
I was one of two females in my class (the other was in her thirties) and the youngest student in the class by over five years. Over 90% of the students were either firefighters or in the military, so I was expected to do poorly in the class while the others excelled. The most satisfying part was having the highest marks in the class and being the only student to pass every test the first try. :)
I'm not an EMT but kids i know are taking their tests for it soon i think. We have a volunteer EMS thing in town where kids i think can become EMTs soon.