Life after Paramedics: career as Physician Assistant or Physical Therapist?

[resaur]

Greetings to the community!

I am a junior in college right now (about to be senior soon). I want to become a paramedic! However, seeing the burnout rate, poor salary and poor hours, I think I need an "after paramedics career". Please note that I want to be a paramedic. I am not using paramedics as a stepping stone. However, I know I will need something more stable and a higher salary job for my future (I want to buy a home. Real estate prices are crazy here.).

I was wondering if I would have a good chance at getting into Physician Assistant school or Physical Therapy school after my career as a paramedic. I am graduating college with a Psychology BA. I know it sounds totally random, I just realized I wanted to be a paramedic. I know I have to take the GRE and take the necessary classes to even apply, but I was wondering how good are my chances of getting in to either/both schools with the experience I will have? Any tips to applying? How hard is P.A. school? How hard is Physical Therapy school? What does either school heavily emphasize (in terms of subject.. like anatomy, chemistry, bio, etc)?

Thank you for reading and replying

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[lee9786]

Greetings to the community!

I am a junior in college right now (about to be senior soon). I want to become a paramedic! However, seeing the burnout rate, poor salary and poor hours, I think I need an "after paramedics career". Please note that I want to be a paramedic. I am not using paramedics as a stepping stone. However, I know I will need something more stable and a higher salary job for my future (I want to buy a home. Real estate prices are crazy here.).

I was wondering if I would have a good chance at getting into Physician Assistant school or Physical Therapy school after my career as a paramedic. I am graduating college with a Psychology BA. I know it sounds totally random, I just realized I wanted to be a paramedic. I know I have to take the GRE and take the necessary classes to even apply, but I was wondering how good are my chances of getting in to either/both schools with the experience I will have? Any tips to applying? How hard is P.A. school? How hard is Physical Therapy school? What does either school heavily emphasize (in terms of subject.. like anatomy, chemistry, bio, etc)?

Thank you for reading and replying

If you really enjoy what a paramedic does than you will most likely be more geared towards PA school. Concerning competitiveness getting into school, I'd say PA school is more competitive overall. You shouldn't let the competition get you down though. There are lots of schools. As for classes, the prerequisites are similar. The emphasis is different though. For PT the classes of emphasis are kinesiology, physics, and musculoskeletal anatomy. For PA more emphasis is on microbiology, chemistry, biology. Both highly emphasize anatomy.

 

[superCOTA]

I agree w/ lee.
Working besides PT's for 10 years in nursing homes and interning in a real hospital has shown me perspective on what you would be in for as a PT. I think you would be a little bored if you want the life of a paramedic.

I know 5 NYC EMS Paramedics and they start out loving the life, and the power they have in the moment is intoxicating. Then they take crap from drug addicts, losers that were promoted but are paramedics but not managers... soon they are burned and angry people. It's has a very high suicide rate not to mention burnout. Here's an opinion you didn't ask for by here goes.... Life is short and if you need to save for a house, skip PM altogether and join a volunteer ambulance corp when you have time. After your PA, maybe... always nice to 'give back to the community.'

IF you like the 'action' that a paramedic sees, wouldn't you be interested in a PA at a hospital? I'm told that the ER is moving to PA's and Specialists instead of how they had it (just doctors?) ... so the PA would get action and still be able to work any shift/setting/workload they wanted like a PT. And you probably make about the same. Just my 2cents.