age limit as paramedic

[CCbound]

Hi - I am wrapping up my career in IT in a handful of years, and am thinking about what is next. I still have alot of years left in me, and so I am thinking through second career choices. I have always been interested in science and medicine, and want to evaluate a role as a paramedic. What would be the viability of someone in their mid 50's starting out (EMT-b through paramedic training), getting a job, being able to perform the job, etc? How old have you seen people starting out?

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[Dwindlin]

Hi - I am wrapping up my career in IT in a handful of years, and am thinking about what is next. I still have alot of years left in me, and so I am thinking through second career choices. I have always been interested in science and medicine, and want to evaluate a role as a paramedic. What would be the viability of someone in their mid 50's starting out (EMT-b through paramedic training), getting a job, being able to perform the job, etc? How old have you seen people starting out?

Depends entirely on what you're looking for. If you're talking about a Fire Dept. based service odds are slim. If you're looking into the private side odds are fairly good I would say.

 

[jbar]

One thing to think about is the physical side of the job, lifting 200lb patients with your partner, carrying them down the stairs, etc. There are certainly people in their 50s with no problem with that, but a lot of people have accumulated back, knee injuries etc. Also worth thinking about hours, how would you feel about getting put on the overnight shifts? Third thing worth thinking about is pay. EMTs for private ambulance services are prob making something like $20-25,000 per year, medics around $40,000. So it's worth thinking about your savings, your financial comittments, etc.

Finally you should try to spend some time on a local ambulance if you can and see if you like it. Plenty of people who like medicine don't really like the stress of pre hospital work or dealing with really sick people in their own homes.

I think if you think about all those things and still want to do it age shouldn't really be a problem. Truth is that there is shortage of EMTs and medics in most parts of the country. And most EMTs stay in the field for three or four years from what I've seen, most medics for like 7. So companies aren't looking for people who are going to work for them for the next 20 years.

Also if you are thinking about working in EMS in a couple of years you might want to get started now. Many community colleges have EMT classes at night that you could take while still doing EMT. You could get your EMT, maybe do some volunteer EMT work etc so that when you are ready to do it full time you aren't starting from scratch.

 

[COMedic2Doc]

One thing to think about is the physical side of the job, lifting 200lb patients with your partner, carrying them down the stairs, etc. There are certainly people in their 50s with no problem with that, but a lot of people have accumulated back, knee injuries etc. Also worth thinking about hours, how would you feel about getting put on the overnight shifts? Third thing worth thinking about is pay. EMTs for private ambulance services are prob making something like $20-25,000 per year, medics around $40,000. So it's worth thinking about your savings, your financial comittments, etc.

Finally you should try to spend some time on a local ambulance if you can and see if you like it. Plenty of people who like medicine don't really like the stress of pre hospital work or dealing with really sick people in their own homes.

I think if you think about all those things and still want to do it age shouldn't really be a problem. Truth is that there is shortage of EMTs and medics in most parts of the country. And most EMTs stay in the field for three or four years from what I've seen, most medics for like 7. So companies aren't looking for people who are going to work for them for the next 20 years.

Also if you are thinking about working in EMS in a couple of years you might want to get started now. Many community colleges have EMT classes at night that you could take while still doing EMT. You could get your EMT, maybe do some volunteer EMT work etc so that when you are ready to do it full time you aren't starting from scratch.

I cannot agree more jbar, good advice here. OP, definitely check into Volunteer opportunities and be ready for a huge pay cut. Also, realize that back injuries are very, very huge in EMS. I am 29 and have already had an injury that although not major really made me evaluate where I stood on staying a Paramedic for awhile. However, if you are open to other areas than being on the streets, i.e. Occupational Medicine then becoming a Paramedic may be a very satisfying career for you. If you have any questions on the process in Colorado, etc feel free to PM me. I wish you the best of luck with your decision. 👍

 

[Vince]

I used to work on a part-pay/part-volunteer department. Started volunteering in high school and then subsequently became an EMT then Paramedic. I thoroughly enjoyed being a Paramedic and still miss it, but I am now 4 years out of medical school and am 33 years old. Another guy on the department used to work in engineering and was a volunteer FF/Medic. He ultimately went back to medical school and became a surgeon. Finally finishing his training and starting practice in mid-40s. At 50+, and based on the pay, I don't see the benefit from a career standpoint in becoming a medic. From a standpoint of doing something exciting, serving your community, and being challenged, I do see it. I would reconsider changing fields and just try to go to school at night....you can take EMT classes at night and get certified in a few months. Then see if you like it. When I was in medic training, I went to class at night so I could do regular jr. college/work during the day. It's like many things in life....some things are great as hobbies/volunteer activities, but long term can really wear you down, etc. Just a thought.

 

[McPoyle]

At my service we had a guy who was an accountant for about 25 years and went through paramedic school (about 2 years) in his mid fifties. Granted we are slightly slower (normally <6 calls in a 12 hour shift), he has done fine with the physical aspects of the job. Oh, and just a side note, not thats its relevant, but he is now a she (yes, very awkward considering we all knew him as a male student and new employee for a few years) and still does fine at close to 60 with the physical demands.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Hi - I am wrapping up my career in IT in a handful of years, and am thinking about what is next. I still have alot of years left in me, and so I am thinking through second career choices. I have always been interested in science and medicine, and want to evaluate a role as a paramedic. What would be the viability of someone in their mid 50's starting out (EMT-b through paramedic training), getting a job, being able to perform the job, etc? How old have you seen people starting out?

My paramedic class had a guy in his mid-30's, 3 in their mid-40's, me (was 20), and a younger guy enrolled, and my emt-b class had a guy that I'm guessing was over 60. I know of two guys that became paramedics as a part-time "retirement job" and they have done fine "keeping up."

I actually recommend for you, if you have time and enough college "basics" out of the way pursuing EMT-B and RN credentials. Perhaps you're in a state that allows RNs to test for the paramedic. This way you get twice the credentials for just slightly longer time in the classroom.

I'm 27 and would probably not like being a nurse, but many days as I reflect I would've pursued a BSN/RN and paramedic instead of my B.S. in general science along with my paramedic.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

At my service we had a guy who was an accountant for about 25 years and went through paramedic school (about 2 years) in his mid fifties. Granted we are slightly slower (normally <6 calls in a 12 hour shift), he has done fine with the physical aspects of the job. Oh, and just a side note, not thats its relevant, but he is now a she (yes, very awkward considering we all knew him as a male student and new employee for a few years) and still does fine at close to 60 with the physical demands.

Ewww. You just had to throw in that last part didn't you, lol.

 

[McPoyle]

Ewww. You just had to throw in that last part didn't you, lol.

Haha I couldn't resist, honestly though you really have to witness it in person to fully grasp the humor (or oddity).

 

[deleted6669]

I was a medic from 22-27( after being an er tech from 18-22) and knew that it wasn't a job I still wanted to be doing at 50.
if all the calls were real the lifting and poor sleep would be ok but when you have only a few exciting calls/week and spend most of your time transporting folks who called 911 at 3 am who should have called their pcp within a week it gets old.
also the money back then for medics wasn't what it is now( I never made more than 35k/yr as a medic) so doing 2 more yrs of grad school to triple my salary seemed like a good investment in time and tuition for me.
that being said I have a good friend who will be starting medic school at 48 and he will do fine.
he was an intermediate for many years then let it lapse to pursue other interests. now his kids are out of the house and he wants to get back into ems.