becoming an emt

[juelz721]

hey. I've always wanted to become an emt. Does anyone know whats involved and how I can get into it. Thanks

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[fyi411]

hey. I've always wanted to become an emt. Does anyone know whats involved and how I can get into it. Thanks

are you sure you realy want to become an emt just to be "an emt"
or is it just for extra circ
if so you can go on line and search local for emt services and how to obtain the cert.

 

[bbas]

EMT courses are usually offered by community colleges. I would start there.

 

[Robizzle]

to be an EMT, you have to take a course. from what my friends told me, it's really cool but it's reeeally long. each class is about 4-5 hours and they meet like 4 days a week. i'm sure there are other schedules too. the course lasts about a month or so and at the end you take a few tests (not just 1) to become certified.

you also write a big fat check to them.

 

[notdeadyet]

to be an EMT, you have to take a course. from what my friends told me, it's really cool but it's reeeally long. each class is about 4-5 hours and they meet like 4 days a week. i'm sure there are other schedules too. the course lasts about a month or so and at the end you take a few tests (not just 1) to become certified.

you also write a big fat check to them.

This is one route, going through companies like WMI or SOLO or UCLA's private program.

The community college route is usually 2 nights each week for 3 or 4 hours for one semester. It's not bad. And doesn't cost too much.

 

[ADeadLois]

hey. I've always wanted to become an emt. Does anyone know whats involved and how I can get into it. Thanks

A lot of hospitals and community college offer EMT certification classes.

Just a word of warning, a lot of people on this board are very touchy about people wanting to go into EMT training. There is a perception that people do it simply for clinical experience on AMCAS, despite the fact that there are people like yourself with a long-standing interest in being an EM. I've seen people get flamed to sand and sky for EMT stuff.

 

[medicalbound]

hey. I've always wanted to become an emt. Does anyone know whats involved and how I can get into it. Thanks

It is usually a one semester course that is 6-8 credits. Also, check with the education dept of hospitals around you, they also often have EMT training. The classes consist of a lot of lecture, labs, and usually ambulance and ER shifts.

If you're going to use it, it's a good thing. If not, it's unneccessary padding -- You can't swing a dead cat in a premed class without hitting an EMT.

 

[bbas]

There is a perception that people do it simply for clinical experience on AMCAS,

What exactly is wrong with this? Obviously, no one should do any EC for the sole purpose of putting it on an application, but becoming an EMT seems like a great way to get clinical experience that you can't get by volunteering or shadowing.

 

[FenderHM]

I joined the student run Emergency Medical Service at my college before I became an EMT. Since I was part of an agency, New York State picked up the tab for my EMT-basic class, which was at a community college about 20 minutes away from my school. It was 1 night a week (sometimes two towards the end) for 4 hours (usually more like 3) and it lasted from August until March, at the end there was a kinds stressful test to pass to become certified, but it was fun and great prep for med school!

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I'm usually the one doing said flaming. Personally, as a former EMS supervisor and instructor, my beef is with those who have no interest in EMS, but are using it solely as a stepping stone with the full intention of flipping the bird to we EMS professionals (and I will remain an EMS professional after I obtain my MD/DO) as they go for a bigger paycheck.

The OP expressed an interest in EMS, therefore I have no beef with him/her. In fact, if I can be of assistance, feel free to PM me.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

What exactly is wrong with this? Obviously, no one should do any EC for the sole purpose of putting it on an application, but becoming an EMT seems like a great way to get clinical experience that you can't get by volunteering or shadowing.

BBAS, when you get on AIM, I will explain why it's a bad thing. It's kind of involved to explain on here and will side track this thread. If anyone else wants to know why, feel free to PM me and I will explain it.

 

[Wackie]

Fun, fun, fun! I had a blast. I took mine through a community college. It was worth 6 credit hours of 4.0 towards my overall GPA, yay!
I gained a lot of respect for the fire department from my ambulance ride outs.

I'm still waiting on my test results for certification. I have to work full time while going to school and EMS is a 24/7 thing, so hopefully I can get weekend work while going to class during the week. It probably won't pay as much as what I earn now, but I'll enjoy my job which is worth it.


On a side note, everyone always complains about noisy people around them during a test. If everyone hates it, thinks it's rude, then why is there always someone who is "that person"? I just happened to sit by Mr. Snotty-Sniffily-Snotty-Snot during my national registry exam who wouldn't raise his hand to be escorted to blow his nose, nor would he just do one big sniffle to suck it up in there to give us peace lasting more than 3 seconds.


Edit: And it is a good learning experience for medical schools. I will assume there is some type of clinical check off in med school. I will say those are more stressful than actually working a patient. The pretending someone is sick and having to ask about signs you would normally see on a patient can really mess you up and cause you to fail. Also voicing what you're doing is something to get used to.

 

[dsh]

If you're strapped for time and have cash handy, there are accelerated programs available. I got my EMT license in two weeks for a little over five hundred bucks--it was worth it for me because I don't have CC that I can enroll in reasonably close to school. The company I used is called link2life and is only in SoCal, but there must be others somewhere. It's a lot of material for just two weeks, but definately do-able. If I had had the option, I would have taken a semester course.

I got my EMT so I could volunteer ski patrol and have a good excuse to go snowboarding often. From my co-workers I heard that getting an actual ambulance job is pretty tough, especially if you want to work while going to school and doing all that fun pre-med stuff.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

The company I used is called link2life and is only in SoCal, but there must be others somewhere. It's a lot of material for just two weeks, but definately do-able.

Just so you know, there is an effort by a lot of EMS professionals to shut down that way of obtaining certification and rightfully so. I was told several states already exclude people from obtaining state credentials if you were trained this way (but it's hearsay at this point because I haven't checked into it) IMHO, No one can become properly trained and experienced in 2 weeks, even a full semester is pushing it in many cases.

 

[notdeadyet]

IMHO, No one can become properly trained and experienced in 2 weeks, even a full semester is pushing it in many cases.

Is there anywhere in the country that runs an EMT course longer than one semester? I did the standard semester course and found it to be plenty of time to cover the content, given the limited scope of an EMT's duties.

I can't see cramming it into two weeks, though. Link2Life runs their course for 15 days straight from 9am-10pm. That seems a little rough.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

No, but, as a practicing EMS provider, I would like to see the requirements of EMS raised to help improve the quality of EMT's. Personally I think a very involved A+P course should be a prerequisite, to help weed out people before they get into a position where someone's life depends upon them.

 

[notdeadyet]

No, but, as a practicing EMS provider, I would like to see the requirements of EMS raised to help improve the quality of EMT's. Personally I think a very involved A+P course should be a prerequisite, to help weed out people before they get into a position where someone's life depends upon them.

I'd vote against raising any quality standards raised until the pay issue is addressed. EMS is exploitive as it is in its pay standards for EMTs. The current 120 hour requirement is still a LOT of training for a near minimum pay job in many states.

Many junior college EMT courses (in California, anyway) require an A&P class with lab as a prerequisite.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Many junior college EMT courses (in California, anyway) require an A&P class with lab as a prerequisite.

As did the program I used to secondary instruct for.

The pay issue will not be resolved so long as there are people who are willing to do it for that low pay. It's basic supply and demand. The supply outstrips the demand in most major areas, therefore the pay stays low because the services now they can get away with it. This is another reason the rapid turnover- which in a lot of areas is fed by a steady supply of premeds (the last class I helped teach, by a show of hands, was 75% premeds).

The "quality standard" should come before anything else, because one of the major problems with EMS is that we get in such a hellbent rush to put staff on ambulances. We never give any thought to the reason WHY you have ambulances in the first place- to deliver effective and proper patient care. In many places this is still not being done.

 

[MossPoh]

As did the program I used to secondary instruct for.

The pay issue will not be resolved so long as there are people who are willing to do it for that low pay. It's basic supply and demand. The supply outstrips the demand in most major areas, therefore the pay stays low because the services now they can get away with it. This is another reason the rapid turnover- which in a lot of areas is fed by a steady supply of premeds (the last class I helped teach, by a show of hands, was 75% premeds).

The "quality standard" should come before anything else, because one of the major problems with EMS is that we get in such a hellbent rush to put staff on ambulances. We never give any thought to the reason WHY you have ambulances in the first place- to deliver effective and proper patient care. In many places this is still not being done.

What is this e-ffec-tiv-e and prah prah pro-per care you speak of?

 

[Siggy]

[sarcasm]But I put oxygen on the patient. And the patient made it to the hospital alive. I saved him...[/sarcasm]

Honestly. 13 hours for 15 days or 5-6 hours a week for 13ish weeks. There honestly isn't going to be that much of a difference when over half the class is covered in boy scout first aid and the only drugs you can give is air (O2), sugar (glucose), and kingsford (charcoal, depending on location). I did a 13 week program (Link2Life is over priced. I payed $120, including books).

Instead of hashing out the difference between 2 weeks and 13 weeks (still ~120 hours), how about we focus on increasing the amount of education required, period. Increase the education, increase the scope, increase the pay (in that order), and we would have better providers. There is something wrong with a medical practioner when the education consists of, "Everyone needs oxygen [no, you don't need to know why you need it], so anything worse then a stubbed toe should get 15 LPM via non-rebreather, no questions asked. Oxygen never harmed anyone."

 

[sicem07]

I've never really seen much wrong with using the EMT training as a way to get great behind the scenes look at medicine, but to each his own. I took my EMT-B class here at school in the spring (they formed a contract with the local CC) and had an absolute blast. I then took my EMT-I the next summer, which was a great experience. Driving home on the weekends to do clinicals in the fall was little rough though. If you do have a summer stuck not knowing what to do, and are EMT-B certified, Intermediate is a blast. You get to perform IV's, do blood draws, a few OR intubations, really fun stuff. Best moment: Getting called a vampire by a woman for stealing her blood.


sicem

ps If you're in the Houston Area, I really recommend San Jacinto in Pasadena...they do good work and have a ton of connections in the medical center.

 

[juelz721]

A lot of hospitals and community college offer EMT certification classes.

Just a word of warning, a lot of people on this board are very touchy about people wanting to go into EMT training. There is a perception that people do it simply for clinical experience on AMCAS, despite the fact that there are people like yourself with a long-standing interest in being an EM. I've seen people get flamed to sand and sky for EMT stuff.[/Q

I'm not doing it just for the clinical experience, because it really is clinical experience i would enjoy. but what do you mean that people get "flamed" for doing it???? Thanks

 

[ADeadLois]

A lot of hospitals and community college offer EMT certification classes.

Just a word of warning, a lot of people on this board are very touchy about people wanting to go into EMT training. There is a perception that people do it simply for clinical experience on AMCAS, despite the fact that there are people like yourself with a long-standing interest in being an EM. I've seen people get flamed to sand and sky for EMT stuff.[/Q

I'm not doing it just for the clinical experience, because it really is clinical experience i would enjoy. but what do you mean that people get "flamed" for doing it???? Thanks

Flaming is an excessive amount of criticism for a post. I remember awhile back someone posting that they wanted to do EMT for clinical experience and about half a dozen posters shot the person down, including "I would never want you as my partner".

 

[DropkickMurphy]

This is a PM discussion on this topic from earlier today:

Hey there,
I was reading the EMT thread and was interested in your thoughts regarding people becoming EMTs to pad their AMCAS app. An obviously detrimental scenario would be an individual with no genuine interest in EM simply going through the motions so that they can write down "EMT" under clinical experience. However, while emergency medicine is unlikely to be the field I specialize in, I am interested in becoming an EMT to challenge myself and make sure I can handle the more difficult aspects of medicine. I will eagerly await your response. Thanks

I think one of the common misconceptions about EMS is that we deal with "the more difficult aspects of medicine" with frequency. Contrary to popular opinion, the vast majority (I'd say more than 85%) of the calls are non-emergent, non-critical and certainly not difficult to deal with cases of minor traumas and non-life threatening medical calls.

This especially holds true in the case of EMT-Basic providers working in areas staffed with paramedics, where most of the time they are relegated to driving on all but the most, well, basic or simple of calls. Anything critical comes in, and your partner handles it. That is assuming that your service even staffs using EMT/Paramedic, since many major metropolitan agencies staff Medic/Medic or EMT-I/Medic and leave basics on BLS transport rigs where you will not see an emergency more than once in a blue moon. The option to avoid this is to become involved with a volunteer rescue squad or fire department.

The other issue I have with premeds who become EMT's is that it negatively impacts the quality of EMS because of increasing the rate of turnover. Another related point is that as an instructor, I found that many premeds come in with a chip on their shoulder (big shock there eh? An egotistical premed? Never! ) and don't really put in that much of an effort to listen to the senior EMT's and medics from who they should be learning because of some perceived inferiority of those of us not going on to medical school. Example: One of my former fellow instructors is a medic as well as an EM doc and she never pointed out to the class that she was a doc. A group of premeds began belittling her for her "misconceptions" about their chosen career goals. When she pointed out her "day job" (pulling her hospital ID badge out to prove the point) needless to say they shut up quickly.

My loyalty is first and foremost with my first career: EMS. That is why I often butt heads with the premeds on this forum. I refuse to stand by and let a subspecialty of emergency medicine be tarnished further by self-serving individuals.

If you have any other questions, feel free to message me again.

 

[8744]

I got certified as an EMT-B and volunteered with our local ambulance company until they stopped allowing volunteers. It was a lot of fun strictly from a freak-show point of view as you get to go to places and see things you ordinarily wouldn't.

But I just did it to pad my application and was surprised at how much I liked it. I wouldn't have kept volunteering even if I could have done so because I had enough time to realistically claim that I had done it but had other constraints on my time.

If you want to get really good EMS training take a paramedic course. Those guys know a thing or too.

P. Bear, MD
PGY-1 Emergency Medicine
Somewhere in the Midwest

 

[Empress]

I'm usually the one doing said flaming. Personally, as a former EMS supervisor and instructor, my beef is with those who have no interest in EMS, but are using it solely as a stepping stone with the full intention of flipping the bird to we EMS professionals (and I will remain an EMS professional after I obtain my MD/DO) as they go for a bigger paycheck.

The OP expressed an interest in EMS, therefore I have no beef with him/her. In fact, if I can be of assistance, feel free to PM me.

Do you have the same beef who just want EMT or paramedic so they can get hired onto a fire department? I do.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Do you have the same beef who just want EMT or paramedic so they can get hired onto a fire department? I do.

Yes, I do actually, but like it or not- unless something drastically changes which I don't see happening- fire = EMS in this nation in >80% of locations. Granted I think they should be seperate fields in an ideal world, bit just frankly don't see that as plausible or likely in this nation.

 

[notdeadyet]

I don't really understand the problem with treating EMT as a stepping stone. In some states, working full time as an EMT is a requirement for becoming a paramedic, so many companies you find pre-meds looking for experience and pre-paramedics looking for experience.

EMT IS a stepping stone. Anyone whose career goal is to be an EMT isn't setting their sights very high. I only knew one or two career EMTs and neither one was much of a posterboy for EMS. It's an entry level gig that most folks want to work themselves out of. Paramedic is a logical progression, with decent pay, nice hours and good job security. I can't fault anyone that wants to do their time as an EMT for that.

 

[Empress]

Yes, I do actually, but like it or not- unless something drastically changes which I don't see happening- fire = EMS in this nation in >80% of locations. Granted I think they should be seperate fields in an ideal world, bit just frankly don't see that as plausible or likely in this nation.

I agree, I think it should be seperated. My main problem is fire departments using the squad as a punishment area for new people or those out of favor, which makes for an EMT unit staffed by unwilling people who'd rather be somewhere else. But fire unions are older and much stronger to let a seperation ever happen, they need the money from the call volume.

I heard a rumor that one of the EMS magazines had an article of how fire department are not doing a good job compared to third party, or was I just imagining it?

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I don't see a problem with a requirement of being an EMT for at least a year (I would like to see two to three years) before becoming a paramedic. I have a problem when 50-75% of each class of EMT's wants to simply do it as an EC for med school, not to go on to be medics.

That is a totally different animal and no one who is not in the field seems to realize the detriment to the field when we waste a large amount of time and effort in training a bunch of wannabe docs with no special connection to our chosen profession. And yes, I consider it my chosen profession despite my plans to go to med school because one of my goals as a physician is to become an EMS medical director. Many of the EMS educators I know dread EMT-Basic courses because of the fact that they know they are going to deal with egotistical and condescending premeds en masse. I do my best as a clinical preceptor, classroom adjunct instructor and researcher to instill my love of EMS in my students.

Sadly this often comes up short because of preconceived notions. That is part of why I come across with such obvious frustration on here. It's not directed against any of you in particular I assure you and I will assist any of you in any way possible to become the best EMT's and medics you can be. I hold my colleagues to a high standard, simply because I hold them to same standard that I hold myself. PM me if I can offer any assistance to any of you. I will do anything necessary to help you or find someone who can.

I do agree that no true EMS professional nowadays would remain at the BLS level unless that is all that is in their area, and it does happen albeit mostly in areas served only by volunteers. Granted I know and work with and technically supervised at one time, three volunteer EMT's who each have 25+ years of experience, one has a state certification number in the hundreds (my initial certification # from 1996 is 46,000 something to give you some idea of how far we have come in terms of numbers). They ARE posterboys for how EMS should operate. They are, however, exceptions rather than the rule both among the BLS and ALS ranks

By the way, go work a few years in EMS and tell me if you think the hours are "nice". That's one of the reasons I only do it as a volunteer now.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I agree, I think it should be seperated. My main problem is fire departments using the squad as a punishment area for new people or those out of favor, which makes for an EMT unit staffed by unwilling people who'd rather be somewhere else. But fire unions are older and much stronger to let a seperation ever happen, they need the money from the call volume.

I heard a rumor that one of the EMS magazines had an article of how fire department are not doing a good job compared to third party, or was I just imagining it?

I will look around and see what I can find. I seem to recall a few articles stating that, but I have yet to see a scientific study of it so far. PM me if you would like to discuss that further. *hint, hint*

 

[notdeadyet]

By the way, go work a few years in EMS and tell me if you think the hours are "nice". That's one of the reasons I only do it as a volunteer now.

Point of view, I guess. One of the reasons that EM is such a popular field is the hours and it being lifestyle-compatible. Nice long shifts, little to no call, and few days each week. Give me a few missed Christmases and Thanksgivings as an EM doc above a family practice lifestyle anyday.

Kelly shifts rock. And 24 hour shifts, 10 shifts per month? Way hard to beat. I'm surprised your group doesn't like it, Murph; everywhere I've seen that had it, loved it.

You ever want to start a riot with a county EMS? Try switching their shifts from 10 shifts monthly to five days/week. Half of Honolulu EMTs switched from City to AMR for just that reason.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Point of view, I guess. One of the reasons that EM is such a popular field is the hours and it being lifestyle-compatible. Nice long shifts, little to no call, and few days each week. Give me a few missed Christmases and Thanksgivings as an EM doc above a family practice lifestyle anyday.

Kelly shifts rock. And 24 hour shifts, 10 shifts per month? Way hard to beat. I'm surprised your group doesn't like it, Murph; everywhere I've seen that had it, loved it.

You ever want to start a riot with a county EMS? Try switching their shifts from 10 shifts monthly to five days/week. Half of Honolulu EMTs switched from City to AMR for just that reason.

Kelly schedules suck.....at least when you do lots of calls at night, as is common around her because you often spend that first day off sleeping. Granted I'd rather do that than do 8 hr days (which would probably make me blow my brains out if I had to do it for more than a few months....I'm not a daytime person ). Still.....I'd rather do three 12hrs, four off, four on three off which was my full time schedule as an RT.

 

[notdeadyet]

I'd rather do three 12hrs, four off, four on three off which was my full time schedule as an RT.

Agreed. Anything other than five days. Too many...

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I worked at one hospital doing 12 hrs, 5 on, 7 off, 7 on, 5 off.....that was nice.....damn good money too. But you burn out quick.....84 hrs a week on the long week.... That didn't last long....

 

[Forensic Chick]

In terms of the original question - if you're interested in EMS, certainly give it a shot. Being pre-med back during my undergrad, I took an EMT course at a community college and was certified in a semester. I didn't plan it out too well and was going through the EMT course, the MCAT's and my last quarter of college at the same time. But, it all worked out. I ended up working as an EMT in a emergency department full time while I went to graduate school. My initial motivation to become an EMT was to ensure that medicine was something that I wanted to do. Working in a hospital tends to be a forgot about portion of EMS. The money is decent ($20+/hour) for one semester of coursework. The funny thing about class is that I was going through the class with a bunch of wannabe firefighters. They had study sessions 3-4 times a week and failed a bunch of tests. They considered the EMT course the hardest of their life. The EMT course can't hold a candle to organic chem - that's for sure.

Being an EMT and gaining clinical experience helped me to gain my dream job in forensics - where I am currently working while entering the application process. Becoming an EMT can take you places that you didn't know existed - but you have to be passionate about and good at your work. It's not the best resume pad - since as aforementioned - lots of people do it for that reason. Working as an EMT in the field and working with docs and nurses in the ER is a great experience. Not the best money making job out there - but I thought it was worth it.

Good luck.

 

[Drifter12]

Hi everyone. I know this is an old post but I came across it with google and it raised many questions about my desire to become an EMT. I am looking for some advice/opinions.
I am interested in becoming an EMT part time, just the weekends. I am not a medical student nor do I have any intention of becoming one. I am a graduate student in a completely unrelated field. This other field however does not directly allow me to satiate my desire to help people, unfortunately. So my questions are;
1. Is it possible/reasonable for me to be an EMT just on the weekends (paid or volunteer)? I live in Orange County, California if that helps.
2. I am short on time, but I saw a link2life ad for courses over spring break+3 other weekends for EMT-1 training. Is this enough training for someone with no experience (besides Boy Scout first aid/cpr) to become an EMT?

It is something I would be interested in volunteering for or doing a weekend part time job, but maintain my for former career path. Excluding time requirements on my person, is this something that is possible to do?
Thank you for advice.

 

[rochagurl89]

can you do it over the summer for credit?