EC question involving EMT cert.

[b2007]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey I read on here that some people get their EMT during college years for extra experience and was wondering how long the class is. Any info about the subject will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[beanbean]

About 130 hours for EMT-basic. Check out some of the threads in the EMS forum for more info or just do a search. The topic comes up quite often. Being an EMT is a great EC if you use your certification (paid or volunteer). Just taking the class really won't help pad your application, but getting some experience on an ambulance or in an ED is well worth your time.

 

[deleted50541]

The class I took ran for a little over 3 months. The cost was about $600 but my ambulance company paid for it. We met twice a week for 4 hours and one saturday each month. Of course, this varies state to state.

 

[nockamura]

The class I took ran for a little over 3 months. The cost was about $600 but my ambulance company paid for it. We met twice a week for 4 hours and one saturday each month. Of course, this varies state to state.

$600?! That's nuts. I paid less than $200 for mine and that included the book. 8 hours per week and some saturdays. Ridealongs are fun though.

 

[Reimat]

130 hours may or may not seem like a large time investment, but it is- especially if you take the course while school is in session. I took it fall semester of Sophomore year and it lasted from October to February with a 6 hour/wk of classes- it was like an additional course the school didn't know i was taking.

 

[Siggy]

The class I'm in is less then $100 is you buy the book, but not the work book. The registration fee is about $40 and the books are about $80 for both the work book and text book (Brady Prehospital Emergency Care Seventh Edition). It is through a local Regional Occupational Program that is geared towards High School students, but there is a couple adults and college students (Interesting side note: One of the adults runs one of the red cross emergency shealters).

Its a 5 month program with 2 weeks off over christmass. It is scheduled for 4.5 hours a week on either Monday or Tuesday, but class normally runs about 3.5-4 hours with some Saturdays.

The other major program costs around $400, though (http://www.link2life.org/)

 

[deleted50541]

$600?! That's nuts. I paid less than $200 for mine and that included the book. 8 hours per week and some saturdays. Ridealongs are fun though.

What can I say other than that's New York for ya. Also while ridealongs were not mandatory, we were required to do 2 6-hour observations at one of the locals EDs.

 

[45408]

Mine was 144 hours, which was twice a week from 6-10pm, sometimes three times (that was rough), and it lasted just a hair longer than my school semester (16-ish weeks).

 

[Siggy]

What can I say other than that's New York for ya. Also while ridealongs were not mandatory, we were required to do 2 6-hour observations at one of the locals EDs.

At least 8-hours of ride along and 8 hours of ER observation in California.

 

[nockamura]

At least 8-hours of ride along and 8 hours of ER observation in California.

For NorCal certification it's 10 hours of ridealong and no ER requirement.

 

[ParamedicDO]

I am going to put my 2 cents in here (btw there is a pre-md threat that is asking the same question - check that out).

I have been in ems for 10 yrs now and a paramedic for almost 5. I can say that becoming an EMT was a very easy way to gain an appreciation for medicine. EMS can become addictive in a way. There is a dicotomy: You gain great experience, but the independence is addictive. I wanted to become a paramedic while in college because I was bored basically. My grades suffered slightly, and as a result of this and a combination of other factors related directly to becoming a paramedic, I pushed off applying to medical school. In retrospect that was a bad move.

In summary, become an EMT, but dont get caught up in it. Keep focused on your goal. It's definately a good time.

Many states have agreements to offer reciprocity. You have to check with the states EMS governing body to see how that works.

Peace

 

[NontradICUdoc]

I have been an EMT for almost 14 years and I have been reading these posts and I have something to say.

1) If you think that the adcoms are going to be wooed by you becoming an EMT think again.

2) If you think that the adcoms are going to be wooed by you working in an ED, think again.

If you want to woo the adcom, make sure that you actually learn something in the ED or on the ambulance. This is not my opinion, this is coming from a Dean of admissions when I spoke with him.

If you have on your application that you were an EMt for the last 2 years of college and you did not know why you became one or if you really do not like it, then that is a negative. But if you put your hear and soul into it and, without affecting your grades negatively, get the most out of it, then it is worth it.

If you can answer these questions correctly, then go for it.

1) Can you spend 20 minutes talking to someone who is thinking that their life is not worth living and do what you can to convince them that it is and that they should go with you to see a doctor?

2) Can you see yourself answering the call from an 80 year old who fell off the toilet as much as going to a 5 car pile up?

3) Can you pull a parent aside and explain to them that they cannot hold their child's hand because it impedes your work?

4) Can you be woken up from a sound sleep in your warm bed in the middle of a snow storm because someone's toe started to hurt?

Being an EMT is not all glory. Not every call is a trauma. Some calls are just by senior citizens who make stuff up because they are lonely and want some company. some calls are mundane like helping someone back into bed. Some calls are rediculous, like a healthy 20 year old getting Ben Gay under their fingernails. some calls are heart wrenching, like doing CPR on a 10 year old or even a 10 week old. Some calls are disgusting, like the alzheimers patient that is flinging poop around the house. And some calls are gratifying like helping a woman as she gives birth or doing CPR and getting a viable pulse.

Do not become an EMT to pad your application, become an EMT because you love it or want to love it. Because if you don't you will hate it and the adcoms will see right through it.

 

[jammin06]

I have been an EMT for almost 14 years and I have been reading these posts and I have something to say.

1) If you think that the adcoms are going to be wooed by you becoming an EMT think again.

2) If you think that the adcoms are going to be wooed by you working in an ED, think again.

If you want to woo the adcom, make sure that you actually learn something in the ED or on the ambulance. This is not my opinion, this is coming from a Dean of admissions when I spoke with him.

If you have on your application that you were an EMt for the last 2 years of college and you did not know why you became one or if you really do not like it, then that is a negative. But if you put your hear and soul into it and, without affecting your grades negatively, get the most out of it, then it is worth it.

If you can answer these questions correctly, then go for it.

1) Can you spend 20 minutes talking to someone who is thinking that their life is not worth living and do what you can to convince them that it is and that they should go with you to see a doctor?

2) Can you see yourself answering the call from an 80 year old who fell off the toilet as much as going to a 5 car pile up?

3) Can you pull a parent aside and explain to them that they cannot hold their child's hand because it impedes your work?

4) Can you be woken up from a sound sleep in your warm bed in the middle of a snow storm because someone's toe started to hurt?

Being an EMT is not all glory. Not every call is a trauma. Some calls are just by senior citizens who make stuff up because they are lonely and want some company. some calls are mundane like helping someone back into bed. Some calls are rediculous, like a healthy 20 year old getting Ben Gay under their fingernails. some calls are heart wrenching, like doing CPR on a 10 year old or even a 10 week old. Some calls are disgusting, like the alzheimers patient that is flinging poop around the house. And some calls are gratifying like helping a woman as she gives birth or doing CPR and getting a viable pulse.

Do not become an EMT to pad your application, become an EMT because you love it or want to love it. Because if you don't you will hate it and the adcoms will see right through it.

quite possibly the best EMT post i've read thus far. Props for tellin it like it is. Oh, and that bloody siren can only be the work of lucifer.

Also, check and see if there are EMS programs on campus. At Rice, there's a Rice EMS program that will pay for your EMT-B certification in exchange for a year's worth of volunteering.

 

[NeverGettingIn]

EMT2ER-DOC,
Good post....but GREAT icon. hahaha it's awesome.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

EMT2ER-DOC,
Good post....but GREAT icon. hahaha it's awesome.

Thanks....I can't stop laughing whenever I see it.