emt-b reciprocity/employment in NYC

[sanford_w/o_son]

i'm a state-certified emt-b in illinois, which i'm told has lower standards than a lot of states for certification. i've checked out the reciprocity guidelines for ny state, but still have a couple of questions:

does anyone know about certification reciprocity for ny state, especially from illinois? would i have to take a refresher, or do something else? do i need to already have a ny address when applying for reciprocity?

what's the job market like in the nyc region? either for the ambulance emt-b or hospital tech? any specific companies or hospitals i should check out?

thanks!

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[bandaidsNhoses]

You'd have to check with the DOH office. Most likely depending on the Illinois curriculum, if comparable - will make you take the written exam. If not, possibly a refresher course - worse comes to worse the full course.
I was just on the NYS DOH website and it's fairly clear cut. You fill out the forms and submit them with the $25.00 fee. Then I believe they review your application as if you applied for an original and decide (apparantly) on a case by case basis. You might try calling them directly for the finer details: ie. is Illinois cert comparable to NY's.

http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems/certification/reciprocity.htm

New York City Area Office
NYS Department of Health
5 Penn Plaza, 2nd Floor
New York, New York 10001
PHONE: (212) 268-6632
PHONE: (800) 942-1942
FAX: (212) 268-6644

Counties Covered:

Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens and Richmond


In regards to jobs in the NYC/metro region: they are aplenty. There are more private ambulance companies (transports) than you can think of. Major companies are: MetroCare, Hunter, Citywide, North Shore, AMR. They take persons will all experience. 911 response agencies are slightly more difficult to get a job with if your experience isn't much. It isn't impossible as I've known a few people to get in fresh out of basic class, just rare. Many private hospitals put out their own amublances into the NYC 911 system alongside the FDNY*EMS ambulances. Quite a few also have their own transport ambulances as well. So take a look around, you're bound to find something.

-chrisC

 

[sanford_w/o_son]

thanks, man. it's good to know that at least the employment prospects are good, and i appreciate the leads. in chicago, i think there are maybe 6 privates, all of which cover the entire city rather than working out of specific regions (or hospitals, for the most part). i've heard in nyc ambulances are based in regions around hospitals. it may be interesting to work in a different system.

 

[sanford_w/o_son]

any other views on the subject?

anyone have a rough estimate of the starting pay for the private ambulance EMT-B in NYC?

 

[bandaidsNhoses]

This is the FDNY*EMS pay scale:

EMT Salary Base Fringe Total gross
Starting Salary $28,900 $10,942 $39,842
After 1 Year $31,775 $11,953 $43,728
After 2 Years $32,854 $12,330 $45,184
After 3 Years $35,144 $13,132 $48,276
After 5 Years $38,038 $14,145 $52,183
max pay @ 5 years.

Figure private transports are prob gonna be less.

Private hospital prob gonna be better, but have different benefits but average out slightly better in pay.

-chrisC

 

[niko327]

Hey Sanford,
BLS private ambulance pay is probably going to be around $20K for a full time gig. But it sucks (though you can learn alot about medicine if you're interested), alot of what you'll do is nursing home runs, hospital discharges and non-emergent transports.
If at all possible try to get in with a voluntary hospital (a hospital that participates in the 911 EMS system in the city of NY). If you don't know anybody or have a hook anywhere(it's alot of who you know), you're looking at about 2 years in the trenches of private ambulance hell before a voluntary hospital will hire you. But once you're in a voluntary you'll be all set to go. Pay with a voluntary hospital EMS outfit for BLS is around $35K-$40K with good benefits.
Your other alternative is to try for FDNY EMS, they are probably not as selective as a voluntary, but there are a few more bureaucratic hoops to jump through and the pay is somewhat less initially.
Hope this helped. -Niko

 

[niko327]

Sanford,
Actually one more thing does come to mind, there is a company called Metrocare that operates in New York City and does cover some areas for the official 911 system. Metrocare is a private ambulance company and as such is always looking for new hires (due to typical private ambulance high turn-over rate). As for the internal jockeying for position you may have to do to get a spot on a participating 911 bus I don't really know. One more thing, just make sure that the metrocare branch you apply to is the urban branch that does NYC 911, since metrocare also has branches located in suburbia that only do "the private ambulance BLS shuffle". Good Luck.

 

[BklynWill]

I have worked for FDNY EMS over the last year and it has been a great experience. All that I've read above seems pretty accurate so I have only small details to add.
If you have the opportunity to wait-out a long process, I recommend FDNY over all other services because of the health insurance benefits, high quality of training (2-month academy), predictable work schedule, and opportunities for promotions if you decide to make a career out of it.
Voluntary 911 hospital services seem pretty selective and this is reflected by their skilled EMTs and medics. I would take this as a back up to FDNY. Some EMTs use them as an opportunity to work per diem while employed by FDNY (though arguably unethical).
I have met some people who left Metrocare because they couldn't stand the management or working with unskilled/ unmotivated EMTs.
If you have specific FDNY EMS questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[sanford_w/o_son]

thanks for all the great advice, guys. i'm actually looking to go the private route, as i see med school down the road. but i'm sure others who come across this thread will appreciate knowing what the fd and volunteer companies have to offer. metrocare sounds like the typical private company here in chicago. it's probably what i'll try for (assuming i'll get reciprocity without retaking the course). it seems like nowadays you gotta be, oh i don't know, david lee roth to work on a volunteer ambulance . . .

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/206086p-177878c.html

 

[bandaidsNhoses]

whoa, that be kinda kewl to have David Lee Roth as a partner or my back up 😀 I'd definately have to say patient care might go out the window if he showed up on a call! hehe we'd be all crowding him and ogling, that we'd prob forget about the patient!!!

 

[sanford_w/o_son]

model citizen, zero discipline

 

[Ghettomedic]

I just saw your post and see it is over a month old but I will respond anyway. I must say that your best bet is to apply to FDNY, they are non-discrimitory and provide the best training possible. You will not get a position with a voluntary provider (private hospital) without at least one year NYC experience. I will also warn you about MetroCare. They are quick to hire and offer the opportunity to transfere to their "911" division. Once you get to their "911" division you will be treated like garbage. You will be bounced all over the place e.g. Bronx to Brooklyn to Manhattan all in one work week. You will have a different partner each night and have to deal with threats to your job as a way to help increase profits. If you should run into a problem such as patient care violations you will find yourself alone with no support. To top it off you will be looked upon as asecond class citizen by every other EMS provider in the city. I work for FDNY and have good friends that work for Metro, they are stuck because every hospital knows how metro operates and they put no faith in any of metro's employees. I have a friend with over five years experience and cannot get a job anywhere because the experience comes from Metro. I definitly say the fire department is the way to go. You can't beat working for a municipality. Good luck.

 

[Febrifuge]

model citizen, zero discipline

Reach back... between the seats... and... ease the O2 up to fifteen lpm...

 

[sanford_w/o_son]

"code 3, dispatch. yeah, we're runnin' a little bit hot tonight . . ."

just checked back in. thanks for more solid advice, guys. i know that in chicago, getting on the fd is relatively tough, and i think they're looking for people who will stick it out to retirement. i can't imagine nyfd being that different, so for me it looks like metrocare or bust (assuming the volunteer route won't work out, as i'm not david lee roth and will only have a couple years of chicago experience when i apply). metrocare doesn't sound too different from many privates in chicago--high turnover, and a work culture that expects that. but getting linked in with 911 is a big plus that you don't get in chicago (unless you work in some of the suburbs).

 

[Ghettomedic]

Contact NYS DOH via internet and begin the process for reciprocity. Once you have a NYS cert as an EMT call (718)999-2000 and follow menu to EMS personnel. You will get a live person to take your info. You will be surprised how easy it is to work for FDNY as an EMT. It only takes about two months or so from applying to being placed in an acadamy. The acadamy is only 8 weeks long. Keep in mind, although EMS in NY is handled by FD, they are completely seperate services there is no cross training or duty.

 

[sanford_w/o_son]

Hey, folks. Once again, big thanks to everyone for the very helpful advice. I really appreciate it. It's been a year in the private t-port trenches here in Chicago, and I'm looking forward to applying to a suburban private (exclusive 911 provider) pretty soon.

Well, I've gotten EMT-B certified in NY (through reciprocity), and I'm planning to make the move to NYC this January. I see that FDNY has a two-month training that takes place in January. Do you folks think it is possible to go through the application process for FDNY while in Chicago? Will they even give me serious consideration at this distance? If so, about how many flights to NYC will I be looking at?

 

[PineappleGirl]

I just happened upon this site, which you guys might find interesting

http://www.emsmagazine.com/SURVEY/

It has information on reciprocity in all US states, PR and VI, and Canada.