EMT certified but no work experience! Can I include?

[hopefulpremd]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi. This might be a fairly long read, but I really want opinions on this, so I would appreciate it. I had EMT training done from about two years ago. However, I had troublefinding a job then and couldn't work as an EMT although I really wanted to. Ispoke with my prehealth advisor the other day, and I was just refreshing hermind about my ECs when I told her I had my EMT-B certification but did not workas an EMT. She said that it would look really bad to admissions committees thatI received a certification for something such as this but failed to work inthat capacity. During that time (up until a few months ago), I held another jobthat I didn't particularly dislike (as a pharmacy technician) so it wasn't thatmuch of a big deal that I couldn't get an EMT job. I figured: Well, it didn'tgo in vain because I attained some valuable education from the process and gota certification out of it as well which I could still put on my application.Basically, she told me it would be to my disadvantage to put the training andcertification on my application since I didn't have experience from an EMT jobbecause medical schools want people they know will go through with the process.While that may be true, it doesn't make sense to not put down the trainingjust because I didn't work as an EMT. I am a year away from applying, and Idon't think I have time now to commit to being employed. Is it really thatimportant for me to work as an EMT for me to be able to put that extensivetraining down on my application? I have many other ECs that are good, and Ithought that even though I didn't work as an EMT(since I couldn't find anythingnear home), I still went the extra mile to become educated in something someothers don't have any experience in before medical school. I mean, doesn't theeducation itself mean anything? Can I still put it down because it really wouldbe a shame if I can't? Thanks a lot

 

[kexy]

You will have to put down your EMT training, as you'll need to provide AMCAS with a transcript from all college-level coursework (and that includes vocational schools). So schools will see your training in the coursework section of your application, and you don't need to list it as an EC. I'm the same way btw (certified but never worked), I sent in the transcript, and no one ever asked me about it in an interview so I don't think it was a negative.

 

[DavetheMD]

She's blowing smoke. It's difficult to get placed as an EMT. Most wait on some kind of EMS waitlist. I'd try and volunteer in some patient care capacity though.

 

[Verum]

Not sure if i'm hijacking or not since this will help more people but,

If i plan on getting my emt next summer, is there anything i can do now that can increase my chances of getting an emt gig when i get the license (getting good with a hospital? volunteering that can turn into an emt job etc) or must i wait until i hold it in my hand to start applying?

 

[music2doc]

You want to use it. I have heard of applicants getting pretty torn up in interviews at certain school (C* AHEM *U) for having but not utilizing their EMT. (Length of time or opportunity to use it did not seem to deter these interviewers from making the interview process a nightmare for these people.) ...And no the people I know of this happening to did NOT get in and at least one was outright rejected post interview. That said, it's not the end of the world. Just don't apply to that one school! Regardless, you can always find a place willing to use you. Just go volunteer with your EMT....

 

[hopefulpremd]

You will have to put down your EMT training, as you'll need to provide AMCAS with a transcript from all college-level coursework (and that includes vocational schools). So schools will see your training in the coursework section of your application, and you don't need to list it as an EC. I'm the same way btw (certified but never worked), I sent in the transcript, and no one ever asked me about it in an interview so I don't think it was a negative.

Thanks kexy. I did my EMT training from SUNY Stony Brook, but there wasn't really a formal transcript system, just grades online. So, what should I do in that case, just put it down in the education section but not provide a transcript or maybe attach the actual training certificate? Would I still be able to list it in the EC section?

 

[music2doc]

Thanks kexy. I did my EMT training from SUNY Stony Brook, but there wasn't really a formal transcript system, just grades online. So, what should I do in that case, just put it down in the education section but not provide a transcript or maybe attach the actual training certificate? Would I still be able to list it in the EC section?

Get some experience, dude. Seriously. You don't want to go parading "I'm an EMT" if you haven't done so much as volunteer as one. Further, the course is NOT an EC. It's a class. Period.

 

[hopefulpremd]

You want to use it. I have heard of applicants getting pretty torn up in interviews at certain school (C* AHEM *U) for having but not utilizing their EMT. (Length of time or opportunity to use it did not seem to deter these interviewers from making the interview process a nightmare for these people.) ...And no the people I know of this happening to did NOT get in and at least one was outright rejected post interview. That said, it's not the end of the world. Just don't apply to that one school! Regardless, you can always find a place willing to use you. Just go volunteer with your EMT....

Is this U of Colorado?

 

[Mornhavon]

.

 

[ljpm8224]

If i plan on getting my emt next summer, is there anything i can do now that can increase my chances of getting an emt gig when i get the license (getting good with a hospital? volunteering that can turn into an emt job etc) or must i wait until i hold it in my hand to start applying?

^^ yes, there are several things you can start working on now:

- start doing some ride alongs with your local squads (are there volunteer organizations in your area, private companies/bls transport companies/municipal based or als privates? they may have different ride along criteria but if you contact the supervisors and explain that you're a student and what your goals are...
- you can do your FEMA ICS training, it's online and free- do ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 they can be required for a lot of jobs and it's good to get that out of the way
- do your resume
- if you can pick up a phlebotomy cert (2 week course with an internship) on one of your breaks from school this will be a HUGE HELP in getting an ER Tech job in a hospital when you have the EMT-b
- keep your driving history PERFECTLY CLEAN no accidents no tickets and no duis this is often the biggest roadblock for aspiring EMS people
- start doing some other healthcare volunteering to put on your resume and this way when you interview with EMT companies you have something to talk about "oh yeah I volunteer at a clinic/in the ER/etc....)

 

[ljpm8224]

I have many other ECs that are good, and Ithought that even though I didn't work as an EMT(since I couldn't find anythingnear home), I still went the extra mile to become educated in something someothers don't have any experience in before medical school. I mean, doesn't theeducation itself mean anything? Can I still put it down because it really wouldbe a shame if I can't? Thanks a lot

2 years is right about the time your EMT-b expires... did you keep it current? If not, are you within the window to re-cert? Did you do the NREMT exam or just do the class? (I believe the NREMT will let you re-cert if you're within 6 months of expiration but google that to double check).

Anyways you know what I would do in your shoes? Just find some dinky medical volunteering- at an event- road race, girl scout camp, kids field trip, triathlon, RockMed, concert, homeless outreach, something... SOMETHING in the next few weeks. So then you can be like "As a certified EMT I was a medical volunteer for blah blah blah."

Do you have time to do that?

 

[Ashley1989]

The easiest thing to do is just call your local fire department and go on a ride out. It's a 12 hour shift
And if you're lucky you might get some good calls (it sucks for the patient of course) but I got to assist on some pretty incredible things, and it's not a weekly or even monthly commitment you can just sign up as you have time.