ER tech vs. EMT ambulance job

[mabindaby]

Hi all!

I'm pretty new to the premed life and I am really unsure of how to spend my time and effort on extra curriculars when I go back to UCB this fall. I took a year off because of a family medical crisis but in that time I've become an EMT and am a medical scribe, in addition to volunteering etc.

When I get back I'm looking into free clinic volunteering, research etc, but I was wondering whether I should apply for a job. I am debating between becoming an ER tech or working on an ambulance. I don't have much work experience but from what I've heard:

Ambulance
Pros: already has all necessary educational requirements
Cons: bad hours, stress

ED
Pros: rub shoulders with docs, shadowing opportunities, etc
Cons: needs phlebotomy cert

Apparently in CA, you need to be phlebotomy certified, not just IV certified and that entails at minimum, 5 weeks of class and ~$3000 🙁 I've spent quite some time researching and agonizing over this because I was really looking forward to working but there's a lot more to it than I knew.

Does anybody have any advice on which way to go (neither?) or any other worthwhile EC activities to pursue instead?

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[sylvanthus]

Id go for ED tech. You generally get to do more procedures and it is overall, more valuable experience. Plus, you are worknig directly with the physicians and this will likely help you out. EMT can be good experience, but in a lot of places you get the crappy calls and are essentially nothing more than a glorified taxi driver. All the interesting calls may go to ALS rigs. Guess it depends on your area and if you will be riding with a medic or are purely BLS. Either way, I do not believe it is as good an experience as being an ED tech.

 

[mabindaby]

Sounds like a good point. Do you have any advice on how to go about applying? The job market is tough and as a mere student with minimal experience is there any other way besides turning in the resume and having HR give it about 3 sec? Maybe volunteering first and then smoozing up would give you better chances. Am I over thinking this?

 

[sylvanthus]

I just ended up applying to like 6 hospitals in my area at the same time and didn't have a problem. But, if your area is lacking in jobs, may be a good idea to shadow in the ED and get your foot in the door so you know when a position becomes available. You could always volunteer as an EMT while looking for an ED Tech job and potentially do both.

 

[armybound]

I worked as an ICU tech with my EMT certification instead of riding an ambulance. I think it was a fantastic experience. Occasionally worked in the ER as well, which I didn't like quite as much but still better than the ambulance.

 

[dougfunnie]

Everyone seems to be providing you with good advice, but it's all situation-based.

In my area, ED tech basically means CNA and and there is no way you would get to do anything cool or work beyond the ED. Also, only ALS trucks can respond to 911 calls. As a result I choose to spend my time on the medic trucks.

I think doing a little more research on both jobs in your area will be key for you.

 

[mabindaby]

Yeah, dougfunnie, it seems to vary so much from state to state! Haha, in that case, does anybody know what the situation is like in the Berkeley/SF area? It would really help to know which direction to go, maybe which hospitals are more open to students working? Local premed friends are no help with ECs 🙁 One of them says his "plan" is his dad, who is a doc at UCLA 😛

 

[Veritas86]

Actually just asked this same question on another forum.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I've about decided to work full time ambulance while getting paramedic certified then staying on ambulance and working ED PRN to see if I like it and getting clinical time.

From what I've heard, ER techs are just a little higher on the food chain than CNAs. Just able to do more actual procedure. But for me, as someone strongly considering emergency medicine as a specialty (at this point. Still keeping my options open), the experience would be unbearable.

 

[mabindaby]

I've heard that while being an EMT is ok, getting your paramedic while aspiring to med school can be dangerous. Paramedic is more of a career choice and less of a med school stepping stone. For me, I think being a tech is not just about the scope of practice but getting acquainted with the hospital setting and getting to know docs/shadowing/interning.

This thread may be helpful: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=556556

 

[bucks2010]

How long would it take you to recoup the $3000 from the phleb cert by working as an ER tech?

Techs are glorified CNA's but you would get much better exposure to hospital life than you would doing EMS. If you are only going to be doing it PRN though, you would likely not recoup the money you spent for the phleb cert and end up losing money with the job. Do the math yourself and see if it would be worth it for you. FYI in my area techs make $11 full time (FT being 36 hrs/wk) and $13.50 PRN.

 

[Morsetlis]

If you wanna slack, ambulance (EMT-B).

If you wanna learn stuff, ER.

Of course, all that ER knowledge ain't gonna help you in year 1 and 2 of med school.

 

[aSagacious]

1 more vote for the ED tech.

 

[Pose]

Tried both, and ended up in the ED. I have learned wayyyyy more than I did on the ambulance. I am involved in any care situation I want in the ED (any code, trauma, PCI, stroke), and I get to do some cool things. I do a lot of ortho stuff, and get to assist in many procedures done in the ED. I can also work our urgent care area (with a doc or PA), or out in triage. This is a community hospital.

As an EMT-B on a BLS truck, expect to transfer patients and give O2. Also expect that most doctors in the ED won't even know you exist, and that the nurses will think they're smarter than you (also true as a tech).

 

[Alejandro]

ED Tech for sure. I work as an MA (same deal) in a level one hospital, and you get to see everything, and you're working with the critically ill patients too. EMTs where I live (WA) mostly do transfers from other hospitals, low acuity cases, and the occasional "found down" homeless guy. As an ER MA, I work in all code situations (blue, trauma, sepsis, stroke, etc etc).

EMTs-yes...you'll become a glorified taxi driver. No offense to those being EMTs...but you are competing with the paramedics for your cases...

 

[45408]

If you have the choice between the two, I'd be an ER tech. That said, there was no way you were getting an ER tech job where I was, unless you had a lot of experience or were already a paramedic. So I worked as an EMT-B, because I couldn't get an ER tech job.

The paramedics often didn't steal our patients, because they were lazy as hell, and if they could get you to take the patient, it was all yours. I ran mostly 911 calls, because I mostly worked nights and weekends. The taxi driver stuff was during business hours. I was also never a driver, because I wasn't old enough (insurance wouldn't cover you until you were 24 or so).

 

[Veritas86]

Paramedic is more of a career choice and less of a med school stepping stone.

I completely agree with this. I have ny reasons for doing it, but if I were completely sane? No.

 

[Propylene]

Yikes, a $3,000 course? Are you sure there aren't cheaper alternatives? If that cost is prohibitive (it would be for me) then I would stick with EMT. I work in central CA and San Francisco as one and while there are less exciting days I have seen my share of patients,. If you have the resources, and enough time to make it worthwhile (at least 2 years), then an ED job would be more useful in the long run.

However, the cost along with no guarantee of getting a tech job after getting your other license would rule it out for me.

 

[mabindaby]

Wow, I've gotten so many replies! Thanks everybody 🙂

Propylene, yeah it's so expensive, I can't believe it! I think around $2,666 is the cheapest I've seen but maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places? Maybe if I can do it for 3 years (returning sophomore) it might be worthwhile...

Where my family is in CO, there are no only BLS ambulance units, it's all AMR and it's always one medic, one EMT. They respond to any type of calls and I didn't even know about the ALS and BLS competition 😛

Does anyone know if there are any volunteer BLS outfits in the bay area? Is it worthwhile to do this?

 

[Veritas86]

Yikes, a $3,000 course? Are you sure there aren't cheaper alternatives? If that cost is prohibitive (it would be for me) then I would stick with EMT. I work in central CA and San Francisco as one and while there are less exciting days I have seen my share of patients,. If you have the resources, and enough time to make it worthwhile (at least 2 years), then an ED job would be more useful in the long run.

However, the cost along with no guarantee of getting a tech job after getting your other license would rule it out for me.

Hearsay, but I've heard that some hospitals will pay for your training if you agree to work there for so long. I would think that's largely dependant on the area, though.

 

[ljpm8224]

Does anyone know if there are any volunteer BLS outfits in the bay area? Is it worthwhile to do this?

there are a few volunteer BLS opportunities here (mostly at events just as Project Homeless Connect outreach and Red Cross stuff), but it's pretty simple to get picked up on a paid EMT-b position here, too. Norcal, Westmed, St. Joes, Bayshore, RockMed and Pro T are all BLS ambos that have relatively high turnover as people move on to nursing, fire, med school, and ALS gigs. Sooo... I'd do a shotgun approach and apply to all of those. Apply IN PERSON as most of 'em don't really check emails and certainly don't fax in your ap! I wouldn't waste time applying to AMR as they just laid off 150 people and shut down 3 BLS stations yesterday 🙁 ((((pours one on the ground for mah homiez who were victims of a union fight/power struggle)))

However, OP I'd vote ER Tech instead of BLS, better experience, better respected, more in-hospital exposure. Though notoriously tough to get a gig doing that in the Bay area- prettymuch have your Mom be the charge nurse is how I know 5 or 6 people who landed those positions

Anyways, EMT-b can be fun on a BLS rig and you'll make great friends and stuff, however I don't think it is the best use of anyone's time who is trying to use it as actual experience or EC for medical school admissions. Remember pre-med EMT-bs are a literally a dime a dozen and pre-hospital stuff is not always valued as worthwhile clinical experience.

St. Rose over in the east bay has a great scribe program for pre-meds, although you have to time it right with their application cycle, they pick up 10 or so people every summer....

I've done all of the above around here- scribed, EMT-b and ER tech 😎 so feel free to PM me with specific ?s about specific hospitals and programs!

cheers,
bean

edit- OP- one other thing to be wary of... emt-b work on an ambo can become a bit of a tar pit. Salaries are so low that the only way you make $$ is to pick up a ton of shifts and hit lots of OT. Also, since everyone is your buddy and you want to be cool where you work, you want to be nice and cover extra shifts when people want days off or help our your supes when there's an open shift. Sooooo what sometimes happens is people go into EMS with other career goals in mind and then suddenly it's a few years later and they're still running calls on a rig and haven't gotten around to whatever else they've been trying for. (((<--- this is easier to avoid if you are not financially dependent on your salary as an EMT)))

 

[mabindaby]

BeanDip, I heard about AMR in the bay area, so unfortunate 🙁 I will for sure look into the med scribe job too, I'm one here in CO and it would be wonderful to continue doing that. When I get back to Berkeley I will be sure to hit you up with more specific Qs, your detailed advice is so helpful! Thanks 😀

 

[chemhead123]

I do the ambulance... more autonomy. There would be calls where it would only be you in charge of the patients care before they get to the hospital. As an ER tech you will never have the kind of responsibility, also you will work a lot less. You will only have one or two runs a shift. The rest of the time is yours to do with it as you wish, where as with the ER tech, you will work hard the whole time.

 

[mabindaby]

You will only have one or two runs a shift. The rest of the time is yours to do with it as you wish, where as with the ER tech, you will work hard the whole time.

Haha, I dunno where you've worked or in what areas but even in a small suburban city (little crime/riff raff) I've run 8+ calls a night. My experience is limited however, maybe it really varies widely from state to state.

 

[sylvanthus]

I do the ambulance... more autonomy. There would be calls where it would only be you in charge of the patients care before they get to the hospital. As an ER tech you will never have the kind of responsibility, also you will work a lot less. You will only have one or two runs a shift. The rest of the time is yours to do with it as you wish, where as with the ER tech, you will work hard the whole time.

Somehow I don't think it is going to be very good experience to get 1-2 calls a night even if you have more autonomy. You still follow preset orders.

 

[augeremt]

One more vote for ER tech. I had an awesome experience as an EMT on an ambulance because the town I worked for never trained me to drive. So I spent all my time in the back with medics on 911 calls since we were a 911-only service. But I have since moved away from there and the ambulance jobs out here are the taxi driver EMT positions everyone mentions. So your ambulance experience will be variable, as is the ER tech position, actually. Ask around to see what others in your area have to say about which hospitals are the best for that kind of job.

As for getting an ER tech job, call up each ER and ask to speak with the hiring manager for the ER. Tell them you can start as a per diem, that you can come in at a couple hours' notice if they need someone to cover a shift any time of day, and that you're a pre-med (they like us). If this doesn't get you a job, then at least you'll be better known to the people than just a name on a resume. A few friends have gotten work this way in some fairly competitive markets.

Another option is to look up free clinics for experience. They're always looking for help, and with your EMT and IV cert you'd be a huge help to them. You may not get paid at first (I don't know your financial situation so this may not be possible), but it will give you some great experience.

 

[ljpm8224]

I do the ambulance... more autonomy. There would be calls where it would only be you in charge of the patients care before they get to the hospital. As an ER tech you will never have the kind of responsibility, also you will work a lot less. You will only have one or two runs a shift. The rest of the time is yours to do with it as you wish, where as with the ER tech, you will work hard the whole time.

^^ No offense, chem... but when I was an emt-b in the Bay Area it wasn't unheard of for us to regularly be running 13 calls in a 12 hour shift. And multiple ambulance companies here have call bonuses, so you start making an extra $30-$50 a call after your first 5 or 8 calls, so your partners may be asking dispatch to loading up your call volume for each shift. Not much downtime to study when you're worried how the heck you're going to have time to cram a sandwich down your gullet. Slow shifts exist, but they are rare... and mostly on a Sunday day car. Even my overnight shifts I'd say averaged 8 or 9 calls.

Also, in heavily populated urban areas, these hella short transport times don't allow for much "autonomy" to going down in the back of the rig. Literally some of the transports are from the OR to the SNF IN THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR. There is a SNF in San Francisco that is across the street from a major H (doesn't make the poor pt's ambo bill any lower tho!). You could probably wheel the pt in the gurney over there for faster than it takes to load them in the rig, get in the rig, leave the parking lot, park in the snf, and unload. Or the H should just build a series of pneumatic tubes and send pts that way the same way they send labs 😛

 

[Veritas86]

I ....you will work hard the whole time.

Isn't that kind of the point of a job?

For that matter, isn't that what all us future meds have to look forward to anyway? I don't wanna have to go to the ER with a ruptured spleen or something and find out my doc is slacking...

 

[Morsetlis]

Where my family is in CO, there are no only BLS ambulance units, it's all AMR and it's always one medic, one EMT. They respond to any type of calls and I didn't even know about the ALS and BLS competition 😛

Personally, I like seeing the sky, so I would do the EMT gig if it involved medics working with me.

There's nothing wrong with applying for both types of positions, and then deciding later.

 

[45408]

Isn't that kind of the point of a job?

For most people in the world, no.

 

[Veritas86]

For most people in the world, no.

Heard that.

 

[chemhead123]

SDN = vultures... point is well taken on the number of calls... I worked the night shift and got an average of 2 or 3 a night. It of course depends on where you work.

In terms of "isn't that the point of the job," I am assuming you have never been into an ER and seen what an ER tech does. The majority of the time is washing beds, cleaning patients bandages, emptying trash, giving a patient a warm blanket...etc. If you want to spend/waste your time doing meaningless jobs for 11.5 out of your 12 hour shift, fine by me. Yes I slack on stupid jobs... because they are stupid and something to be endured. You remind me of the horse Boxer in Orwell's Animal Farm... "I will work harder." Its something called discretion.

In terms of "following preset orders" what do you think an ER tech does? Go clean that bed the patient just urinated on. Such a statement shows you have never worked as an EMT on an Ambulance. When your patient's eyes roll back in their head, and you are the only one on the bus with medical training, lets see where autonomy/responsibility comes in and if it is as simple as "following preset orders."

 

[sylvanthus]

SDN = vultures... point is well taken on the number of calls... I worked the night shift and got an average of 2 or 3 a night. It of course depends on where you work.

In terms of "isn't that the point of the job," I am assuming you have never been into an ER and seen what an ER tech does. The majority of the time is washing beds, cleaning patients bandages, emptying trash, giving a patient a warm blanket...etc. If you want to spend/waste your time doing meaningless jobs for 11.5 out of your 12 hour shift, fine by me. Yes I slack on stupid jobs... because they are stupid and something to be endured. You remind me of the horse Boxer in Orwell's Animal Farm... "I will work harder." Its something called discretion.

In terms of "following preset orders" what do you think an ER tech does? Go clean that bed the patient just urinated on. Such a statement shows you have never worked as an EMT on an Ambulance. When your patient's eyes roll back in their head, and you are the only one on the bus with medical training, lets see where autonomy/responsibility comes in and if it is as simple as "following preset orders."

Granted some ER techs likely do lame cleaning jobs the majority of the time, this is variable between EDs. Ive worked in 3 EDs in 3 different states and each one was highly different in what the ED tech does. Key is finding the hospital that allows you to do more. At one ED I was responsible for blood draws, I stat testing, splinting with plaster/fiberglass, wound irrigation, bladderscans, and was able to start IVs with supervision and even order tests and suture with physician supervision etc etc etc. The volunteers cleaned the rooms.

While things also vary between departments on what an EMT can do, the number of procedures and variety of skills obtained is just not the same as an ED tech, period. Maybe you can move up to an EMT-I and start lines? But, you are still following protocols that are very specific on what you do. While having a physician right by you, if they trust you, allows you to go above and beyond your scope at times.

Also, yes I was EMT certified for seven years and also did ski patrol. Have you done all of the positions where you can actually comment on what each one entails?

 

[45408]

Granted some ER techs likely do lame cleaning jobs the majority of the time, this is variable between EDs. Ive worked in 3 EDs in 3 different states and each one was highly different in what the ED tech does. Key is finding the hospital that allows you to do more. At one ED I was responsible for blood draws, I stat testing, splinting with plaster/fiberglass, wound irrigation, bladderscans, and was able to start IVs with supervision and even order tests and suture with physician supervision etc etc etc. The volunteers cleaned the rooms.

Given that you only have enough time between finishing your EMT course and submitting the AMCAS to actually find a job and accumulate as much experience as possible, your pickings are usually slim.

While things also vary between departments on what an EMT can do, the number of procedures and variety of skills obtained is just not the same as an ED tech, period. Maybe you can move up to an EMT-I and start lines? But, you are still following protocols that are very specific on what you do. While having a physician right by you, if they trust you, allows you to go above and beyond your scope at times.

Doing procedures and skills is completely overrated. You were pre-med. Adcoms expect nothing more than for you to be pre-med. The fact that you can place a sweet IV means...just about nothing.

An EMT does a history and physical, and they come up with a brief differential diagnosis. Obviously, it's at a very basic level, but it was a lot more autonomy for me than I would have gotten as an ER tech.

I mean, I already said I would have taken the ER tech job if I could have, because it paid more, and because it seemed "closer to the action" to be working in an ER, but I had a blast as an EMT. My hours were unbelievably flexible - I had no fixed shifts, and I could pick up 12 and 24 hours shifts just about any day of the week (usually Friday or Saturday for me, because of school).

 

[catzzz88]

The way I see it: there are three kinds of medical schools. Which ECs you should pick up depends on which type of medical school is realistic for you to attend because they all like to see different things.

a) Upper tier allopathic schools~roughly top 35 LizzyM score schools
b) Lower tier allopathic schools
c) Osteropathic

The medical education that you receive at any of these kinds of schools is fairly similar for the most part. The key is that the different kinds also look for different things in applicants. This is just my general theory.

a) Great ECs, high quantitative scores, RESEARCH
b) Great ECs, good quantitative scores, VOLUNTEERING
c) Great ECs, okay quantitative scores, SHADOWING

Obviously you are going to want some research, some volunteering, some shadowing, some clinical work, etc for ALL of these types, I am only highlighting what each kind of school PARTICULARLY looks for. The (a) schools want people with research experience because they want to bring grant money in. The (b) schools want non-clinical volunteering because they want to see that you are committed to underprivileged populations to prove that you aren't just trying to make a good salary. The (c) schools want to make sure that you actually know what it is like to be a doctor and that you aren't just trying to get into medicine as a last resort... Anyone else notice this, or am I totally off?

So, when you ask what EC's would be useful, I would respond that it depends on where you are in the world and where you will realistically be applying. Obviously, knock out tons of excellent and interesting and rewarding ECs, but there is also some forethought involved and if you want to go to a top tier school, you should find a way to focus on research. Example: working 9-5 in research and then volunteering on weekends as an EMT.

I dunno---what do others think?

🙂

Best,
C

 

[Morsetlis]

Sounds like an RPG. I must raise my Volunteering Stat when my party has only an average LizzyM score!

 

[Veritas86]

Sounds like an RPG. I must raise my Volunteering Stat when my party has only an average LizzyM score!

This made me laugh a lot more than it should have.

 

[AllDaWEI]

Does anyone think the benefits of clinical experience (not for the purpose of boosting app) is over-rated? You learn everything you need starting in medical school. Does this mean a pre-med wo was an EMT or tech will fare better in medical school, or be better physician than someone who only did basic volunteering or something like that?

 

[45408]

Does anyone think the benefits of clinical experience (not for the purpose of boosting app) is over-rated? You learn everything you need starting in medical school. Does this mean a pre-med wo was an EMT or tech will fare better in medical school, or be better physician than someone who only did basic volunteering or something like that?

That's not the point, at all. They just want to make sure you know what you're getting into, not that you'll learn anything useful.

 

[AlmostJesus]

If you are looking for experience, do the ER tech job, you will see and interact with many different patients, nurses, and doctors.
If you are looking to exercise your autonomy, do the EMT job, you may see a quite a bit, but there is a lot of downtime or scut work depending on where you are at. The downtime can be good study time.
If you are looking for knowledge, become a paramedic. You do a ton of clinical hours in the various hospital settings, lots of ambulance time, and when you are done, you will be able to get more decent of a job with a lot of autonomy and skills.

I started with the 2nd one, tried to get on as the first option, then ended up going with the third option. I now work as a paramedic in a small town, when I am not on calls (more often than not) I work in the ER essentially as an ER nurse. I get a ton of patient care experience, a ton of experience with managing multiple patients, and a great chance to work on my diagnostic abilities. Paramedic school took me a year part time and only cost me $6000. That being said, I only got a few dollars an hour raise from my other jobs, but I surely enjoy my job a lot more.

I would definitely take a paramedic course before Id bother with a phlebotomy course.

 

[lineazy]

EMT and ER Tech are two completely different jobs. I have experience in both because I became a paramedic prior to medical school, and our clinical ER time is much like an advanced version of an ER tech, and as for EMT hours, I can say I've logged a ton.

EMT: No other job (aside from paramedic) will give you the autonomy to take care of patients in a one on one setting. Although your scope of practice is fairly limited, it is just you and the patient in the back of that rig, and thus you are responsible for your assessment and treatment without much guidance. The interpersonal skills you can learn from doing that are invaluable.

ER Tech: ER tech will give you a much better view of what working inside the four walls of a hospital is like. However, you will not be treating patients and will have no autonomy. You may do EKGs, some allow for blood draw, and then various other procedures that you can and will assist with, but for the most part you are working as part of a team. ER tech also tends to be a larger commitment because there is often some additional training involved and no where to advance to. You will however get to meet physicians who can write you letters of recommendation which can be an excellent resource.

I suggest you do both, if possible. It sounds as if you are already volunteering as an EMT. That is more than enough, continue doing that. If you have time, pick up the job as an ER tech. If not, stick with the EMT care. I think you learn more from the autonomy of being an EMT. What you learn as an ER tech will be interesting but wont translate as much to your future as working as an EMT.

You will get much more out of either EMT or ER tech than medscribe.

If you are looking for knowledge, become a paramedic. You do a ton of clinical hours in the various hospital settings, lots of ambulance time, and when you are done, you will be able to get more decent of a job with a lot of autonomy and skills.

Becoming a paramedic is a huge time sink. The class hours + clinical hours are so numerous that it will likely eat at your undergrad GPA (It takes two years here in NJ, but we RSI patients in the field and have very rigorous training), or take too long if you are already out of college. Unless you have lots of free time, I would suggest against it. Even if you have time, it could be better spent. Sure I can already intubate people, start IVs and know a lot of basic emergency medicine, but it will all be relearned in med school. I'm glad I went the paramedic route, and it may have helped my application, but its really not for everyone. Become a paramedic if you want to be a paramedic. I wanted to be both a paramedic and a doctor. Its definitely not worth the headache as simply an app booster.

 

[45408]

Paramedic school took me a year part time and only cost me $6000. ....

I would definitely take a paramedic course before Id bother with a phlebotomy course.

Only a year? Only $6000? You guys must have more time and money than I do...

 

[AlmostJesus]

Becoming a paramedic is a huge time sink. The class hours + clinical hours are so numerous that it will likely eat at your undergrad GPA (It takes two years here in NJ, but we RSI patients in the field and have very rigorous training), or take too long if you are already out of college. Unless you have lots of free time, I would suggest against it. Even if you have time, it could be better spent. Sure I can already intubate people, start IVs and know a lot of basic emergency medicine, but it will all be relearned in med school. I'm glad I went the paramedic route, and it may have helped my application, but its really not for everyone. Become a paramedic if you want to be a paramedic. I wanted to be both a paramedic and a doctor. Its definitely not worth the headache as simply an app booster.

I too did the paramedic course because I wanted to become a paramedic. When I started the paramedic program, I was a nursing major and did 10 credits a semester, along with 12 credits over two summers in order to stay on track along with the paramedic program (8 hours a week + some weekends + clinicals). It was through my clinical experience that I became firm on my decision to go pre-med and I haven't looked back.
The program I went to was a diploma program, that is largely why it only took a year. We still got plenty of clinical and classroom time. The objective of the program is to make a competent entry level paramedic, realizing there is much that needs to be learned through actual practice. Depending on where you work, most places in my area do RSI, etc. My service does not, and I am okay with that because it is a single medic system.
There was one individual in my paramedic class who took a gap year and did her paramedic certification. She was not the type you would expect to do the paramedic program, but she completed it successfully and got into medical school. She plans on doing small town family medicine. The background gained in paramedic school will likely have an influence on her emergency medicine practice when she gets out on her own. This is a good thing considering how many small towns suck at emergency medicine.
I guess it comes down to what your priorities are. I knew I would regret it if I did not become a paramedic, and it has paid off immensely in my pre-med quest. Just something to consider.

Only a year? Only $6000? You guys must have more time and money than I do...

When you consider a year at a university is going to cost you twice that and give you a lot less clinical time, it starts to make sense. I was able to take out a loan against my car and I got some money from my grandmother to help me out on it. I still owe about 4000 on paramedic school compared to 40,000 for my undergrad.

 

[45408]

When you consider a year at a university is going to cost you twice that and give you a lot less clinical time, it starts to make sense. I was able to take out a loan against my car and I got some money from my grandmother to help me out on it. I still owe about 4000 on paramedic school compared to 40,000 for my undergrad.

A year at a university cost me $4000 when I started college and $7000 when I left. I owe $5000 for college and $0 for my EMT-Basic class, which was free. I was simply sponsored by a local ambulance company to take it, and I went through the trouble to do that just to save $500, lol.