Help needed with an expensive decision.

[hernandez5]

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Whats up guys,

So I am taking the MCAT this November, and will not be applying until June. Basically, I am thinking about using the time off to go get my EMT license to get money in the field of medicine. The program costs about 4,000 bucks and it is condensed into a month. I am wondering what I should do with the license to get the most bang for my buck. I would obviously rather work next to a doctor and assist him/her directly. I have done some research here but I am still unsure how I would go about getting a job that involves more than just transporting patients and giving O2. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Side Note: When re-taking classes should one focus on science, or the lowest grades?

 

[nm825]

Whats up guys,

So I am taking the MCAT this November, and will not be applying until June. Basically, I am thinking about using the time off to go get my EMT license to get money in the field of medicine. The program costs about 4,000 bucks and it is condensed into a month. I am wondering what I should do with the license to get the most bang for my buck. I would obviously rather work next to a doctor and assist him/her directly. I have done some research here but I am still unsure how I would go about getting a job that involves more than just transporting patients and giving O2. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Side Note: When re-taking classes should one focus on science, or the lowest grades?

There's no where in the world where you should pay $4000 for an emt license. I live in CT and paid $900.

 

[medickdb]

1. Most EMTs are certified, not licensed. (Depends on the state. Last I checked, I believe Texas is the only state in which it is a license.)
2. That is insanely expensive for an EMT class.
3. As a former EMT/ Paramedic instructor, I question the quality of an EMT course that's only a month long.

 

[AM508]

Yeah...I didn't pay $4000 dollars even for my Paramedic cert...In 2003, when I took EMT-Basic, it cost me $780 in NY. If you want to be an EMT, you will find yourself working in an ambulance as that is predominately the job description. However, you should research what EMT's actually do in your state, as EMT's do an awful lot more than "transport patients and give O2" in most systems.

 

[hernandez5]

Well I was thinking of doing it through RMI (Remote Medical International. Here is a brief description through their website,

"The REMT meets and exceeds wilderness medical standards by covering all Wilderness EMT (WEMT) curriculum while also incorporating select higher-level capabilities. From the Medical Care Person in Charge (MCPIC) certification to live telemedicine interfacing with our Global Coordination Center, REMT students learn skills that surpass the scope of our competitor’s certifications..."

The reason I chose this is because I was interested in volunteering in Haiti where they require an EMT certification to serve. The R-EMT certification will give me skills needed to work in a remote environment. My friend went through the program and said it was phenomenal. Another reason I wanted to do it was that it only takes 26 days. That way I can start making money immediately.

I live in Georgia. Do you guys have suggestions as to how else I could be working in the medical field with patient interaction while I wait to apply?

It doesn't make that much of a difference but the course actually costs 3,600, food and lodging included (the course is in Washington State). Should I opt for a cheaper one that takes 3 months instead?

 

[AM508]

Is this a State of Georgia sanctioned EMT class which will allow you to sit for the state EMT exam? That almost does not sound like it to me. I would check with the requirements of an EMT in your state to make sure.

 

[hernandez5]

Is this a State of Georgia sanctioned EMT class which will allow you to sit for the state EMT exam? That almost does not sound like it to me. I would check with the requirements of an EMT in your state to make sure.

My friend that received the cert is now an EMT in Georgia. So I believe it would be.

 

[hernandez5]

Thank you guys so much for your replies! It always amazes me how most people here are willing to give advice. Anyways, the program mentions that it will give me the following certifications: EMT from National Registry of EMTs, Remote EMT, Medical Care Person in Charge (MCPIC), and CPR (Emergency Safety Care Institute).

I will keep doing my research trying to find a cheaper alternative here in GA.

Another question I had was what does it take to work as an "Emergency Room Technician". I do not mind being in the ambulance and running normal EMT duties, but I would love to be in a hospital or private practice assisting the nurses and doctors directly. I have seen in other threads that to get this job one would have to first get their EMT license. I feel like this course would give me the skills needed to do more hands on care. Also, ERT's in GA get paid a good 10K a year more than EMTs, which would obviously help in paying back that course.

Here are some of the skills RMI says I will be trained in

: advanced wound closure (suturing), Foley catheterization, antibiotic therapy, IV administration, sick call & primary care, pediatrics & geriatrics, childbirth, travel medicine, tropical medicine, telemedicine and medical kit integration, lifting & moving patients, advanced airway management & oxygen administration, shock, thoracic trauma, head injuries, dental emergencies, musculoskeletal injuries, respiratory & cardiac emergencies, mass-casualty incidents, anaphylaxis, cold/heat emergencies, altitude, immersion & submersion, and more.

 

[bcurtis]

I agree with everyone who posted. I obtained my EMT certification (not a license) last summer and it cost about $1600 after books and uniforms added in. My program was 10 weeks and we lost many hard working people due to the speed and difficulty. It was really tailored for people with existing knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and some biomedical principles.

I don't regret the excelled program, but that hefty price you may want to reconsider.

 

[wxman393]

I would contact the hospitals that you would like to work at to see what the qualifications are to work there as an ED tech or Pt Care Tech. The question is if they want EMTs or Paramedics in the ED.

If I were you, I would first inquire at the hospitals you are interested in before you enroll in an EMT program.

 

[Omppu27]

My EMT program was like 5 months and even I felt like I knew nothing once i started my first job...