Is it worth it?

[streetdoc]

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OK, I know a lot of you guys have prior EMS experience and I'm now in the midst of a tough decision and am hoping for some advice.
My NREMT-P expired in march, but I still have my state cert, which is how I am still working this summer between 1st and 2nd year. My state expires in Feb of 2nd year.
My delimma is this...Do I need to keep up my paramedic cert. during my 3rd and 4th years? Will having it current while i'm applying to residency make a difference? I mean, I've have 3 good years of experience and doubt i will have time to return to work after this summer. However, if it will give me an edge in getting an EM residency I will take the refresher and go through the hell of testing again. If it will not, I would rather enjoy working EMS and hanging around the ED and not bother with studying useless stuff registry seems to like to test.
Any thoughts? Similar experiences? Thanks for reading!

streetdoc

 

[DrQuinn]

OK, I know a lot of you guys have prior EMS experience and I'm now in the midst of a tough decision and am hoping for some advice.
My NREMT-P expired in march, but I still have my state cert, which is how I am still working this summer between 1st and 2nd year. My state expires in Feb of 2nd year.
My delimma is this...Do I need to keep up my paramedic cert. during my 3rd and 4th years? Will having it current while i'm applying to residency make a difference? I mean, I've have 3 good years of experience and doubt i will have time to return to work after this summer. However, if it will give me an edge in getting an EM residency I will take the refresher and go through the hell of testing again. If it will not, I would rather enjoy working EMS and hanging around the ED and not bother with studying useless stuff registry seems to like to test.
Any thoughts? Similar experiences? Thanks for reading!

streetdoc

IMHO, I dont' think you need to have a current license. The fact that you were a paramedic for X number of years will be enough of a boost (a significant boost, I think) to your EM residency application that you don't have to have it up to date.

Q, DO

 

[basementbeastie]

i have kept my P license active as i have continued to run the occasional call. i recerted this past year and used my clinical hours to qualify me for both cat A and cat B requirements. thus i was able to avoid taking the 40 hrs cat A recert class. i did recert in ALCS recently. this was all my personal choice, not something i did b/c i thought it would make me a better candidate.

 

[Jeff698]

I'm keeping mine current just 'cause its been so much a part of who I am for the past 16 years. It would sort of feel like loosing an arm. I have no plans for using again, save for the month or so after my fourth year rotations end and graduation.

I'd says its really a personal decision and won't have much effect. If it helps with my EM app, so much the better.

Take care,
Jeff