Maintaining EMS certification while in school

[teacherman84]

Just curious if anyone has any experience with maintaining certification as an EMT-B while going through med school. Would it be at all worth while? I am interested in EM and occasionally see physicians still maintaining their EMT, though usually an EMT-P.
Can med school classes count as CME or would I need to pursue CME outside of school?
Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

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[pianoman511]

Just curious if anyone has any experience with maintaining certification as an EMT-B while going through med school. Would it be at all worth while? I am interested in EM and occasionally see physicians still maintaining their EMT, though usually an EMT-P.
Can med school classes count as CME or would I need to pursue CME outside of school?
Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

I have maintained my certification while in medical school, partially because I have been still working throughout med school as an EMT. I don't know how much value it would have if you're not using it.

I was told that medical school classes could be used as CME, but the last time I recertified I used all online CME and it worked out fine. I believe it is state and region dependent whether or not classes count.

 

[bigDinLV]

I was going to try to keep my EMT-P while in school, but I let it go. I doubt keeping your Basic would be very difficult to do.

 

[Slane]

For me, basic was just twenty-four hours of CE within three years. I just did almost half of that here and there over my Christmas break (I still have about sixteen months before my certification is up.) It's very possible to keep your certification current, and I can't think of a reason why it would ever be looked down upon. Primary care is great to me, but I like a little EM excitement still when I have time to volunteer.

 

[Dwindlin]

I've kept mine (EMT-P), but like pianoman I have been working as well. If you're not going to continue to run I wouldn't bother with it. However, registry does accept any college credit (in appropriate fields) as CME. My state (OH) all I have to do is maintain registry and it counts for state recert.

 

[Styria]

I'm going to maintain my EMT certification (an ALS level, but not paramedic) using med school hours. I'm a volunteer and only run when I'm home; no reciprocity.

There are various benefits. Besides getting to practice all your new history and physical exam skills on real patients, the hours could count towards SSP.

 

[wook]

Just curious if anyone has any experience with maintaining certification as an EMT-B while going through med school. Would it be at all worth while? I am interested in EM and occasionally see physicians still maintaining their EMT, though usually an EMT-P.
Can med school classes count as CME or would I need to pursue CME outside of school?
Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

I can tell you that while a med student I maintained my EMT-B in Massachuseetts and Maine. Both accepted some of my medical school classes as CME.

It was nice working on a volunteer squad during med school, you get to see what all the studying is for.


Wook

 

[Altruist]

I know it's possible, but as has been pointed out, check your state requirements. It may be possible to let your national registry lapse, but keep your state card, or vice versa, depending on whether just the certification is important to you, or if you want to keep working or volunteering.

I let my state card lapse, but have kept my national registry paramedic card by going inactive (because I'm not affiliated with an EMS agency) and re-certifying by examination so I didn't have to spend a couple of weekends in a refresher. I don't work or volunteer anymore, but keeping the card was important to me... Just pride I guess.

The good news is there are lots of options.

 

[JLM]

When I moved out of state for residency, I let my state certification lapse. I maintain my national registry in 'inactive' status by taking the written test and paying them $100 every two years.


It has no real value to me anymore, save the sentimental. But, its how I paid for my undergrad education and Im rather attached to it now.

 

[DitchDoc73]

I am keeping my EMT-P license up to date (for now...)

Also make sure to check the rules for your COM...At my COM I had to get written permission from the Dean before doing anything medically related outside of school (even volunteering).

 

[BF2BC EMT]

I am keeping my EMT-P license up to date (for now...)

Also make sure to check the rules for your COM...At my COM I had to get written permission from the Dean before doing anything medically related outside of school (even volunteering).

Is permission from the dean incase you mess up in the field, and to make sure there is no relation between school-job?

 

[Styria]

I am keeping my EMT-P license up to date (for now...)

Also make sure to check the rules for your COM...At my COM I had to get written permission from the Dean before doing anything medically related outside of school (even volunteering).

An EMT certification/license combined with running on an emergency squad and under a medical director puts you in a different realm. I had a patient who was a lawyer (and having a bad day and threating to sue everyone) ask me point-blank if I was a medical student. "Tonight I'm an EMT." Which might sound bad, but you can't run around on the ambulance bragging to people that you're a medical student. You're not operating as one.

 

[pianoman511]

I would agree with the poster above. When working I never even bring up that I am a med student. However, it should not make a difference since you have no license as a med student, so as long as you are working within the scope of practice of an emt it shouldn't matter. There's no scope or standard of care for med students.

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[DitchDoc73]

Is permission from the dean incase you mess up in the field, and to make sure there is no relation between school-job?

It has to do with the medical liability policy through the school. The school's policy does not cover you outside of school. Therefore it is just the school trying to cover their butts and yours. At my school, this policy applies to any type of medically related activities even if you are certified/licensed. In my case I am volunteering as a FF, but do not plan on doing much EMS (just to stay out of any potential problems like the others have said). I had to meet with the Dean of the COM, and get written permission just to do this because their is the possibility that I may be in medically related situations. The Dean required that I show him that the department carried liability insurance to cover me just in case anything happens.