Austin-Travis EMS/Outside Texas applicant

Hockey · Aug 24, 2014

Saw they hire folks in as Medic-I which is EMT.

How often do they promote from that level to MedicII if you're already a Paramedic?

You have to attend their EMS Academy, correct? How many weeks does that run for? I have limited internet access where I am at currently so I can't check their website much.

How are the benefits?

How is the pay for MedicII (MedicI is around $15-16 I recall)

Do you have to have NR to transfer your license from a state such as Michigan to Texas?

Torn between looking at ATEMS and Williamson County. Keeping options open

Thanks

OnceAnEMT · Aug 24, 2014

Whether you are a green EMT or a 30 year veteran LP, you will be employed as a Medic I and will stay in that position (and pay grade) until you qualify for Medic II AND a Medic II spot opens up. This takes months, if not a year, if not more. One of my instructors was in this situation.

Yes, everyone has to go through the Academy. I cannot recall how long it is, but there is also a few month long trainee period after that, working with a mentor on the truck. You are basically in training for about 6 months, with very little choice in your station and schedule.

Medic I started at $13.75 I believe. Couldn't tell you about Medic II. There is however a public spreadsheet (its a city system) that shows all of the pay grades, including Communications. You'll have to dig it up though. I found it once a while back, but never saw it again.

See this link for license info

Apply to WilCo and ATCEMS. Both are great systems, but WilCo is Paramedic only (so you'll get right in where you want to be), has a generally lower call volume, and has a lower turnover rate. ATC however has more diverse calls, a younger population, and more events. Personally I have never worked for either, but I know paramedics at both, and they all love what they do. You'll just have to do some asking. I've never seen any WilCo guys on here, but I know theres an ATC medic or two.

TransportJockey · Aug 24, 2014

We have at least one WilCo guy on here that chimes in from time to time. And I'd say apply both but hope for WilCo. Thats a top service to work for

STXmedic · Aug 24, 2014

I haven't seen Fish on here in ages (WilCo), so you may try and send him a PM to get his attention.

Chewy20 · Aug 24, 2014

You will be hired as a Medic 1 until you are qualified to be promoted within and a slot is available. Starting pay for a first year Medic 1 is 15.35 an hour on a 48 work week so the built in overtime makes it a decent paycheck. Shifts are 12's and 24's and you don't bid on shifts until after or towards the end of academy. If it's open it's yours. You do not need your NR, but if you don't have it you will need to take the NR assessment exam for Texas. Benefits are good. Almost 8 hours accrued every week towards vacation and about 7 for sick days. No premium for health, short term disability, dental and something else. Mandatory retirement after 33 years and you will leave with a pention. You can find pay charts on austin.gov and the academy is 6 weeks mon-fri. There's a bunch of other benefits but you will need to check out atcems.org. Takes two seconds. Don't know much about WilCo but have never heard anything bad.

Hockey · Aug 26, 2014

Fish was with WilCo. He was recruiter I believe and we had a few words here and there before I was a medic or right when I had my license. I think I recall reading he was looking at going to the Carolinas but wasn't sure. They hire usually once or twice a year and seem to be a solid department. I just remembered ATCEMS was one of the premier agencies to go to but it sounds like its kinda dropped off.

TransportJockey · Aug 26, 2014

Hockey said:
Fish was with WilCo. He was recruiter I believe and we had a few words here and there before I was a medic or right when I had my license. I think I recall reading he was looking at going to the Carolinas but wasn't sure. They hire usually once or twice a year and seem to be a solid department. I just remembered ATCEMS was one of the premier agencies to go to but it sounds like its kinda dropped off.

After reading ATCEMS protocols and hearing about their new medic 1/medic 2 system it turned me off to them. I know a lot of others who feel the same

Handsome Robb · Aug 27, 2014

TransportJockey said:
After reading ATCEMS protocols and hearing about their new medic 1/medic 2 system it turned me off to them. I know a lot of others who feel the same

The Medic I/II was a deal sealer for me as well. Worked too hard and too long to go back to BLS/ILS for an unknown amount of time.

Chewy20 · Aug 27, 2014

Handsome Robb said:
The Medic I/II was a deal sealer for me as well. Worked too hard and too long to go back to BLS/ILS for an unknown amount of time.

I'm hearing the norm is about 6 months to a year to become a medic 2. Luckily I don't need to take a step back. Haha. It's unfortunate that some of the "well known" agencies push good experienced medics away due to the system. But it is what it is.

PotatoMedic · Aug 27, 2014

Chewy20 said:
I'm hearing the norm is about 6 months to a year to become a medic 2. Luckily I don't need to take a step back. Haha. It's unfortunate that some of the "well known" agencies push good experienced medics away due to the system. But it is what it is.

I don't think I would mind going back to a basic for a year as long as they would be willing to keep my skills up in training and let me do coned to keep my paramedic cert.

Chewy20 · Aug 27, 2014

FireWA1 said:
I don't think I would mind going back to a basic for a year as long as they would be willing to keep my skills up in training and let me do coned to keep my paramedic cert.

I mean I wouldn't think you would really lose a lot of your skills by forgetting them. The hands on stuff is kind of muscle memory and the mental stuff will always be in front of you as the medic 2 is handling the call. You'll still be doing King tunes and drawing meds etc. Next application period starts in September I believe.

Handsome Robb · Aug 28, 2014

The person I know who works there told me the other day it's generally a minimum of a year if not two to be promoted. Civil Service and all.

As far as skill degradation goes, I've been out for 9 months with this injury, will be 10 by the time I go back, and I already know I'm going to have to spend a lot of time in the sim lab to get back to where I was. That's a little different though as I'm not working at all.

blachatch · Sep 2, 2014

Does anyone know what the hiring process is like for an out of state applicant? Any general info would be great, I just got the recruitment email.

STXmedic · Sep 2, 2014

@Chewy20

Chewy20 · Sep 2, 2014

blachatch said:
Does anyone know what the hiring process is like for an out of state applicant? Any general info would be great, I just got the recruitment email.

Best thing to do is go to atcems.org and click on careers and then medic 1. Goes step by step what you will do in this civil service system. Other then that, I signed some paper saying I was not allowed to give away details. Better safe than sorry. In my post above I mentioned that if you do not have your NR, you will be required to take and pass the assessment exam. Google Texas EMT reciprocity. Will answer all of your questions about getting your texas ticket.

blachatch · Sep 2, 2014

Awesome thanks! I do have my NR card. I will check out the website. Might get expensive making the trip from ohio .

Chewy20 · Sep 3, 2014

blachatch said:
Awesome thanks! I do have my NR card. I will check out the website. Might get expensive making the trip from ohio .

No problem. Plane tickets can be expensive and I think you'll need to make about 2 trips down for the process (they try and condense what they can to make it easier on the wallet). Not sure when you will be testing, but if I am in my new apartment by then I may be open to letting someone crash on the couch.

PotatoMedic · Sep 3, 2014

I might apply post medic school. Yeah I'll be stuck back as a basic again. But motorcycle medic is a dream of mine.

Handsome Robb · Sep 3, 2014

FireWA1 said:
I might apply post medic school. Yeah I'll be stuck back as a basic again. But motorcycle medic is a dream of mine.

I don't think they routinely run motorcycle medics. From what I'm told by a friend that works there is they're a special events team. Originally they were supposed to be to respond to accidents during rush hour on the main freeways but it doesn't sound like that ever took off.

Not trying to crush your dream, figured it's only fair you know before you bust your *** in medic school to go back to being a Basic.

To each their own but I worked far too hard to get my Medic certificate to go back to working as a basic again. Especially for 1-2 years that they make you wait since many of their Medic 1st are medics and they all are in line by seniority to promote.

Chewy20 · Sep 3, 2014

FireWA1 said:
I might apply post medic school. Yeah I'll be stuck back as a basic again. But motorcycle medic is a dream of mine.

If you're seriously considering ATCEMS I wouldn't waste your time getting your medic and wasting 2 more years. In that time you could have already been employed and getting some time under your belt. In my opinion it would just be best to get your medic after, they also do tuition reimbursement. As stated by Rob, I haven't seen the bike teams used other than for the big events. With that said there are events year round that they are used for. Being a medic will not give you a leg up due to it being civil service.

Austin-Travis EMS/Outside Texas applicant

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