Oregon Employment

BillThompson

Forum Probie
26
8
3
Wife and I have had in in our heads for a while now that we'd love to move out to Oregon; preferably live somewhere secluded on a farm house where we don't have a neighbor for five miles. Due to our politics, love of nature, and general nature we zoned in on Oregon. Move wouldn't happen, if it happens at all, for at least two years until I'm done with Medic school. But, what is employment like in the general Portland area of Oregon; city proper and surrounding suburbs and rural areas?
 

TransportJockey

Forum Chief
8,623
1,675
113
Just checking, since I know nothing about the job market, that your medic program grants you an associates degree? Because either that or five years experience as a medic aee required for oregon licensure
 

PotatoMedic

Has no idea what I'm doing.
2,703
1,541
113
Just to note it does not have to be an associates in EMS just an associates of some type.

"If applying at the Paramedic level you must have one of the following.

 Official transcripts showing proof of earning an associate’s degree or higher. (A copy of your degree will NOT be accepted)
OR
 Proof of working as a paramedic for at least three of the past five years in another state or in the United States Military at the National Registry paramedic level. (Proof should be in the form of a letter from your previous employer on letterhead, which specifically states the dates you were employed and clearly indicates you were working at the National Registry Paramedic level.)"

You can also get a provisional license if your make a promise to get an associates degree by (I believe) your next re-certification which would be 2 years.
 

TransportJockey

Forum Chief
8,623
1,675
113
Ah I misread that the last time I looked at it lol
 
OP
OP
BillThompson

BillThompson

Forum Probie
26
8
3
Just checking, since I know nothing about the job market, that your medic program grants you an associates degree? Because either that or five years experience as a medic aee required for oregon licensure

Medic class is all I need for an Associate. After I complete the program I just need to bring my license in and they convert it to however many credits the course is worth and I'll have my Associate.
 

akflightmedic

Forum Deputy Chief
3,891
2,564
113
Bill, I am confused on that explanation. It does not make sense to me and we are just trying to ensure you do not have any issues.

I was OR licensed for several years myself and at the time I did not have an associates. I had been a medic for 10+ years however and NR, so I was granted reciprocity.

Are you saying that you currently have almost enough credits for an associates at your current college? And once you finish the medic class it will complete the associates at your current college?
 

PotatoMedic

Has no idea what I'm doing.
2,703
1,541
113
That is how I read it. And I think the or needing an associates is a semi new thing.
 

akflightmedic

Forum Deputy Chief
3,891
2,564
113
I received my OR license in 2005 and an associates was required then...
 

PotatoMedic

Has no idea what I'm doing.
2,703
1,541
113
Oh I missread your post. I still thought it was a new thing. Guess not.
 

triemal04

Forum Deputy Chief
1,582
245
63
I received my OR license in 2005 and an associates was required then...
That's odd that you were able to get a cert from Oregon that late without a degree; unless you had a bachelor's, in which case it wouldn't have mattered. Back then there was a provision in place that people who had gotten certified prior to, I think, 2000 or maybe 1998 (whenever the degree requirement came about) would be grandfathered in, but I think that was only for people who were already in-state. Wonder if you managed to slip through the cracks...;)

OP: In the Portland Metro area you have your choice of working for AMR...AMR...or Metrowest (still known as MurderDeath). Other than a few fire departments that transport, that's it. Further south Woodburn runs it's own EMS service, but the pay for paramedics is/was abysmal last I heard.
 
OP
OP
BillThompson

BillThompson

Forum Probie
26
8
3
Bill, I am confused on that explanation. It does not make sense to me and we are just trying to ensure you do not have any issues.

I was OR licensed for several years myself and at the time I did not have an associates. I had been a medic for 10+ years however and NR, so I was granted reciprocity.

Are you saying that you currently have almost enough credits for an associates at your current college? And once you finish the medic class it will complete the associates at your current college?

Almost. I have just about enough credits for an Associates at my old Community College. However, since my paramedic program is not through them I have to take my license, once I get it, to them and they convert the license into the equivalent credits for a small fee and I get my Associate.
 

akflightmedic

Forum Deputy Chief
3,891
2,564
113
That's odd that you were able to get a cert from Oregon that late without a degree; unless you had a bachelor's, in which case it wouldn't have mattered. Back then there was a provision in place that people who had gotten certified prior to, I think, 2000 or maybe 1998 (whenever the degree requirement came about) would be grandfathered in, but I think that was only for people who were already in-state. Wonder if you managed to slip through the cracks...;).

I became a Paramedic in the early 90s. Yes, I was grandfathered as I did not have a degree. I never saw or heard anything about having to be a resident in state. I submitted all my paperwork to them and they granted me the license.
 

triemal04

Forum Deputy Chief
1,582
245
63
I became a Paramedic in the early 90s. Yes, I was grandfathered as I did not have a degree. I never saw or heard anything about having to be a resident in state. I submitted all my paperwork to them and they granted me the license.
The grandfather clause may have included people from out of state too; at this point I'm really not sure and with the newer changes to the law I doubt there's a way to check. Either way, you held the cert in Oregon so even if it's lapsed you're still good to go at this point.
 

waaaemt

Forum Lieutenant
165
12
18
That's odd that you were able to get a cert from Oregon that late without a degree; unless you had a bachelor's, in which case it wouldn't have mattered. Back then there was a provision in place that people who had gotten certified prior to, I think, 2000 or maybe 1998 (whenever the degree requirement came about) would be grandfathered in, but I think that was only for people who were already in-state. Wonder if you managed to slip through the cracks...;)

OP: In the Portland Metro area you have your choice of working for AMR...AMR...or Metrowest (still known as MurderDeath). Other than a few fire departments that transport, that's it. Further south Woodburn runs it's own EMS service, but the pay for paramedics is/was abysmal last I heard.

Hey, I also have looked into working in Oregon and at Metrowest. Can you tell me why they have the nickname murderdeath, if that's actually a thing? Do they have a bad rep? Or management? Or what?
 

triemal04

Forum Deputy Chief
1,582
245
63
Hey, I also have looked into working in Oregon and at Metrowest. Can you tell me why they have the nickname murderdeath, if that's actually a thing? Do they have a bad rep? Or management? Or what?
Yes. To all of the above.
 
Top