A Canadian and want to be a Paramedic in the U.S. Is going to college in Canada faster or should I take the course in the US? Which one is safer?

[Sharw312]

I am a Canadian and want to become a paramedic in the US. I have not taken any courses prior and wonder if it will be a smart choice to stay in Canada to study my program or straightly apply to schools in the US.

 

[RocketMedic]

I’d reckon application directly to an American school is cheaper, faster and easier. American EMS is fairly undercredentialed in comparison, but from the perspective of a faster functional endpoint to the same goal, a 1-2 year academy or community-college course is significantly faster than a degree track program, particularly if you’ve already got EMS experience and general education credentials.

And then there’s the online hybrids, where completion in months is possible…

 

[johnrsemt]

I doubt there are many places that will let you work in the US with a Canadian Certification.

I have seen from many different websites, including here; that Canada won't allow US medics to come work there without going through their programs.

 

[ffemt8978]

I doubt there are many places that will let you work in the US with a Canadian Certification.

I have seen from many different websites, including here; that Canada won't allow US medics to come work there without going through their programs.

To be fair, doesn't Canada have a more in depth education requirement?

 

[johnrsemt]

Supposedly they do, or at least require more education.

I have worked with medics with Associate and Bachelor degrees, they don't seem to be any better medics than I am with my cert. But most of them can't write a run report to save the patients life

 

[superGuitar]

I am a Canadian and want to become a paramedic in the US. I have not taken any courses prior and wonder if it will be a smart choice to stay in Canada to study my program or straightly apply to schools in the US.

I can answer this one for you in one sentence, because I am a medic from Alberta and have just moved to Texas and am going through the exact hoops you are talking about. Study where you want to work!! It is a HUGE deal to try to get your medic reciprocity here in the states, no matter what country you're coming from. Time, money, frustration, patience. Sooo worth it in my position, but if you're at the starting line and you legitimately have a choice, go to school in the states if you want to work there eventually (and you actually have the possibility of immigrating...you didn't specify how you're getting to the states in your question). You can PM me if you want to.