Agency Affiliation for WA state

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griffithsgriffin

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hey all, so I need to clear up some confusion. I am at this point an NREMT-B. Received education in Washington State. My instructors were pretty good, save for the fact that they hardly touched on state certification and getting an affiliation with an agency. I realize once I am affiliated with an agency, within 6-8 weeks I should receive my state cert. card.

This I get, but from what I have researched and heard, you get an agency affiliation once you get employed, yet it seems impossible to get employed unless you have state certs. Hope that makes sense. Seems like one big circle. If anyone from Washington State or the northwest could help me out with this debacle, that'd be great! Feel free to point out any flaws in my rant as I am looking to learn and correct any false info. Thanks!

Zack
 
You're going to have to find an agency will to take you on as a "provisional" employee to process your certs.
 
There are several departments around Vancouver some you may have tried some you may not know of. Having been involved with Fire/EMS in Clark and Cowlitz counties for over 12 years I can tell you that your in one of the best areas of the state for gaining agency affiliation with no experience.

There are fire departments and EMS agencies that offer volunteer,resident and part time positions. Clark County fire rescue has both resident and shift volunteer programs, East County fire rescue also offers resident and volunteer positions. North Country EMS in Yacolt always has positions both volunteer and resident as well as positions on the Volcano rescue team. If you go north up I-5 Kalama has a volunteer program that has no residency requirement and further north there are departments up around Chehalis and Centralia that at least a few years ago had no residency requirement. Also have you tried the local forums over at firehouse.com there should be some helpful information available if you dig around.

I am really curious to know where you took your class and how is it that they left you hanging with WA state,how did you arrange for your ER and ride along time? All of us in WA know what a pain in the butt it can be and Im suprised your on your own finding agency affiliation,I thought you had to have affiliation before you started a class. Anyway good luck and if you need any help please ask.
 
Negative. You can take an EMT class at a community college without being affiliated with an agency. The class will arrange you ride/ER time.

I can tell you that finding a BLS job in King County or the surrounding area can be very difficult. Good luck.
 
n7lxi said:
Negative. You can take an EMT class at a community college without being affiliated with an agency. The class will arrange you ride/ER time.

I can tell you that finding a BLS job in King County or the surrounding area can be very difficult. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected and now remember that you need your proof of affiliation when you turn in your paper work to DOH.

As far as finding paid positions thats tough all over WA just like every where else. My advice was only to help with affiliation hence the volunteer and resident positions. Seems many people in WA have some sort of volunteer affiliation before they start classes then once they have their cert in hand they start to search for employment. Far more volunteers with basic cards than paid people at least in the southwest part of the state.
 
thanks for the tips guys. So I took my class at the Northwest Regional Training Center in Vancouver, WA and like I said they were subpar at explaining the affiliation. I had a one day ride along with Vancouver Fire (awesome by the way) but nothing was ever mentioned/conducted/done as far as gaining affiliation goes. So yes I really do feel like I am left to figure this monster out alone
 
It's not hard. Apply for EMT job. Get hired. Have the person in charge of new hires submit your paperwork. Wait up to 8 weeks. Receive card in mail.

That's all there is to it.
 
ahhh so it is possible to get hired without state certs or licenses. thank you. sorry to everybody for having to deal with a newb
 
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