CCPP-C/TP-C Review material Suggestions

[devintd1991]

Based on the impressive list of post nominals in your signature, it’s clear why you want both certifications.

Not sure if that's sarcasm or not so I'm just gonna say thanks.....maybe.....I think? I guess I'd be lying if I said I don't take pride in my accomplishments as I think any healthy individual should. It's honestly not the soul motivator though. I've got reasons I'd rather not go into with anyone I don't personally know....no offense....I think? You're trying to offend me right...I can't tell.

 

[MackTheKnife]

My apologies. It is 325 every 4 years to recertify each critical care certificate. That is not including any continuing education classes for that, unless you want to just recert by taking the test again. As far as EMTALA, CAMTS, and Haddon's Matrix. EMTALA any BLS EMT (especially one that works for a private transport agency) should know the rules on that that are relevant to any level of ambulance transport. CAMTS I guess had influence on both the tests but I can't say for sure. And Haddon's Matrix I learned in EMT school. I cannot speak for your experiences and won't even begin to speculate on your education regarding those topics, but I don't see how taking the CCP-C would improve my knowledge on any of those three topics.

Point one is already addressed. I misspoke and it's only 325 every 4 years. (225 if you are an iafccp member).

Point 2:. Yes the CE's can work for both. And yes I do have habits that if I stopped could afford me to have a redundant certificate. I just get more out of my little habits than I do out of having a certificate that will provide me no professional benefit.

Point 3:. The CCP-C, FP-C, FP-C or whatever Certificate is not education. It is a certificate that shows I took a test and passed. Yes it shows baseline knowledge but it does not prove I went and became educated from an accredited course. Creighton University's critical care education course is education, where I receive a certificate showing successful completion of education.

Everything does not matter in this field. Things that matter matter. Education matters, not certificates. The push for associate degree medics matter more than if I can get my FP-C and CCP-C. If you want to get both sure go for it. Who am I to tell you not to. But it does not show you know more. Technically (at face value) the FP-C shows you know more than the CCP-C since it requires an understanding of flight physiology.

I know we have a few smart members here that are way more involved in the critical care world than I. I would defer to them as far as the tests, I was just giving my take on them. But as I said before. I know of agencies that won't accept CCP-C and require FP-C only. Where I don't know of any that won't accept FP-C in lieu of CCP-C. That doesn't mean they are not out there. But I don't know of any at this time.

Anyways. I feel like I'm just going in circles. Good luck with the tests! I know you will be proud to have them both complete and commend you on the dedication to take both tests for whatever reason you desire.

Point 3 is your opinion, but not factual. Certifications ARE most definitely education. When pursuing certs, you gain knowledge, hence education. I have 3 nursing certs and I gained a lot of education in studying for them. I learnt so much more when I did them, which improved my nursing. And as someone who has made hiring decisions, a person with certs definitely gets extra points.

 

[MackTheKnife]

The benifit is that it show you went the extra mile. It also shows you have a broader education because you've went out of your way to learn more about things like CAMTS, Emtala, and Haddon's Matrix. Often times, career progression boils down to inches when it comes to selecting candidates. I don't know about you but if I was an employer looking to promote someone, and I have 2 fully qualified candidates with virtually the same background, if one of them has 2 certs as oppose to 1, that may very well be the determining factor. Twice again, thats just me.

As for the cost issue, there's a few things to consider:

1. If you're spending 4 bills to recent each cert, you're not doing it right to begin with. I definitely did not pay 4 bills to recet. Also, I think you could use the same CE's for both.

2. Even if it was 4 bills, that's $800 every 4 years depending on the recert times (which probably dont line up every 4 years to begin with). If you can't save up a couple hundred here and there to invest in your future, than maybe your right and you should have 2 certs. That being said, I guarantee you have some kind of habit going on in your life which provides no virtual benifit and costs a couple hundred a year....most people do to include myself (can't put down that Iced caramel macchiato from dunkin).

3. The CCP-C is "education" and is only a "bunch of letters" if you treat it as such. We all know degrees, certs, etc. are really just pretty pieces of paper, but if you apply what you leared while obtaining that paper, than it's purpose has been served. Especially if it helped get you the position you wanted.

Everything in this industry matters and we're folling ourselves if we think otherwise.

You are 100% correct in what you said. Go for it!

 

[devintd1991]

Point 3 is your opinion, but not factual. Certifications ARE most definitely education. When pursuing certs, you gain knowledge, hence education. I have 3 nursing certs and I gained a lot of education in studying for them. I learnt so much more when I did them, which improved my nursing. And as someone who has made hiring decisions, a person with certs definitely gets extra points.

Appreciate the input sir. Exactly what I was trying to say.

 

[devintd1991]

You are 100% correct in what you said. Go for it!

Thank you sir, appreciate the words of encouragement. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[MackTheKnife]

Thank you sir, appreciate the words of encouragement. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

The two worlds of EMS and nursing are far apart, yet close in many ways. Having spent a good deal of time in both, I can understand what you say, and what your detractors say. This conversation is reminiscent of the ongoing argument about degrees. As long as those arguing against both parrot the "it doesn't get you paid more" or, "what good is it going to do?" or "I don't need it to be a good medic" lines, the medic community will continue fall behind, to stagnate. Being a good medic also means being a good professional as well and enhancing both. Medics decry the low pay and lack of acceptance by the rest of the medical community yet fail to see the big picture and start moving to degrees first, and then certifications. I get extra pay for my BSN and for my certifications. My annual evals cite my certs and I get a higher rating. Guess what? I also get a merit pay raise. And if I decide to move on, my resume looks a lot better than a lot of others. Go for the certs and look at getting a degree.

 

[devintd1991]

The two worlds of EMS and nursing are far apart, yet close in many ways. Having spent a good deal of time in both, I can understand what you say, and what your detractors say. This conversation is reminiscent of the ongoing argument about degrees. As long as those arguing against both parrot the "it doesn't get you paid more" or, "what good is it going to do?" or "I don't need it to be a good medic" lines, the medic community will continue fall behind, to stagnate. Being a good medic also means being a good professional as well and enhancing both. Medics decry the low pay and lack of acceptance by the rest of the medical community yet fail to see the big picture and start moving to degrees first, and then certifications. I get extra pay for my BSN and for my certifications. My annual evals cite my certs and I get a higher rating. Guess what? I also get a merit pay raise. And if I decide to move on, my resume looks a lot better than a lot of others. Go for the certs and look at getting a degree.

Agreed. Nothing wrong with striving for more. There's always something else you can learn and therefore earn. Been in ems for 8 years now, earned 2 degrees, work as a ft firefighter/paramedic, and currently teach part time at the University that taught me Paramedicine. I'm actually waiting on acceptance into an accelerated BSN bridge program at the moment. Sounds like you and I have a lot in common. I appreciate the advice and commend your accomplishments. Hopefully these posts will get people on here to strive for more than just "good enough".

 

[PotatoMedic]

Point 3 is your opinion, but not factual. Certifications ARE most definitely education. When pursuing certs, you gain knowledge, hence education. I have 3 nursing certs and I gained a lot of education in studying for them. I learnt so much more when I did them, which improved my nursing. And as someone who has made hiring decisions, a person with certs definitely gets extra points.

The three certificates I listed are not education at all. They demonstrate baseline competency but they provide no education at all. Yes you have to educate yourself to obtain them but as we have said may time on this very forum some people just study an answer guide and others take formal classes.

Now other certs like STABLE, ACLS, TPATC all provide education that is standardized with that cert. Those I feel are beneficial. It is the reason I took the TPATC course and am currently saving for other classes offered by ASTNA. Do I believe more education is good yes.

Mack, I'm happy your employer likes all the education you have obtained. As I have said before I'm glad you are getting things that provide benefit to your career. But again, my OPINION is that having FP-C and CCP-C is redundant based on how those certs are obtained and that the knowledge to obtain them being nearly identical. To me it seems like having a bls cpr card from the aha and red cross.

 

[DesertMedic66]

The three certificates I listed are not education at all. They demonstrate baseline competency but they provide no education at all. Yes you have to educate yourself to obtain them but as we have said may time on this very forum some people just study an answer guide and others take formal classes.

Now other certs like STABLE, ACLS, TPATC all provide education that is standardized with that cert. Those I feel are beneficial. It is the reason I took the TPATC course and am currently saving for other classes offered by ASTNA. Do I believe more education is good yes.

Mack, I'm happy your employer likes all the education you have obtained. As I have said before I'm glad you are getting things that provide benefit to your career. But again, my OPINION is that having FP-C and CCP-C is redundant based on how those certs are obtained and that the knowledge to obtain them being nearly identical. To me it seems like having a bls cpr card from the aha and red cross.

Don’t think i would count ACLS as actual education. You can pretty much just study the guidelines and pass the course without any issues.

 

[devintd1991]

The three certificates I listed are not education at all. They demonstrate baseline competency but they provide no education at all. Yes you have to educate yourself to obtain them but as we have said may time on this very forum some people just study an answer guide and others take formal classes.

Now other certs like STABLE, ACLS, TPATC all provide education that is standardized with that cert. Those I feel are beneficial. It is the reason I took the TPATC course and am currently saving for other classes offered by ASTNA. Do I believe more education is good yes.

Mack, I'm happy your employer likes all the education you have obtained. As I have said before I'm glad you are getting things that provide benefit to your career. But again, my OPINION is that having FP-C and CCP-C is redundant based on how those certs are obtained and that the knowledge to obtain them being nearly identical. To me it seems like having a bls cpr card from the aha and red cross.

Our point is no 2 certs, classes, or anything else are the same and so you can therefore always learn something new. The impact of what you learned, no matter how small or similar can impact everything you do in this practice. That is why I say everything matters. I get where you're coming from and it's fine but I still don't agree. Don't think he will either.

 

[PotatoMedic]

Don’t think i would count ACLS as actual education. You can pretty much just study the guidelines and pass the course without any issues.

Oh I completely agree. But you still have to take the class to get the card.

Are there differences between the FP-C and the CCP-C yes. But I personally don't feel there are enough to justify having both as they are both very similar in what they are saying you know.

 

[MackTheKnife]

Don’t think i would count ACLS as actual education. You can pretty much just study the guidelines and pass the course without any issues.

It's all open-book, or the class answering the test together; CPR, ACLS, PALS. No more Mega Code. They're pretty much a give-me.

 

[VentMonkey]

Bump...

So I just got my CCP-C.

I agree with @NPO re: IA MED over FBE. I’ve studying both, and used both. IA MED trumps Eric’s stuff currently. I fear FBE is moving in another way especially after selling to Lifelink Network, but we’ll see...

I like Eric too, he’s super smart, but to me, the FBE has gone in a different direction that my simple FP brain doesn’t jibe with. Kinda like Wingfield to me, I could never get into his stuff, though I know people (both nurses and paramedics) who swear by it.

As far as the exam content, same but different. Yes there are more clinical questions than on the FP-C. Yes there are CAMTS and maybe 1-2 Haddon’s Matrix questions (FWIW, I never learned this in EMT class). But I wouldn’t categorize one harder than the other.

Will I be that guy who puts both certs on my flight patch? Yes. Does it make a difference in my career, both past and/ or present? Highly unlikely.

Honestly I did it because why the hell not. Because it gave me one more excuse to focus on clinical education content over school. I’m really running out of excuses BTW.

And, I also got it because I wanted to be the first paramedic at my program to show it can be done by an average—at best—learner. Setting the bar has to start somewhere, but it isn’t with these exams.

I agree with the spudster about neither cert being education. The content that gets you there certainly is, but the exams themselves hardly are. Also, @PotatoMedic shout out to you for the Creighton shoutout- twas an actual educational course.

Anyhow, in the grand scheme of things it’s up to the individual how wonky they want to get with letters behind their names. How much doe they want to feed into the IBSC/ ASTNA/ CAMTS machines.

 

[AmyClarkson]

I agree, a person with certificates definitely gets extra points. Thank you for your thoughts, I doubted whether I should get an additional certificate.