Considering Career Change/Need Advice

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drdactyl

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I've been looking into becoming an EMT for a few months, reading websites and checking out this forum for advice. I've got a couple of more personal questions that have been indirectly answered by some other posts on this forum, but perhaps together they may have some different or more informative answers so I apologize in advance if this seems repetitive.

I currently live in NYC and the amount of resources/trainings for EMT is fairly ridiculous. There are so many available it is almost impossible to determine which is the best. As far as employment in NYC I have heard both ways, but was hoping someone could comment directly on employment with no experience/newly certified/out of training. FDNY won't happen right away, but if applying late this year (nov/dec) am I likely to get a job immediately?

I don't really want to live in NYC anymore and I have the option of living in Maryland to develop this career change. I'd do NYC if I was guaranteed a job immediately... I hate Maryland and the only reason to do this would be if it was easier to get the first job/experience so that I could be secured a job somewhere else.

That somewhere else would likely be northern California. I was depressed to read the market out there is so bad that paramedics are taking EMT jobs. It looked like there were some positive posts regarding some of those moonlight medics getting promoted, but only for a new batch of basic jobs that more medics would take. I have enough money to get by a couple of months while going through an accellerated training program, but if no job were to come within 6months I'd be royally screwed.

So, any advice on where to start and how to get me into an EMT-B job in Northern California within the next 2 years and on my way to medic training would be greatly appreciated. Long term I'd like to be paramedic/firefighter trained and working in/near a National Park, Any advice on the long term goal as well as the 2 year plan would also be appreciated.

Thanks all and sorry for the long post.
 
Well, I'd say don't quit your job to go to EMT school. It's fairly easy, really easy, actually. You'll be able to get it done while working with no problems.

As far as EMS jobs in California; No.

That's the best advice I can give you. Cost of living is so high and the number of jobs (and wages to go with those jobs) is so low that you won't be able to survive out here on one full time EMS job, you'll likely have to have two or three jobs to live comfortably. Hence why I'm leaving here as soon as I finish medic school.

As for Maryland and New York, I'll leave that dialogue to someone from the area.
 
Another one against being an EMT in CA, def do not recommend it. Market is extremely over saturated and pay is ridculously low
 
Find an area with a rapidly growing retirement population. Move there, get established. You won't wait long.
 
where in Brooklyn are you?

first off, if you want to become an FDNY EMT, check out this link: http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/community/ems_employment.shtml#become

secondly, there are many places that will offer the EMT class on a schedule that will allow you to work 9-5 monday to friday and still take the class.

thirdly, NYC is fairly over saturated with EMTs. as a result, the pay is pretty poor, especially for the private transport companies. the hospital based 911 services pay decently, but they are hard to get into. you can try Ct or NJ, they tend to pay a little better. you might also have better luck outside of NY and trying long island or upstate NY

it's hard to get an EMT job in Md. Cali is so oversaturated that I wouldn't even waste my time if I was you.

do a search on any number of job websites (monster, indeed, hotjobs, etc) for EMT jobs, and see what is the best for you.
 
Thanks for all the advice so far. So California is out and it seems Maryland almost is as well.

I live in the Crown Heights/Prospect Heights area. I looked into a couple of the volunteer departments near me and it looks like theres a Bed-Stuy vol. department running an EMT-B course soon that will be free to those who meet 'certain volunteer requirements.' Anyone know about them? Park Slope allows untrained to volunteer, but doesn't offer full EMT-B training. Any other suggestions?

I've searched around a bit on job sites, but still have not found many jobs that do not explicitly say 1, most 2 years experience required. Volunteering while training might add to that experience to squeak by req's for the first position after which it seems positions are fairly easy to come by.

As far as FDNY - I've seen the link. Theres actually a point of confusion in my mind. You call in, give information (including EMT certification numbers), and get put on a list after which you get sent to FDNY EMT academy? So you train twice, once on your own dime and then once on theirs? Or, do they put completely untrained people (where I'm currently at) on the list and train them when they need them?
 
firetender said:
Find an area with a rapidly growing retirement population. Move there, get established. You won't wait long.
Click to expand...
Except in Floridia, where the majority of 911 jobs are taken by firemen, or Upstate NY, where they're taken by volunteers.
 
drdactyl said:
Thanks for all the advice so far. So California is out and it seems Maryland almost is as well.

I live in the Crown Heights/Prospect Heights area. I looked into a couple of the volunteer departments near me and it looks like theres a Bed-Stuy vol. department running an EMT-B course soon that will be free to those who meet 'certain volunteer requirements.' Anyone know about them? Park Slope allows untrained to volunteer, but doesn't offer full EMT-B training. Any other suggestions?

I've searched around a bit on job sites, but still have not found many jobs that do not explicitly say 1, most 2 years experience required. Volunteering while training might add to that experience to squeak by req's for the first position after which it seems positions are fairly easy to come by.

As far as FDNY - I've seen the link. Theres actually a point of confusion in my mind. You call in, give information (including EMT certification numbers), and get put on a list after which you get sent to FDNY EMT academy? So you train twice, once on your own dime and then once on theirs? Or, do they put completely untrained people (where I'm currently at) on the list and train them when they need them?
Click to expand...
not to sound too rude, but have you tried picking up the phone and calling them?

Bed-Stuy EMS has a website, and they have contact info. ask them.

FDNY EMS has one too. ask them to be sure. but I know FDNY will send you to their own program, but they might want you to be certified too. I don't know, ask FDNY EMS recruiters how it works.

Volunteering helps you get the experience to get in the door, but some places will hire you right out of school (typically for poor pay and poor working conditions, but a job is a job)
 
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