Do you have a college degree, and is it EMS related

Figured I would update this thread, as well as why I stated this initial thread....

I just signed up for my first graduate course, for a Cybersecurity Management graduate certificate, and plan on completing all 4 courses online, and then transfer to either NC State or Meredith College to finish out my MBA.

The reason I asked the initial question is there is a push from various entities within EMS to make the entry level for EMS, specifically paramedics, to be a degree program. however, based on just this informal survey, almost none of us have a degree in EMS that was obtained before we got our jobs. Many of us HAVE degrees, but not many in EMS (some which are completely unrelated to EMS actually). And some that do have their degrees in EMS, received them after they started working in EMS.

Just thought that was interesting.... especially since there are people who say EMS degrees need to be completed BEFORE you start working as a paramedic on an ambulance
 
DrParasite said:
Figured I would update this thread, as well as why I stated this initial thread....

I just signed up for my first graduate course, for a Cybersecurity Management graduate certificate, and plan on completing all 4 courses online, and then transfer to either NC State or Meredith College to finish out my MBA.

The reason I asked the initial question is there is a push from various entities within EMS to make the entry level for EMS, specifically paramedics, to be a degree program. however, based on just this informal survey, almost none of us have a degree in EMS that was obtained before we got our jobs. Many of us HAVE degrees, but not many in EMS (some which are completely unrelated to EMS actually). And some that do have their degrees in EMS, received them after they started working in EMS.

Just thought that was interesting.... especially since there are people who say EMS degrees need to be completed BEFORE you start working as a paramedic on an ambulance
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I would prefer an entry level degree for EMS. It would prevent a lot of people that I hate working with from ever entering the field, and would help retain a lot of the great people that leave EMS to do a different healthcare field that has more upward mobility and professionalism.
 
I’m an advocate of a Bachelors degree for paramedics that has you completing the paramedic certification by the end of Year 3, with year 4 being CCT, leadership, etc.
 
RocketMedic said:
I’m an advocate of a Bachelors degree for paramedics that has you completing the paramedic certification by the end of Year 3, with year 4 being CCT, leadership, etc.
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This would be ideal in my opinion as well. I’d prefer the 4th year to be either management or CCP/ CP focused (these two can be intertwined).

Basically, a clinical or management option for paramedics ok with “just being” paramedics.
 
DrParasite said:
The reason I asked the initial question is there is a push from various entities within EMS to make the entry level for EMS, specifically paramedics, to be a degree program.
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I think most of us would agree that in a perfect world, the entry-level education for paramedic would include a 4-year degree that includes all the stuff currently taught in paramedic programs, as well as courses in basic rescue ops, public safety / homeland security stuff, better education in bio/chem/pharm/anatomy/phys/pathphys, basic clinical medicine, basic critical care management, etc and more/better clinical experiences than what most paramedic programs currently offer. It would be a busy 4 years but would provide a good foundation for lots of different things.

That's a lofty goal considering where we are at now, but it's a reasonable long-term goal, IMO. In the meantime, it's embarrassing that we don't need at least a 2-year degree that at least includes a regular A&P and pharm course.
 
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AA in EMS Technology, AA in Criminal Justice (was a cop for 23 years) and a lot of RN course work. If you get hurt as a cop or medic, need another career choice.
 
It's an interesting discussion and the reason why I am thinking because I think by 2020 to 2030 that paramedics may be mandated to get an Associates degree and an entry requirement into the profession like Associate degree nurse. I know we have many Associate degree & Bachelors EMS programs and I do believe in some countries outside of the USA, in order to be a Paramedic, you have to have a College degree and I think that trend is making its way in America where I believe sooner or later states will mandate that anyone wanting to be a paramedic will have to go the same way as Associate degree Nurses.
 
It seems unlikely that current paramedics, regardless of their educational background, would have to go back to school to obtain any sort of college degree even if such a requirement was (finally) instituted.
 
Tigger said:
It seems unlikely that current paramedics, regardless of their educational background, would have to go back to school to obtain any sort of college degree even if such a requirement was (finally) instituted.
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How is it that in America, you can be a Paramedic with just a 1 year certification but you go outside of America say, UK, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and you need have an equivalent of an associates degree to be a paramedic. How is that in America EMS system.
 
Kavsuvb said:
How is it that in America, you can be a Paramedic with just a 1 year certification but you go outside of America say, UK, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and you need have an equivalent of an associates degree to be a paramedic. How is that in America EMS system.
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Nurses, politics, local and state control of accreditation and system deployment, lack of a direct federal funding mechanism, vast disparities in needs and available resources, and the system as constructed is (generally) functional.
 
Kavsuvb said:
How is it that in America, you can be a Paramedic with just a 1 year certification but you go outside of America say, UK, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and you need have an equivalent of an associates degree to be a paramedic. How is that in America EMS system.
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Most US Paramedic curriculums include just the training and knowledge needed to do the job, not much else.

When I got my BA degree in History I had to take science classes, psychology, sociology, math, etc. I had to take two years of a foreign language, biology classes, and even Art History. All helped shape me how I view and interpret history.

I can get a Paramedic certification in the US in 12 weeks with no prerequisites or co-requisites.
 
MMiz said:
I can get a Paramedic certification in the US in 12 weeks with no prerequisites or co-requisites.
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I am curious to know how you can do that. I took paramedic 6 years ago and needed EMT, Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Terminology beforehand. (Granted, those are all not nearly enough) How would you do all that and medic school in 3 months? My medic school was only 9 months long, but it was 60-70 hours a week just to fit in the classes and clinicals.
 
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joshrunkle35 said:
I am curious to know how you can do that. I took paramedic 6 years ago and needed EMT, Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Terminology beforehand. (Granted, those are all not nearly enough) How would you do all that and medic school in 3 months? My medic school was only 9 months long, but it was 60-70 hours a week just to fit in the classes and clinicals.
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Accelerated Paramedic Training (EMT)

www.mpcc.edu www.mpcc.edu
 
Yes.
Not exactly.. was active duty, is military in nature, was not intended as civilian EMS.
BS International Relations, Military focus. MA Military Studies, focus on special operations.
 
MMiz said:
I can get a Paramedic certification in the US in 12 weeks with no prerequisites or co-requisites.
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Not really. That 12 weeks (480 hours) is just the didactic portion. After you complete that, it's "a minimum of 230 hours in a Clinical environment and 300 hours of Field training. Upon successful completion of all training components, the student will then be eligible to sit for the National Registry Paramedic Exam," as per the website.

and Effective January 1, 2019, Anatomy and Physiology is a prerequisite for the paramedic course – both accelerated and traditional.
  • BIOS 1100 – Basic Anatomy & Physiology (or equivalent) OR
  • BIOS 2250 and BIOS 2260 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II (or equivalent)
So it's not JUST 12 weeks and bam! you can become a paramedic, there is a little more to it.
chriscemt said:
Dr Parasite, should have asked the obvious question..."When your partner finds out what your BS is, do they ask what the **** you're doing running BLS transfers?"
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My FD captain actually asked me why I wanted to be a firefighter when he learned I had a bachelors degree. I said "I was currently looking for a full time job, was fully qualified, and I enjoyed the job, so why not try to do it full time?"

In the past, I worked with several people who had degrees, many bachelors, and a few masters (one paramedic even had her doctorate). Most got their degrees, decided they weren't happy and went into EMS. or they only worked on the ambulance part time or per diem, and had a full time job that utilized their education.
 
DrParasite said:
In the past, I worked with several people who had degrees, many bachelors, and a few masters (one paramedic even had her doctorate). Most got their degrees, decided they weren't happy and went into EMS. or they only worked on the ambulance part time or per diem, and had a full time job that utilized their education.
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One of the guys I used to work with normally did the "wheelchair" van whenever he could, and functioned on a BLS unit as needed. He got tired of being a corporate lawyer...
 
DrParasite said:
With there being some discussion about EMS requiring a degree in the future, I wanted to ask everyone on here a multi part question:
1) Do you have a college degree?
1a) if yes, was it completed before you got into EMS?
1b) If yes, what is the higher degree you have earned?
and lastly, is your degree EMS related (if not please, list your major / area of study)
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1- Paramedic Diploma from a university
1a- yes before got into EMS
1b-One step under CCP

Lastly - Yes and No, I got 2 university, one for become a japanese teacher one for become paramedic. but major is Paramedic (drop the japanese thing to become paramedic)
 
-AOS in Mortuary Science, licensed Funeral Director
-BS in Earth & Environmental Science

Don't work in either field full-time. Full time Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector and EMT on the side. Why? Civil Service exams and benefits. Long-term goal is to study part-time for RN for per diem work and eventually a retirement job at 55 (perhaps travel work).
 
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