Flight/CCT jobs that do not require >3 years?

[TheGodfather]

Hey everyone..

Does anyone know of a flight service that does not require 3 years paramedic experience and/or a CC ground service that is hiring (that pays halfway decent?)

I'd be willing to relocate literally ANYWHERE in the world for a flight job (rotor or fixed)..

I've recently became certified as a FP-C, but still have yet to hit my 3 year benchmark...

Thanks!

 

[DrankTheKoolaid]

Grats on FP-C! Im working towards it myself. Any hints or tips shoot me a PM. I would love to pick your brain a bit before scheduling my test.

 

[Christopher]

The NC Office of EMS lists most openings in both 911 and critical care across the State. I know a number of ground Critical Care services are hiring, but I'm not aware of any flight units accepting newer medics. The ones I'm familiar with require 1 year of ground critical care work prior to moving to the air.

(I'm having problems getting to the actual Employment page at work, I'll come back later and flesh this out)

 

[usalsfyre]

The FP-C would put at the head of the line at my shop, BUT...

...you would get a very extensive eval before you got to run a CCT truck by yourself. Having the FP-C without concurrent experience makes you suspect as well. A CCT provider needs to be comfortable with the nuts and bolts of patient care. Less than 24 months if high volume, high acuity work with a decent transport (15-20min at least) makes for a tough transition.

 

[CANMAN]

The FP-C would put at the head of the line at my shop, BUT...

...you would get a very extensive eval before you got to run a CCT truck by yourself. Having the FP-C without concurrent experience makes you suspect as well. A CCT provider needs to be comfortable with the nuts and bolts of patient care. Less than 24 months if high volume, high acuity work with a decent transport (15-20min at least) makes for a tough transition.

I totally agree with usalsfyre, don't try to skimp out on the requirements. The three year minimum is there for a reason, and pretty much the minimal industry standard. To be honest the FP-C without the experience holds little to any weight as far as most programs are concerned. Even with three years of experience and the FP-C you will see thats not exactly a shoe in either. Realize there are a finite number of positon and many many qualified applicants when it comes to the flight industry. Most people have the minimum plus more to be competative.

If you are short a year or two, do yourself a favor and find a job with a critical care ground transport team, and if there is an option to fly with that program in time that is a plus. If not do a few years there and then start looking. You will be more respected going about it this way then trying to shortchange things and will also have the clinical knowledge and experience to back-up your credentials when SHTF, especially in fixed wing.

 

[Flight-LP]

Hey everyone..

Does anyone know of a flight service that does not require 3 years paramedic experience and/or a CC ground service that is hiring
Thanks!

Not one that places priority on obtaining or maintaining accreditation through CAMTS.

CAMTS standards require evidence of 3 plus years applicable experience for Paramedics.

Do the time, get the experience. Don't let a piece of paper that states you passed a test define you. In today's competitive market, you have to stand out with both the credentials and the experience. Having just one will not get you far.

Good luck.

 

[TheGodfather]

Not one that places priority on obtaining or maintaining accreditation through CAMTS.

CAMTS standards require evidence of 3 plus years applicable experience for Paramedics.

Do the time, get the experience. Don't let a piece of paper that states you passed a test define you. In today's competitive market, you have to stand out with both the credentials and the experience. Having just one will not get you far.

Good luck.

I figured that was going to be my downfall... In my area there was speculation that a few hospital based flight systems did not completely comply to the CAMTS recommendations, so i figured i'd see if there was any truth behind that or not...


I'm currently working 911 in SC and, unfortunately, there is only 1 CC ground system anywhere near me and they too require the 3 year experience minimum...

I would be willing to relocated for CC ground, but only if that particular system was relatively "aggressive", or perhaps where i could work under a CCRN? (e.g., dealing with PA catheters, IABPs, high-risk OB, etc etc.. on a regular basis, rather than just slinging people around on vents)... i say this because i used to work at a system with CC medics that ONLY took vents, art lines, and certain drugs that were already on pumps..

now that the flying is out of the picture (for now) would anyone know of a place for CC ground work like i described?

 

[WTEngel]

Wanting it that bad is a turn off to employers...

A helicopter or fixed wing aircraft is just another mode of transport.

Most of the time CCT and flight jobs start coming your way after you've been in the right circles long enough. You get in the right circles through building experience, gaining education, giving education, etc.

Very rarely do places hire when they don't know you personally, or have a reference from someone they trust who knows you personally. The business is just full of too many big personalities to take a chance on someone they don't know.

Also, I will echo a few earlier opinions. Anyplace that routinely takes people with less than 3 years of high acuity experience, I would approach with caution. They might not be the safest of operations, and you may not have a safety net of experienced co-workers to fall back on. The biggest reassurance I had when working on flight was knowing that the I could always trust the clinical intuition of my partner.

You may have the cert, but you don't want be getting your experience in a cramped, moving aircraft with a crumping patient.

 

[CANMAN]

For Swan's a few share days in a CSICU or CICU or where you want to be, very rarely will you see them on transport due to the fact if the hospital is floating a Swan they are most likely a tertiary care facility.

I only know of a few East Coast places. WakeMed in NC has a pretty squared away program, as well as Penn State Hershey, and Johns Hopkins Lifeline in Baltimore. Lifeline uses sub-contracted medics but if you get assigned full-time at Lifeline you will see more then your share of the rest of your desired categories. Good luck.