FP-C vs CCP-C

[akflightmedic]

All your comments apply to CEN CCRN CFRN and most of the other nursing specialty board exams. Most people take review classes, structure their study, read books, and use study guides. Are they all courses by your interpretation?

Is there a point to your question since you know the answer to this?

Seeing as how I was not against any of those courses or the FP-C, what is the relevance?

 

[Carlos Danger]

Because you are comparing apples to oranges. Your stretch at asking why don't EMTs with zero experience just test out as a medic is ludicrous. You know this which is why you presented this weak argument. A paramedic has already had a license and presumably experience before adding a little extra education via titles such as FP-C. Even if they do not have enough experience in your opinion to be seeking this title (FP-C), at the end of the day they are still competent in paramedic knowledge and skills. This was achieved by schooling, lectures, practicals and yes, multiple choice exams. The EMT scenario is not giving consideration to those other factors, therefore is not comparable.

Yeah, and the EMT already has a license, too, and "presumably" has experience before adding "a little extra education" via titles such as EMT-P.....

Obviously you are having a tough time following. Let me break it down:

• The way things are now, a paramedic can sit for the FP-C exam without proving ANY previous experience whatsoever. The only pre-requisite is holding a paramedic card for a year, and all they have to do to earn the FP-C credential is memorize enough stuff for just long enough to pass a brief multiple-choice exam and become "certified" in running balloon pumps, ventilators, chest tubes, RSI, PA catheters, etc; all skills they have never actually learned to do.
  
  
• In my theoretical scenario, an EMT-B can sit for the EMT-P exam without proving ANY experience whatsoever. The only pre-requisite is holding an EMT card for a year, and all they have to do to earn the EMT-P credential is memorize enough stuff for just long enough to pass a brief multiple-choice exam and become "certified" in interpreting EKG's, starting IV's, drawing up and giving meds, doing needle chest decompressions, etc; all skills they have never actually learned to do.

So what, exactly, is the difference between the two? How are they apples and oranges?

 

[WTEngel]

Probably just going to have to agree to disagree here fellas.

I've seen both sides of the coin, and the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

At this point it is just a difference of opinion on what you place importance on and how you want to prioritize and sift through credentials and experience for hiring.

Hal, you've taken AK's argument and gone to the extreme with it in order to discredit it. AK didn't recommend an extreme or advocate for automatic credibility to be given to anyone who has passed an exam. He simply said it can be a good indicator that a candidate deserves a little bit closer look.

At the end of they day, any amount of experience or certifications should only serve as a foot in the door. The real due diligence on the part of any hiring manager is to actually sit and talk to the candidate. As Kyle mentioned earlier, it doesn't matter if you have FP-C, RN, MD, RT or any other initials behind your name...I can talk to you for about five minutes and tell if you walk the walk.

It isn't hard to separate the experienced folks who have their FP-C from the people who studied a few review guides and then tested. In all honesty, with so few FP-C credentialed medics out there, I think your point about people simply graduating from medic school and hitting the review books to get their FP-C short time later is a bit overblown, but that's just my anecdotal opinion. Nobody has actually presented any evidence to support any of the claims they've made so far....

 

[akflightmedic]

Probably just going to have to agree to disagree here fellas.

I've seen both sides of the coin, and the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

At this point it is just a difference of opinion on what you place importance on and how you want to prioritize and sift through credentials and experience for hiring.

Hal, you've taken AK's argument and gone to the extreme with it in order to discredit it. AK didn't recommend an extreme or advocate for automatic credibility to be given to anyone who has passed an exam. He simply said it can be a good indicator that a candidate deserves a little bit closer look.

At the end of they day, any amount of experience or certifications should only serve as a foot in the door. The real due diligence on the part of any hiring manager is to actually sit and talk to the candidate. As Kyle mentioned earlier, it doesn't matter if you have FP-C, RN, MD, RT or any other initials behind your name...I can talk to you for about five minutes and tell if you walk the walk.

It isn't hard to separate the experienced folks who have their FP-C from the people who studied a few review guides and then tested. In all honesty, with so few FP-C credentialed medics out there, I think your point about people simply graduating from medic school and hitting the review books to get their FP-C short time later is a bit overblown, but that's just my anecdotal opinion. Nobody has actually presented any evidence to support any of the claims they've made so far....

I raise my glass to your voice of reason.

 

[shfd739]

Probably just going to have to agree to disagree here fellas.

I've seen both sides of the coin, and the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

At this point it is just a difference of opinion on what you place importance on and how you want to prioritize and sift through credentials and experience for hiring.

Hal, you've taken AK's argument and gone to the extreme with it in order to discredit it. AK didn't recommend an extreme or advocate for automatic credibility to be given to anyone who has passed an exam. He simply said it can be a good indicator that a candidate deserves a little bit closer look.

At the end of they day, any amount of experience or certifications should only serve as a foot in the door. The real due diligence on the part of any hiring manager is to actually sit and talk to the candidate. As Kyle mentioned earlier, it doesn't matter if you have FP-C, RN, MD, RT or any other initials behind your name...I can talk to you for about five minutes and tell if you walk the walk.

It isn't hard to separate the experienced folks who have their FP-C from the people who studied a few review guides and then tested. In all honesty, with so few FP-C credentialed medics out there, I think your point about people simply graduating from medic school and hitting the review books to get their FP-C short time later is a bit overblown, but that's just my anecdotal opinion. Nobody has actually presented any evidence to support any of the claims they've made so far....

What you said. I wanted to post similar but probably wouldve gotten in trouble

 

[TransportJockey]

Thank you everyone for your input anyways. I will be testing for my FP-C in the next six weeks. Those of you who remember me from previous stays on the forum know I'm not just doing it to show off or play a merit badge. I have taken the education seriously and did it to better my own practice and be a better provider for my patients.
I just want to test to prove to myself I'm familiar enough with the material and procedures to do it. I'm six to eighteen months from being a me to fly and will still be working on my BS in bio while waiting to hit that mark anyways. Then who knows. Maybe PA school.

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

FP-C and CCP-C are the exact same exam. CCP- C has the same number of questions only without any of the flight physiology.

That being said these exams are testing the experienced provider. Any critical care/flight paramedic obtaining these certifications show them as a testatment of passing a test proving experience in their field. And should wear the patches proudly.

Anyone passing these exams before gaining any critical care or flight experience make the credentials mean absolutely nothing.

Get the experience THEN test.

 

[Antioch]

FP-C and CCP-C are the exact same exam. CCP- C has the same number of questions only without any of the flight physiology.

That being said these exams are testing the experienced provider. Any critical care/flight paramedic obtaining these certifications show them as a testatment of passing a test proving experience in their field. And should wear the patches proudly.

Anyone passing these exams before gaining any critical care or flight experience make the credentials mean absolutely nothing.

Get the experience THEN test.

I know this thread is a few months old. However, after reading the entirety of the thread, it appears that a person should pretty much take it in whatever order they can. Without experience OR the certification, will you even get hired in order to get the experience?

I'm only a 4 year paramedic with no CCT experience (just basic ALS transport) and I have the chance to take the CCP at Univ. of Florida come this Dec. You bet I'm gonna jump on that chance as are dozens of other's who are coming from basic ALS transport departments. And you can also bet that I'll challenge the FC-P soon thereafter. I want possible employer's to know I'm serious about this so that I can get the experience.

 

[HH1251]

Huh?

I'm the one saying the credential is questionable precisely because it doesn't require any additional education.

You are the one arguing in favor of a system where all one needs to do is memorize (not actually learn) some stuff out of a textbook, take and pass an hour long exam, and suddenly become regarded as having done something special.

Which one of us is anti-education?




No, it doesn't weed out the Ricky Rescues. Some of them, sure. All it does is give them more reason to think they're special, when they haven't really done much of anything.

I'm sorry, but this credential just doesn't mean what you think it does.

I certainly don't mean to be insulting of those who have taken the FP-C or are planning to take it. But it needs to be viewed for what it is. How much value can something really have that requires nothing more than passing an hour-long written exam?

Carlos, you're the guy who takes the test and doesn't pass them then you tell everyone the test doesn't actually represent knowledge anyways.

 

[StCEMT]

Carlos, you're the guy who takes the test and doesn't pass them then you tell everyone the test doesn't actually represent knowledge anyways.

Considering he is one of our resident gas passers with that background, I am fairly certain his understanding of that area of medicine isn't lacking. Maybe I am wrong, but I doubt it.

Also....why dig up something from 7 years ago?

 

[Carlos Danger]

Carlos, you're the guy who takes the test and doesn't pass them then you tell everyone the test doesn't actually represent knowledge anyways.

Actually, back in 2002 I became one of the original CFP’s when I was one of the first 100 people to pass it. Back in the day when there weren’t dozens of online resources and prep courses and books devoted to the exam. Just for the record.

Thanks for playing, though. Better luck next time.