Hopeful EMT

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schulterstuck

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My name is Scott, I am 18 and am graduating high school this year. I've always wanted to help people. I initially wanted to become a LEO (I still do). I feel that becoming an EMT/Paramedic will only benefit me for the future.

I am very I interested in health. The local community college offers an EMT course, EMT AS course, And a Paramedic AS course. I guess my question is what would be the best route to take.

The first course is an EMT, ATD course and only consists of three classes, and yields a certificate that licenses authority for healthcare in my state.

The second course is an EMS Associates degree, and consists of 13 classes or 73 credit hours.

The third is a Paramedic Certificate, and consists of only 6 classes and 42 credit hours, and yields a certificate in my state if I pass the exam. This class also contains 6 of the classes I need to get my AS in EMT from the second course I listed.


Thanks for reading and for any help in advance,
-Scott.
 
To your question:

I would take advantage of option 3. If you want to become an LEO, it will (should by all rights) come in handy. You may also find a new calling as a paramedic, etc.
Just my thoughts. Hope they help.
 
If you want to be a cop, get a Criminal Justice degree, preferably a Bachelor's, attend a POST academy and start applying. If you want to work in EMS do the AS in EMS, which I'm assuming will include Paramedic school and start applying when you are finished.

It's rare that LE agencies are going to employ EMTs or Medics in a healthcare provider capacity. Even if you are certified you will not be able to practice while working in the capacity of a LEO. You need protocols and a Medical Director who extends their license to practice to you. All our cops are trained to a level similar to Combat Lifesaver. They do tourniquets, NPAs, recovery position and that's about it. Mostly used for other LE/EMS/FD personnel although we've had cops here place a TQ on a civilian to stop an arterial bleed. From what I heard, it wasn't pretty but it worked.

I pick option D. While working on your Baccalaureate in Criminal Justice or whatever you decide on, take an EMT class and try to get with a volly squad or a paid agency to work your way through school and while you go through the hiring processes at different LE agencies. The public service experience will look good on a resume. The experience will help you interact with people but that's where the similarities end. I'm sure some of the LEOs on here will disagree with me though.

Personally, I see no reason to fork out the cash and 'waste' the time for an AS in EMS and medic school when LE is your goal. Vertical movement is the goal, not lateral, if you will.

Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.
 
NVRob said:
If you want to be a cop, get a Criminal Justice degree, preferably a Bachelor's, attend a POST academy and start applying.
Click to expand...

I'd actually consider getting a non-CJ degree, in case CJ/LE doesn't work. It might also help considering so many people get CJ degrees that it will look "different," but a LEO would have to speak to that.
 
medichopeful said:
I'd actually consider getting a non-CJ degree, in case CJ/LE doesn't work. It might also help considering so many people get CJ degrees that it will look "different," but a LEO would have to speak to that.
Click to expand...

Definitely a great thought! Although most of the cops I know have a CJ degree or military experience or both.

Never really looked into a career as a LEO so CJ was the only degree I could think of right off the top of my head.
 
Thank you for the input.
I started my EMR course yesterday, and will finish in May. Seems like a lot of work but will be worth it in the long run.
 
medichopeful said:
I'd actually consider getting a non-CJ degree, in case CJ/LE doesn't work. It might also help considering so many people get CJ degrees that it will look "different," but a LEO would have to speak to that.
Click to expand...

CJ and health are what interest me the most. Mainly CJ but I love helping people. The thought of going through all the work for a BA in CJ and then another $7,000 for the Academy to know I may not even have a job when I get out and nothing to fall back on scares the heck out of me. Which has made me think about a degree in something else.

Thank you for the reply,
-Scott.
 
in my town the LEOs are trained at the EMR level an practice at that level as well.
 
schulterstuck said:
I started my EMR course yesterday, and will finish in May. Seems like a lot of work but will be worth it in the long run.
Click to expand...

EMT or EMR? EMR course is only like 1 week.

I was told EMR is mainly only for Police and Firefighters.
 
some1ne said:
EMT or EMR? EMR course is only like 1 week.

I was told EMR is mainly only for Police and Firefighters.
Click to expand...

It's EMR ( First Responder) and is required at my school as the first step. It goes EMR, EMT, Paramedic.

There's no way to get around it if I want to go EMT where I live, and the school I go to.
 
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