paramedic school

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griffithsgriffin

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So I live in Vancouver, WA and have my NREMT-B cert. I have had this cert for about 9 months now and have been working as a physical therapy aide, but am now ready to do something with this cert and take my training further. I know to get WA cert, you need a sponsor. I am talking with several FD's, who will be having testing for volunteers in the coming months. This will give me sponsorship and experience, both of which I need for Paramedic school in Washington. However, I am also toying with paramedic school in Oregon. I would need OR state cert as an EMT, but I believe I can get this through reciprocity. They seem to require more anatomy classes as pre reqs as opposed to EMS experience, though I still want to gain this experience anyway. I do have anatomy credits, which is a plus. My question is: do I attempt the paramedic school route through Oregon or Washington? Gotta say, Washington makes it difficult. Thanks!
 
Where in Washington are you looking to go?

I've heard great things about OHSU's medic program.
 
OHSU, PCC and NCTI (Portland/Milwaukie campus) are all right across the river from you. Remember that Oregon will require you to have an Associates Degree, so you are looking at a minimum of 2 years of schooling (not a bad thing in any way, shape, or form).

Also keep in mind that with only a NREMT cert you'll need to jump through a couple of hoops to get an Oregon EMT cert.

OHSU is a good place, depending on who the coordinator is. I think the current one has been in place for several years so I wouldn't worry to much about that. Keep in mind that you'll be doing your internship in a different state, which is good and bad, but regardless will cost more money. You'll also have to take the non-EMS classes required for your degree elsewhere, and on your own.

NCTI, despite being part of AMR actually seems (or seemed; I don't know anyone who's gone in the last year or two) to be doing a good job. I do know some of the instructors and none have complained about it.

Can't tell you much about PCC.
 
I went to medic school in Vancouver WA. I am from Portland OR originally. It is about 1000 x easier to get your medic in WA state, Oregon requires a college degree. In WA all you need is a sponsor, unless your going the medic 1 route.

I think its great Oregon requires a degree and I would hope you get that, but you can sign up for a probational paramedic cert while you work on completing your degree, a lot of us did that.

OHSU use to have a good program until they took it off the hill and gave it to TVFR. I have no idea where it stands now but it use to be at the fire house in TVFR and seemed to lose most of its credibility when they removed it from campus. I still lived in PDX when that happened.
 
Thanks all! I am looking at the NCTI program in Vancouver, WA. I would like to check out the programs offered in the greater Portland area, but I would then be paying out of state costs. I am kicking myself for not getting some sort of volunteer experience 9 months ago, but oh well. It is worth it IMO to keep after it.
 
If NCTI up there is anything like it is down here, I'd stay away. The education is enough to get your cards, but the... Customer service leaves a lot to be desired.
 
NCTI = NO!!! Charlie-foxtrot of the grandest proportion. No coordination between corporate and local levels, too many political decisions to the detriment of students, and you can't even trust them to bill you right. Avoid like AIDS, man.
 
My feelings on NCTI are mixed. I got my basic there and the actual classroom time was a joke. On the other hand because AMR is so huge I got to do my ER time in a level 1 trauma center which was awesome. I would recommend you give it a pass.
 
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