Part-Time Paramedic

[Ethan Blomquist]

Hey guys. I've recently become fascinated with the idea of becoming a paramedic one day. Helping other people is really appealing to me.

I have other obligations though that take up 20 hours a week. Is it possible to be hired for 24 or less hours a week? Ideally one 24 shift. Is that a thing or is full time or greater mandatory? Also, I can't afford to lose income during the schooling. Are there night school options or no? Any advice/knowledge is appreciated.

Thank you,
Ethan B

 

[akflightmedic]

Is it possible to be hired for 24 or less hours a week?

Yes, depends.

Is that a thing

Yes, depends.

or is full time or greater mandatory?

Yes, no, depends.

Are there night school options or no?

Yes, possibly, no.

Any advice/knowledge is appreciated.

Start by telling us where you are. That will strongly determine what options are available to you.
Any other existing education?
What is current job or obligation if allowed to say?

 

[Ethan Blomquist]

Thank you for the response. I live in Milwaukee, WI and I volunteer (nothing medical related) 20 hours a week but the times I do that are variable and very flexible. I would fit that schedule into whatever else I am doing.

Currently I am a plumber. I have a high school diploma and my license for plumbing. I work during the day so that's why I was asking about night classes.

 

[VentMonkey]

Thank you for the response. I live in Milwaukee, WI and I volunteer (nothing medical related) 20 hours a week but the times I do that are variable and very flexible. I would fit that schedule into whatever else I am doing.

Currently I am a plumber. I have a high school diploma and my license for plumbing. I work during the day so that's why I was asking about night classes.

I'm not from Wisconsin, so I don't know what all that state offers in terms of flexibility.

You most likely will need to start by at getting your EMT, try doing that part-time first.

Judging by your schedule you've layed out, you seem pretty busy already.

You might have to make some choices, good luck.

 

[Ethan Blomquist]

I would be replacing the plumbing work if I get a paramedic job, I was just wondering if there were night classes so I wouldn't have to sacrifice 8 months of income.

 

[VentMonkey]

I would be replacing the plumbing work if I get a paramedic job, I was just wondering if there were night classes so I wouldn't have to sacrifice 8 months of income.

Are you already an EMT? If not, you're kind of skipping a step. Unless I am missing something, and Wisconsin doesn't require you to even be certified as a basic first; I know some programs don't.

You should probably become an EMT first if you aren't already, see how you like it, then take a stab at paramedic school.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Any paramedic school worth it's salt is pretty much full-time.

 

[VentMonkey]

Any paramedic student worth their salt pretty much commits full-time.

Fixed it for ya'!

 

[AtlasFlyer]

Medic school is a huge time commitment. In Indiana it can be done through Ivy Tech as a two-school-year community college program or through a hospital program that is a "full time" gig for a year. The year long programs are time consuming and intense with their classroom and clinicals scheduling.

Before getting a medic cert though, like others have said, you're going to need your EMT cert first. That can be accomplished through a community college or hospital based program in much less time, and evening/weekend classes are more than likely available for the EMT class. Don't worry about medic school, go get your EMT cert first, focus on that. Get the cert, see what you think, work or volunteer as an EMT and then decide if the commitment of medic school is for you.

 

[Gurby]

I would be replacing the plumbing work if I get a paramedic job, I was just wondering if there were night classes so I wouldn't have to sacrifice 8 months of income.

Consider that plumbers make more money than paramedics in most areas of the country, I would guess. Not sure about your specific area.