Prerequisite Courses

[sportster65]

The career guidance counselor at the school where I will be taking my EMT-B training suggested to me the other day that I forgo the training in May and take some of the medical prerequisites they offer first. I could then take the November EMT training, he felt I would be better prepared for the field and hae a bit of an edge after the EMT course. I would really hate to put off training that long, but if it is beneficial I would do it. I could also start the training in may and take the prerequisites as the class times are not conflicting. But then I'm afraid that would be alot to have on my plate at once.

Any suggestions? It seems to me the more education you have the better.

The courses are:
1. Medical Terminology
2. Medical Math
3. Medical study skills
4. Anatomy & Physiology
Thanks for any input,

Mark
The first 3 must be passed before you can take the Anatomy course.

 

[TransportJockey]

Do it. Any extra education you have can only be beneficial.

 

[spisco85]

What it comes down to is which you want first. If your goal is to enter EMS full steam ahead then I would take EMT first as it is as basic as you can get. You can take those courses next with some other classes as your prepare for medic school.

 

[reaper]

Take the classes first. You have one smart guidance consoler there. If you plan on going on to Paramedic, you will be ahead of the game and have half of your gen ed classes out of the way for a degree.

 

[AJ Hidell]

Your counselor is right on the money. Having at least a minimal prerequisite foundation will result in you being a MUCH better EMT than you would become without it. While it is certainly not necessary to have the full compliment of prerequisites necessary to begin paramedic education, there are certain courses that should definitely be completed before even EMT training:

Anatomy & Physiology I & II
Medical Terminology (or at least to complete a self-study course on your own)
Intro Psychology
Intro Sociology​

More than half of of EMS work is psycho-social. A proper foundation in those sciences is every bit as important as the physical sciences. You can knock all of that out in two semesters.

As for math, English, microbiology, chemistry, and developmental psychology, those too are absolutely necessary to establish a solid foundation for advanced paramedic practice. However, I don't believe they are absolutely necessary to complete before EMT-B training.

 

[BossyCow]

I would also take an intro to biology. It will help you understand much of A&P. Chemistry and English 111 are also good basics.

 

[fma08]

I would also take an intro to biology. It will help you understand much of A&P. Chemistry and English 111 are also good basics.

Just to add to that, an intro to cell biology. Here at school there are 2 "intro to biology" courses, one is intro to cell biology and the other is and intro to biology on organism levels, like population biology, ecology, etc.