Researching EMS career path

[bknox76]

I am researching the option to pursue a career in EMS. A little about me, 36 Male, Combat Infantry Veteran with prior combat lifesaver experience (glorified first aid). Varied background in IT, communications, oilfield and security work. Re-enlisting into the FL Army National Guard this month. Live in Pensacola, FL.

My concerns/questions are:

I am looking at taking the EMT course at the local college which will prepare me for the state exam. I am seeing some people online stating that they have earned their basic EMT license and are unable to find employment as most employers seem to be looking for persons with experience.

What are my prospects for employment with the basic EMT license?
What advice do seasoned EMT/Parameds out there have for me?


Thank you in advance,

Brian

 

[CANMAN]

EMT's are a dime a dozen, especially saturated in your state. If you want a career in EMS just get you Paramedic, and a degree. I tell everyone now a days to can EMS and go into nursing. So many more opportunities, better pay, less likely to get injured, etc. Now just wish I myself could find the drive to go back to school haha :rofl:

 

[mycrofft]

I am researching the option to pursue a career in EMS. A little about me, 36 Male, Combat Infantry Veteran with prior combat lifesaver experience (glorified first aid). Varied background in IT, communications, oilfield and security work. Re-enlisting into the FL Army National Guard this month. Live in Pensacola, FL.

My concerns/questions are:

I am looking at taking the EMT course at the local college which will prepare me for the state exam. I am seeing some people online stating that they have earned their basic EMT license and are unable to find employment as most employers seem to be looking for persons with experience.

What are my prospects for employment with the basic EMT license?
What advice do seasoned EMT/Parameds out there have for me?


Thank you in advance,

Brian

And you came to EMTLIFE!!??:huh:

If you have benefits, go for something higher up the wage food chain, like nursing, or a second-tier or higher tech in a hospital. NOT radiology tech or lab tech, aim higher. 36 is too old to be starting in this children's crusade.

 

[legion1202]

My advice is skip emt school and medic school. Go to nursing or somthing else if you want to get into medicine in FL. If you want to be a medic you will need fire school to get on a 911 department. Only problem with that is jobs are very scarce and they will stay that way for awhile. Departments that do hire will usually hire vets first so thats good. But there only looking for 3-4 guys at a time and u competing against 1500-2000 people. Fl has about 100 emt/medic schools that are like paper mills. In S. fl alone your looking about 6-7 schools spitting out 2-3 classes of medics and emts every semester. Its sick....

Even transport companies and er's that use to be always hiring are not anymore because of the flood. I`m not trying to push you away from ems because i had people try to do the same but just given you the out look.. If you do get ur medic/emt get your NREMT-p and look in other states.