solutions to career roadblocks

[griffithsgriffin]

Ok, I'll make this quick. I have my national EMT-B cert and live in Vancouver, WA. Eventually want to be a paramedic firefighter. Here are my problems:
-in Washington, you need 1 year of EMS experience prior to admittance in paramedic school.
-In order to get employment in the area, you need state certification
-to get state certification, you need agency sponsorship/affiliation (no ambulances will go anywhere near you without state cert)
-the only way then is to get agency affiliation by volunteering, then from this get state certification, then get a paid gig or continue to volunteer, then be qualified for medic school.

this seems to be the ONLY solution i can see. anyone else in vancouver, wa have this problem? turning to oregon for solutions just brings up even more problems. i know im beating a dead horse, but I am determined to overcome this obstacle

 

[leoemt]

Ok, I'll make this quick. I have my national EMT-B cert and live in Vancouver, WA. Eventually want to be a paramedic firefighter. Here are my problems:
-in Washington, you need 1 year of EMS experience prior to admittance in paramedic school.
-In order to get employment in the area, you need state certification
-to get state certification, you need agency sponsorship/affiliation (no ambulances will go anywhere near you without state cert)
-the only way then is to get agency affiliation by volunteering, then from this get state certification, then get a paid gig or continue to volunteer, then be qualified for medic school.

this seems to be the ONLY solution i can see. anyone else in vancouver, wa have this problem? turning to oregon for solutions just brings up even more problems. i know im beating a dead horse, but I am determined to overcome this obstacle

Uh, not exactly. Most ambulance companies will hire new EMT's and sponsor them. AMR for example will hire non-sponsored EMT's. As long as you have your NREMT, they will submit the paperwork for you. You just have to stay with your FTO until your state cert comes in.

When I got hired by AMR I was one of only 3 people in my new hire academy (thats what they call it) that had a current state cert. 2 weeks of academy and a 3 week FTO program and most people will have their state certs by the time they are ready to clear FTO.

AMR has operations in Clark county, look at them and other private companies. Volunteer Fire Companies are another option.

Lots of new EMT's do this process without any problem. If you want to be an EMT in WA then do it, its not as difficult as your making it seem.