Specific training costs (Discussion)

[medicRob]

This thread is in response to akflightmedic's thread about specific training costs here: http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=19545.

Since that thread is particularly concerned with data collection and not discussion of the topic, I decided to create this one.

I'll begin by saying that I was surprised that EMT-B programs were so cheap (The average around $300), here in TN, as I have said we have EMT-IV. Our EMT-IV is trained to I/85 standard but strangely enough, they take the NREMT-B exam not the -I. The program I was in was college-based as 90% of all TN programs are. It was 2 semesters (9 months long), $748 per semester + Background Checks, Uniform, etc.

What seems to be the average cost of an EMT-I training program in your area? I am really beginning to realize that my perspective of the EMT-B is warped by the fact that our EMT-B equivalent here in TN is trained to I/85. As such, I think my perception of the standard EMT-B is kind of skewed with regard to training, scope, and clinical time.

What do you think of the costs associated with EMS training in your area as compared to some of the responses in AK's thread?

 

[JPINFV]

What do you think of the costs associated with EMS training in your area as compared to some of the responses in AK's thread?

I think it varies too much from organization to organization. My EMT-B program was through a "Regional Occupational Program" (ROP) and is directed more towards high school students (free for them), but open to everyone else for a $40 registration fee (when I took it) if there's any space left. Personally, unless an EMT program offers something amazing (and no, a 2 week winter or spring break accelerated course isn't worth $900) like a ton of clinical time or something like standardized patients, I'd go for the cheapest possible course.

 

[8jimi8]

The first intermediate class I was in, I was sponsored by my volunteer agency. I had to drop it because I was working full time ICU and full time Stepdown unit. literally 7 days a week and couldn't continue the class.

The class that I am in now (just final and clinicals left now) Cost me $1100 up front. I already had my book from my other class which was free. I think I would have to pay like some 200-300 fee if I failed my practicals exit, or my final exam. But other than that unless TEEX is gonna charge me for my clinicals... not too bad and roughly the same cost as my basic.

Technically I am in "Paramedic 1," so my student scope of practice is any delegated skill except "Leading" a code.

At the community college where I will be going to finish up my P cert, i am expecting to pay roughly 500 per semester (3 more semesters if I show up as a licensed intermediate.


I think the relatively low cost of entry into the field is what keeps wages down by proxy of millions of wannabeeeeemtees vying for any scrap of work they can musterl

 

[medicRob]

The first intermediate class I was in, I was sponsored by my volunteer agency. I had to drop it because I was working full time ICU and full time Stepdown unit. literally 7 days a week and couldn't continue the class.

The class that I am in now (just final and clinicals left now) Cost me $1100 up front. I already had my book from my other class which was free. I think I would have to pay like some 200-300 fee if I failed my practicals exit, or my final exam. But other than that unless TEEX is gonna charge me for my clinicals... not too bad and roughly the same cost as my basic.

Technically I am in "Paramedic 1," so my student scope of practice is any delegated skill except "Leading" a code.

At the community college where I will be going to finish up my P cert, i am expecting to pay roughly 500 per semester (3 more semesters if I show up as a licensed intermediate.


I think the relatively low cost of entry into the field is what keeps wages down by proxy of millions of wannabeeeeemtees vying for any scrap of work they can musterl

Our programs here being mostly with colleges are charged tuition by the hour (9 hours for Emerg Medical Tech 1, 9 hours for Emerg medical tech 2).. We had to do clinicals the entire 9 months in my program and had to log a certain amount of med pushes, IV starts, and each time a preceptor had to fill out a form on us that was Pass/Fail on different areas with a little space for them to elaborate.

I had often wondered why a lot of people here didn't take as much pride in being an EMT and looked upon it as a great field until I realized that in most states the basic EMT is treated more along the lines of a first responder class with no real emphasis in anything more than a few skills and maybe a basic background of a condition. We always started each chapter after Medico-legal with Anatomy & Physiology, Pathophysiology, indications, statistics, conditions, treatments, etc. We studied things from the cellular level up and had to memorize things such as the Citric acid cycle and understand the metabolism of certain drugs, define the differences between pharmacokinetics & dynamics. We also had to understand how to do simple weight conversions like lb / 2.2 for kg, and how to use dimensional analysis. I suppose we were more like EMT-I than anything else. This is why it strikes me as odd that our EMT-IV tests on the NR as EMT-B as opposed to EMT-I/85.

Since Tennessee will be moving to EMT-Advanced in Fall 2011 for current EMT-IV's who will then take a bridge course, I guess it isn't much concern except that I wonder if they are going to test individuals who complete the initial EMT-Advanced programs that are going to be implemented at the NREMT-B level or the NREMT-I/85 level seeing as the new NREMT levels and tests won't be implemented til around 2014 (according to their newsletter).