Studying for the EMT-B course..

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David206

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Hey everyone, obviously I'm new here and I came across this forum by browsing EMS related topics on Google.

I'm male, 20 years of age, and reside in Seattle, WA.
I'm currently studying the book titled, "Emergency Medical Responder: First Responder in Action, 2nd Edition."

I'm looking forward to taking the entry test to get into the EMT program at one of the local colleges here, but I'd like to know what sort of material I should be expecting on the test. How well should I know the book? Which parts of the book should I know most? (Obviously I should know everything, but which categories would I come across most on the test?)

Also, I would like to go through the training and become a fire fighter as well.
How many months or years of EMTB/I experience would I have to have prior to looking into a fire department?

What's the approximate monthly income for EMT-B's? I've read that the PNW, as well as the San Francisco area, are the highest paying areas in the country (entry level, at least).


Thank you,

David
 
Is the test based off of that book? I have never heard of this book but a quick search shows it is based for a 40 hour first responder class. Unless you are a first responder or are taking it before you take EMT I am not sure why you have it.

Most entry tests are on reading comprehension and math. Not EMS skills (if you knew them you wouldn't need to be taking the class)

There are ALOT of threads here on pay and what to expect at certain schools and whatnot. Try using the search feature at the top of the page.

Welcome to EMTLIFE
 
Medic Tim said:
Is the test based off of that book? I have never heard of this book but a quick search shows it is based for a 40 hour first responder class. Unless you are a first responder or are taking it before you take EMT I am not sure why you have it.

Most entry tests are on reading comprehension and math. Not EMS skills (if you knew them you wouldn't need to be taking the class)

There are ALOT of threads here on pay and what to expect at certain schools and whatnot. Try using the search feature at the top of the page.

Welcome to EMTLIFE
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I believe so. I visited the programs page on the colleges website, and it was stated that this was the book that was needed to be read/studied prior of taking the exam/course.

I'll do some searching, thanks!

Edit* PS. Here's some info you could scan through - http s:// northseattle. edu/programs/emergency-medical-technician#2 (w/o the spaces)
 
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North Seattle has a large number of applicants for each quarters EMT class. They usually accept 40 students from 150+ applicants.

There is an entrance exam to get in to the North Seattle and Lake Washington EMT classes, it's based on the first responder curriculum. Many hopeful EMTs took the Red Cross "emergency response" class to get a leg up. (I was an instructor)

As far as getting a job as an EMT in the Seattle area, it's really just "right place, right time". As has been covered before here, there are about 120 new EMTs every quarter and about 20 jobs. Most EMT students never become employed as EMTs and thus can never get a state card. It's tough to get a job. However, be persistent and apply everywhere.

Also, know its upwards of 6 weeks to get your EMT card once you are hired. Don't expect to go to work the day class ends. And, don't expect to get rich as an EMT in the Seattle area.
 
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n7lxi said:
North Seattle has a large number of applicants for each quarters EMT class. They usually accept 40 students from 150+ applicants.

There is an entrance exam to get in, it's based on the first responder curriculum. Many hopeful EMTs took the Red Cross "emergency response" class to get a leg up.

As far as getting a job as an EMT in the Seattle area, it's really just "right place, right time". As has been covered before here, there are about 120 new EMTs every quarter and about 20 jobs. Most EMT students never become employed as EMTs and thus can never get a state card. It's tough to get a job. However, be persistent and apply everywhere.

Also, know its upwards of 6 weeks to get your EMT card once you are hired. Don't expect to go to work the day class ends. And, don't expect to get rich as an EMT in the Seattle area.
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So you're saying most EMT students go through the course, pass it and all that jazz, but then unfortunately can't get employed as an EMT anywhere?
I'm sure out of all of the Greater-Seattle areas, there is bound to be a place to hire you.

Also, what's the pre and post hiring process like?

And I don't plan on getting rich as an EMT.. I just plan on getting certified and just moving up from there.
 
You can believe what you want, but it is a fact that many north seattle EMT class participants do not ever work in the field and never become certified as Washington state EMTs. Many just take the class to improve their chances of getting hired with Seattle fire.

If you do get hired, it will most likely be with one of the private ambulance companies. AMR, TriMed, Rural/Metro or Falck. Each has its own unique hiring process. Apply at all of them. Or course, you can volunteer at a fire department to fet your certification as well. Skyway, station 22, is a good choice, as its close to Seattle.

You'll get good experience as a BLS 911 provider with AMR and TriMed. Enough experience to get you into paramedic school, if that's your goal.

Expect hourly wages to be anywhere between 9.50 and 15.00 per hour, depending where you work and what shifts you're assigned.

Also, as clarification, the entrance exam for North is NOT English or math, it is strictly a basic first aid/first responder and CPR knowledge exam.
 
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n7lxi said:
You can believe what you want, but it is a fact that many north seattle EMT class participants do not ever work in the field and never become certified as Washington state EMTs. Many just take the class to improve their chances of getting hired with Seattle fire.

If you do get hired, it will most likely be with one of the private ambulance companies. AMR, TriMed, Rural/Metro or Falck. Each has its own unique hiring process. Apply at all of them. Or course, you can volunteer at a fire department to fet your certification as well. Skyway, station 22, is a good choice, as its close to Seattle.

You'll get good experience as a BLS 911 provider with AMR and TriMed. Enough experience to get you into paramedic school, if that's your goal.

Expect hourly wages to be anywhere between 9.50 and 15.00 per hour, depending where you work and what shifts you're assigned.
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Well yeah, I'm looking to get hired with the Seattle Fire Department.. or Shoreline/Edmonds at least.

Thanks for all of the info though, greatly appreciated.
 
Good luck. Get involved with a fire department, at least get fire fighter I certified. That will improve your chances.

If you're not testing yet, don't wait. Go take the CPAT at National or Bates. The more applications you put in, the better your chances.
 
Yes, the CPAT can be taken by anyone, just show them the money!

I just registered for one yesterday as it were.
 
Awesome, didn't know that!

But unfortunately you can't really get anywhere with just having the CPAT alone under your belt, correct?
 
David206 said:
Awesome, didn't know that!

But unfortunately you can't really get anywhere with just having the CPAT alone under your belt, correct?
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I am applying to Colorado Springs Fire. The minimum requirements are:

·Be at least 18 years of age by date of hire

·Have a high school diploma or GED Certificate

·Successfully completed the Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT) no more the 12 months prior to the testing process*. Find CPAT organizations here.

·You must be by the date of hire a US citizen, permanent resident alien, temporary resident alien, applicant for temporary resident status, refugee or asylee. All applicants that are offered employment must provide documents to establish their identity and employment eligibility for authorization to work in the U.S.

·You must be in appropriate physical condition and meet medical standards as established by the City of Colorado Springs Fire Department

·Have or be able to obtain a valid Colorado driver's license

·You must have not been convicted of a felony

·You must not have been convicted of a crime that would affect your ability to certify with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). Visit the NREMT website at https://www.nremt.org/nremt/about/policy_felony.asp that will preclude EMT certification
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http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=3487

Would being a medic help? Maybe, but the department here does not care about previous experience and they will train you to the FF/EMT level in their academy.
 
You need a current CPAT to apply for any fire job. Several of my friends in Washington waited years to get hired.

Years.

Start applying now.

Today.
 
Ive personally never had any burning desire(no pun intended) to work as a firefighter, but I know many ridiculously over qualified people who have tried for years to get into a paid fire department, mostly with no success. I think its such an overcrowded field that its not something you can count on having a career in.

Probably the one thing that would go a long ways in finding a firefighter job is to get your paramedic license. EMT Basics are a dime a dozen and the training is relatively short and easy, so I doubt that would matter much.

I think some community colleges are getting strict with their entrance requirements for their EMS program. The nearest community college requires you have either passed intermediate algebra and english comp or tested out at that level, along with passing biology 101, before you can even take their EMT Basic class. Their Paramedic class also has College level A&P as a pre requisite.

Their Intermediate algebra requirement seems like overkill, even at the Paramedic level, but it does weed out a lot of people who arent real serious about EMS education or the medical field.
 
I will say that in Washington, being a paramedic does help in getting hired. I know several people who were hired right out of paramedic school as firefighter paramedics. Many of the smaller departments, in desperate need of paramedics, will do this. On the west side of the state a few examples I can think of are Mason County, Key peninsula and Ocean Shores.

I'll leave the debate of "if attending paramedic school simply to land a fire job is appropriate" to someone else.
 
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