Whats my best bet?

xsilverfantasyx

xsilverfantasyx

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I will be graduating HS in June, and I'm very excited to start college Autumn quarter! Well I was wondering what my best bet would be. To get the
EMT-B Certificate then the EMT-P Certificate
Or
Emergency Medical Services Associate Degree Get both of those certificates and well yeah have a degree?

Thanks! I finally made an account, I enjoy reading up on the forums. :)
 
If you just go the certification route and the program has no pre reqs youll only save yourself a couple of months.

Get the degree, show your dedication, get the education, be more hirable and desireable.


(I rhyme!!)
 
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A paramedic who has been an EMT-B for a few years and just tested up to medic (maybe intermediate first depending on the state) will probably have more real life experience than the EMS AAS student who just graduated. Understanding that there are a few extra classes in the associates degree from medic cert, what would be the comparison from a hiring standpoint between a new associates degree grad and a certified paramedic with an unrelated bachelor's degree from a 4 year college?

I know in TX to be a licensed medic you have to have an AAS in EMS or a higher degree in another field.
 
Linuss said:
If you just go the certification route and the program has no pre reqs youll only save yourself a couple of months.

Get the degree, show your dedication, get the education, be more hirable and desireable.


(I rhyme!!)
Click to expand...

You do!
Makes since, thank you! I hope I do well in college! :)
 
jjesusfreak01 said:
A paramedic who has been an EMT-B for a few years and just tested up to medic (maybe intermediate first depending on the state) will probably have more real life experience than the EMS AAS student who just graduated. Understanding that there are a few extra classes in the associates degree from medic cert, what would be the comparison from a hiring standpoint between a new associates degree grad and a certified paramedic with an unrelated bachelor's degree from a 4 year college?

I know in TX to be a licensed medic you have to have an AAS in EMS or a higher degree in another field.
Click to expand...


Ooh ok, that experience is key, for sure! :)
http://www.cscc.edu/programs/descriptions/emt.htm
(posting this might of helped :)

The associates degree looks like ill finish the emt b classes in the first quarter and start to learn emt p in the fourth quarter. So ill be able to start working / volunteering while doing the degree it seem like?
 
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xsilverfantasyx said:
I will be graduating HS in June, and I'm very excited to start college Autumn quarter! Well I was wondering what my best bet would be. To get the
EMT-B Certificate then the EMT-P Certificate
Or
Emergency Medical Services Associate Degree Get both of those certificates and well yeah have a degree?

Thanks! I finally made an account, I enjoy reading up on the forums. :)
Click to expand...
Your best bet is not to rush into anything too quickly. Start college and take a few general ed classes like a normal "college kid" first and then do the EMT-B course. You can work part-time as an EMT while in school, and if you like what you're doing then certainly go further with it.

My advice would be first and foremost to get an education. I see that you're in Ohio, and while I have no idea where in OH you are I do know that Youngstown State has a bachelor's program with an EMS-emphasized curriculum. They also have an AS program in EMS. You might want to look into that.
 
IMO I say start your EMT-B ASAP with reg college classes. See if you like it and start volunteering or working part time ASAP while you continue towards your AAS for Paramedic. My state requires all paramedics to have at least an AAS and other states like Texas require it to be licensed. You will also be a great candidate when looking for a medic job when others do not have it, PLUS your extra education will help you on the job.
 
Here in San Diego, the JC schools require 1 year work as an EMT-B before you can move on to EMT-P training. Only alternative is a for profit school which does not have this restriction like NCTI . Someone else correct me if I am wrong.

I start my EMT-100 class this June at Southwestern JC, but I already have completed 3 years of college, some at SDSU.
 
Well remember, you cannot get PELL grant for non-degree programs. This is something to think about.
 
medicRob said:
Well remember, you cannot get PELL grant for non-degree programs. This is something to think about.
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Indeed. And a community college can actually wind up being cheaper for a degree than a patch mill would be for just a cert.

It's an investment of more time, certainly, but probably worth it in the long run. The opportunity cost may be nil (a few months of lost crappy medic wages), but it sets you up better if you decide to move up in EMS or move on to something else.
 
schulz said:
My state requires all paramedics to have at least an AAS and other states like Texas require it to be licensed.
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What I thought was somewhat weird is that Texas does not require an AAS to be a licensed paramedic, they accept either an AAS in EMS...OR...any other degree. So if I got my medic cert and went to Texas, I could work as a licensed paramedic because I have a BS in Biology. They really just care that you have some sort of degree.
 
AAS in EMS or BS in any other degree... you have to make that distinction. If you have an AAS in liberal arts, you won't be a licensed medic. How is that odd though? 2year specialized, or 4 year non... still a greater education than is required to be a certified medic.


I don't know if the $30 per recert is worth just a gold patch yet though...
 
jtpaintball70 said:
He already has a shiny gold patch, just not THAT shiny gold patch :P
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laughing_dog.jpg
 
:)

Thank you everyone! This is helping me a lot!
I will for sure get my EMT-B asap volenteer/part time and just see there things go from there! Ill go for the degree for sure and Ill also check out youngstown to! :D
 
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