Getting ready to start AEMT. (Give me your experience)

Hello, I'm getting ready to start AEMT class on Friday. For those who have been through the course, what did you think about it? Did you get a lot out of it and did you think that it was a good step in the road to paramedic? I know some are going to say it isn't necessary to become a medic but the GI Bill is paying for it and there's not a paramedic course offered in my area so It is a way to further my education for the upcoming semester. Just looking for some thoughts.

Do you have anything specific that you’re curious about? I’m an instructor and I’ve taught the AEMT program a dozen times over the last couple years.

I can give you a couple of pieces of advice if you’d like. Do not skimp on the anatomy and physiology portion of this program. The national registry test is deep on physiology. You need to really know how things work. The test is non-adaptive and I think that it’s almost as difficult, if not more so than the paramedic test.

Don't get lulled into a false sense of security by obtaining competency in the skills. We can teach anyone to place a supraglottic airway and start an IV. The base knowledge is more important than the skills.

That actually helps a lot man. I had noticed skimming through the book that it had went a lot more in depth on anatomy and physiology than EMT did.

Where I started in EMS, in Indiana you could do it, but it wasn't necessary to do it before Paramedic.
Here in Utah/Nevada where I work now, almost everyone does A-EMT before Paramedic, but I don't know why. It may be state or regional requirement
I don't know if you get a discount on Paramedic School doing A-EMT 1st or not.

I got my Advanced EMT before finishing Paramedic school and that was kind of how my program was laid out.
Becoming an AEMT gave me something like a $2/hr raise at my agency at the time, which was cool, and I got to work with a Paramedic on some shifts. Other shifts, I was the primary provider working with an EMT. So for me, being able to help teach my EMT partner a little bit reminded me of what I *didn't* know and prompted me to study more. And when working with a Paramedic partner, I could use skills that were in my scope while learning.

For me, it was the perfect setup. At the end of my Paramedic course, I didn't have to worry at all about the skills stations other than cardiology. Breezed right through them, as I had been doing most of them on the job anyway. I felt way more prepared going into everything.

At least a few years ago, PERCOM would let you take the second half of their Paramedic program if you were already an Advanced EMT and could test into the program. This may be able to save you some cash.