EMTLIFE

This will be multiple posts since the character limit is only 420.

On paper it would take 2.5 years from the day you started the academy at the very least. Academy is 6 months and policy says you have to do 2 years as an officer before applying to an open paramedic position in the air program.

Typically it will take longer just because there may not be an open medic spot when you reach your 2 year point. Exceptions have also been made if the need is high enough and there isn’t much interest shown in a certain area. It’s been done in as little as 18 months from graduation to paramedic placement. This assumes you come in with your medic license and an attitude that plays well with others.

The job varies on where you’re based in the state. Some of our helicopters are in the rotation for the LEMSA while some others serve as sort of a back up to the private air ambulances. If you want to be a flight medic with CHP salary, keep looking. If you want to do law enforcement from a helicopter, SAR, and continue to use your paramedic skills, apply as soon as you want.

Thanks, do spots come open that often? I’m surprised that spots are so competitive only because you need to be a medic. On the pilot side do helo pilots need a helo rating or just fw?

There’s probably an average of 3-4 medic openings a year depending on who’s retiring or promoting etc. There’s a relatively high number of paramedics on the highway patrol. I know of at least 8 people with a medic license who are waiting for spots to open.

As for pilot stuff, you need a commercial license and instrument rating for whatever you want to fly. Helicopter guys need a helicopter license, airplane guys an airplane license.