A couple questions on becoming an EMT

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lschmidt

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I live in Wisconsin and there is a technical school that offers an EMT-Basic program. It's one course, 4 credits, and "Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Registry examination to become a licensed EMT in Wisconsin." (http://www.wctc.edu/web/areas/services/emt/basic/basic.php)

1) After taking this course, and assuming I pass the National Registry examination - will that be *enough* to get hired for most EMT-B jobs? (I do have other college credits, though completely unrelated to EMT and really poor grades)

2) When I was 20 I was issued 3 citations at one time for: drinking underage, drinking in public, and resisting issuance of citation (lied about my age). Will this possibly hurt my ability to get an EMS-related job?

3) I would like to move to California in the next 12 months. If I pass the national registry exam for EMT-B, will I be able to get a job as an EMT there without having to retake classes or retake an exam?

Thanks!
 
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1. No
2. Definitely Yes
3. Doubtful as California is County based and each has its own regulations which 1 & 2 will probably prevent you from entering into EMS

R/r 911
 
Can you be more specific for 1 & 2?

In reference to (1)... What else are you required to do beyond certification to get a job, in general (surely this differs for each state and county)? I have ~60 other college credits.

In reference to (2)... Can you point me to any references? To my knowledge these are considered "infractions" not misdemeanors. And even if they were misdemeanors, read this document from emsa.ca.gov: http://www.emsa.ca.gov/meetings/files/2007/12-05-07/2007120508DApndxA.doc
 
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Well every company you apply to will look at your record and those citations will go against you. So even if they do not stop you from getting certified, they may in the end be the reason you don't get hired. You will be representing your ambulance service to the community. Companies therefore will always go for the applicant with the cleanest background because that is all they have to judge your behavior on when you apply.

As for moving, you would have to get re-certified within California. I would look into the local requirements.
 
The National Registery will allow you to apply for sate certification in many states. I suggest reading more about it at: www.nremt.org

As for your infractions, getting advice from users of a message board on legal issues is just silly. I suggest checking with whomever you plan on applying for employment. I'd also ask the program coordinator at the school that offers the EMT program. As ythe course will require observation time in an ER, you will have to disclose your criminal records to the school. Many hospoitals will not allow observers with a criminal background.

It's always better to be upfront about anything in your past, lest it come back to bite you later.
 
I will indeed check with the program coordinator. But anyhow, just to clear things up, none of the 3 citations are criminal offenses, they are civil forfeitures.
 
lschmidt said:
2) When I was 20 I was issued 3 citations at one time for: drinking underage, drinking in public, and resisting issuance of citation (lied about my age). Will this possibly hurt my ability to get an EMS-related job?
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Atta boy!!! Thats the kind of people we need in EMS!

Just out of curiosity here, what is compelling you to want to persue this path? It seems as though you have no prior knowledge of EMS at all. Is this just an oportunity that presented itself and you want to take andvantage of it becuase of the credits? What is driving your desire to attend this program?
 
lschmidt said:
I will indeed check with the program coordinator. But anyhow, just to clear things up, none of the 3 citations are criminal offenses, they are civil forfeitures.
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Doesn't matter...they speak to your integrity and responsibility...two things that are critical in EMS.

And even if they are "civil forfeitures", they will still show up on a criminal background check.

That's not to say that you wouldn't be hired, but it is definitely going to make it more difficult for you.
 
the registry is just a testing agency. once you pass the registry, you have to take that to the state for your ticket(note, every state is different).

you say those offenses happend when you were 20. how old are you now? the reason i ask is this: everybody does stupid stuff when they are young. while 20 certainly is old enough to be well past doing stupid stuff unless you plan to make it a career, if you're 40 now it wont mean as much as if you're 23.

sort out the california bit on your own. the infor is out there. embrace google.
 
FF894 said:
Atta boy!!! Thats the kind of people we need in EMS!

Just out of curiosity here, what is compelling you to want to persue this path? It seems as though you have no prior knowledge of EMS at all. Is this just an oportunity that presented itself and you want to take andvantage of it becuase of the credits? What is driving your desire to attend this program?
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Since when does someoen need a background or prior knowledge to enter EMS? Some people just want to be EMTs and Medics, want to be in healthcare.
 
Sasha said:
Since when does someoen need a background or prior knowledge to enter EMS? Some people just want to be EMTs and Medics, want to be in healthcare.
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He's probably wondering because of the past civil convictions. Like me though, my only health care ever was First Aid in High school freshman... 5 years ago!
 
exodus said:
He's probably wondering because of the past civil convictions. Like me though, my only health care ever was First Aid in High school freshman... 5 years ago!
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People make mistakes, that doesn't mean that they should stay away from health care.
 
Getting your NREMT-B should be enough. If an employer has additional requirements, they may hire you and then give you additional time to gain anything else they may require.

As far as your "wild night" as a 20 y/o kid. Will it possibly effect your possibility to gain employment?? Well, yes It COULD POSSIBLY effect you getting employment as an EMT-B but in all reality, you didn't rob a bank or kill anyone. I doubt there are many people on this forum that didn't have a few beers before they were 21 and the person who interviews you most likely knocked down some cold ones illegally as well. The difference is you got caught.

I wouldn't let your alcohol infractions disuade you from persuing an EMT license or anything else in life. I don't know how long it has been since this happened but if you're honest about what happened and admit that you made a huge mistake, if it comes up in an interview, I wouldn't eliminate you if everything else went well in your hireing process. Many EMS applications ask you if you've ever been convicted of a felony and nothing further. A 20 y/o getting caught with a beer in public is far from a felony and I don't even think these would show up on a criminal record.

For what it's worth, I know RN's that have had similar college experiences. Of course I know employed medics who have had more than one drunk driveing conviction. If you're convicted of a felony, you can then kiss it good bye.

I guess I'm surprised that the general message to you is to more or less forget about it. Everyone on this board knows someone employed in EMS who has been arrested or ticket for an alcohol offense or something similar.

Bill Clinton admitted to smokeing marijuana and he was our President for 8 years. I don't think your underage drinking tickets at 20 years old are going to subject you to a life of flippin' burgers.

I say go get your license, stay out of trouble, consult an attorney, and use your experience as motivation to become the most you can be. I gaurantee you this isn't a death sentence in the medical field. I wish you the best of luck.
 
Being an EMT in Wisconsin I can hopefully give you a little guidance on the first two questions you had.

1.) After passing the course and the national registry you have to apply separately for your state certification. Once you have your state card (if they let you have one) you can apply for jobs and in your area there's actually a couple decent companies to work for. Both are out of milwaukee but it's not a far commute for you especially if you do 24's. The first company I would look at is Bell http://www.264bell.com/ the second company in milwaukee I would look at is Paratech http://www.paratechambulance.com/

You may want to give both of them a call before spending money on class to see if your record will disqualify you but both of them tend to use a meat in the seat type hiring process and actually pay fairly decent for EMT-B.

2.) With your record I would contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/ and ask them if your record will disqualify you from being eligible for certification. I'm not a lawyer so I don't know for sure but the application specifically asks about felony or misdemeanor offenses but I don't know where yours will fall on their scale.

I know it's different issues but I had a piss poor driving record when I was younger and I was still able to be certified. Actually my license was suspended when I became certified as a first responder so it's really a toss up with them. I used to have a phone number for them but I lost that phone so just look around the website and you should find something.

Good luck with all your endeavors and like the others I sincerely hope that if you do get into EMS you are doing it for the right reasons.
 
Sasha said:
People make mistakes, that doesn't mean that they should stay away from health care.
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Yeah, when you're not putting peoples lives on the line. But to an employer they will think like this: once a dog, always a dog.

Not saying that's how you are OP. You should be able to get a job as an EMT eventually, but it will be a lot harder because of those offenses, many employers will see those, and toss you away.

Edit: Remember, I'm not EMT, so take what I say with a grain of salt.
 
Sasha said:
Since when does someoen need a background or prior knowledge to enter EMS? Some people just want to be EMTs and Medics, want to be in healthcare.
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Just getting to know the lad, not saying he needs a background or pior knowledge. We all started somewhere. Just want to know where he is coming from thats all...
 
I believe the question of "prior knowledge" was refering to the original poster's lack of knowledge of the certification procedure.

For example, he asked:
In reference to (1)... What else are you required to do beyond certification to get a job, in general (surely this differs for each state and county)? I have ~60 other college credits.
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That in itself shows that he has no real idea how the EMS certification works. Nobody has to do any prerequisites to get an EMT cert. In Wisconsin you only have to be 17 to get into the class.

And, this IS the place to ask questions.

However, having absolutely no clue about EMS, doing no research and considering it for a career is a bit ludicrous. It would be the same as me waking up one day, deciding that it might be neat to be a plumber, going to a plumber's internet message board and saying, "Hey, I don't know anything about pipes, but you guys get paid a lot. I think I want to be a plumber, too." Obviously, I'm simplifying... but as I mentioned previously, it would behoove the original poster to speak to the EMS program coordinator at his school, maybe the EMS office in the community where he plans to live and do some research.
 
n7 hit it right on the head...
 
lschmidt said:
3) I would like to move to California in the next 12 months. If I pass the national registry exam for EMT-B, will I be able to get a job as an EMT there without having to retake classes or retake an exam?
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Assuming problems 1 and 2 don't stop you, it depends on the county. California is a National Registry state (there used to be a state fire marshal EMT-B test a number of years ago), but the certification requirements vary from county to county. For example, Orange County, CA requires EMT-Bs to have NREMT-B, CPR, have a physical exam, pass a background test (Live Scan digital finger print test), and pay a fee. Los Angeles County requires a short class to clarify certain pieces of their scope of practice. Other counties might have different requirements. My suggestion would be to email the coordinator for the EMS agency in the county you want to work in (google something along the lines of "[county] EMS." For example, Orange County EMS).

Even if you are granted an EMT-B certification/license, you may still have trouble getting your Ambulance Driver Certificate from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

The department may refuse, revoke, or suspend an Ambulance Driver certificate under the following conditions:

Felony Conviction: The driver has been convicted during the preceding seven years of any offense punishable as a felony or has been convicted during that period of any theft (Vehicle Code Section 13372[1]).

Moral Turpitude: The driver has committed any act involving moral turpitude, including fraud or intentional dishonesty for personal gain, within the preceding seven years (Vehicle Code Section 13372[2]).

Use of Alcohol: The driver habitually and excessively uses intoxicating beverages
(Vehicle Code Section 13372[3]).

Drugs: The driver has been convicted within the preceding seven years of any offense relative to the use, sale, possession, or transportation of narcotics or addictive or dangerous drugs, or of any misdemeanor involving force, violence, threat, or intimidation (Vehicle Code Section 13372[4]).

On Probation: The driver is on probation to the department for a cause involving the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle (Vehicle Code Section 13372[5]).

Sanction for Unsafe Driving: Within the three years immediately preceding the application, the driver has had his/her driver's license suspended or revoked by the department for a cause involving the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, or, within the same period, has been convicted of any of the following: (Vehicle Code Section 13372 [6]).

* Failing to stop and render aid in an accident involving injury or death.
* Driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, or under the
combined influence of intoxicating liquor and any drug.
* Reckless driving, or reckless driving involving bodily injury.
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http://dmv.ca.gov/dl/ambu_drvr_cert.htm

What good is an EMT-B on an ambulance if they can't drive? (and yes, an employer who routinely sends out single driver ambulances sucks. Period).

Edit:

And finally, even if you do get an EMT-B cert and a drivers cert, you STILL have to be able to get on your employer's insurance. My best advice would be to talk to the EMS agency, talk to the DMV, and talk to the local companies before even spending a dime on trying to get a California certification. It doesn't matter how good your education is if no one will certify and hire you because of your criminal record.
 
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