Hey all, long time lurker here and decided to finally make an account. I'm currently an EMS Cadet at my local volunteer agency in central North Carolina and once I finish high school, I plan on doing EMS full time and firefighting part time. I have no certifications so far (besides CPR) and was gonna go to my local community college for my EMT-B and while doing that, jump on a volunteer fire department and get some fire experience. Now if anyone is familiar with any North Carolina angecies and departments, what would be a good professional Fire Department to get onto that is PART TIME?And just a note, my ultimate goal is to try and become a District Chief with Wake County EMS and also manage firefighting part time, so I do have a long term goal. Thanks for all the help!
Deciding what to do with Fire and EMS
- Thread starter Legliss
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I don't know of many departments that employ part-time FF's, unless it's just paid-on-call, which IMO is lousy unless you do it when you know you're going to be home and doing nothing otherwise.
I know that NC does not pay well for EMT's/Medics and FF's, typically low 30's/yr for medics (56 hour schedule), and even less for FF's! SC is not that much better. You need to get down to FL or in VA from Richmond upward to make any dcent pay. Realize that $30k/yr is maybe $10/hr according to FLSA OT calculations. A number of people travel out-of-state for better paying EMS/Fire jobs and for better benefits/retirement as well. It's a fact of life with EMS, so maybe consider moving if you can't find what you want.
If you're going to do both fire and EMS, I highly recommend looking for work as a FF/medic. The hiring process is much easier than it is for the FF/EMT, and fir based EMS careers generally pay much better and have better benefits/retirement than the local FD's. Charleston County SC would be one exception, but their medics only make $39k-$70k/yr top out, so fire will usually make less.
I would consider Charleston if you're mainly EMS-minded. You could start FT with CC EMS, then drop to per-diem once you get a fire job, or perhaps Northern VA where the FF's start at $45-$50k/yr, and the medics from $60k-$70k to start. Texas might be a good place to look as well. There are many EMS refugees that come to Northern VA from OH, FL, NC, MI, PA, NY, MA, etc. The NOVA schedule is better than the standard 24/48 w/o Kelly Days that is commonly found in the Carolinas. It's still a 56 hour workweek, but you work day 1, off day 2, on day 3, off day 4, on day 5, then off days 6,7,8,9. Basically three four day breaks a month, and only a 36 consecutive hour forced OT vs 48 hours straight in the Carolinas.
It's al about the best retirement - remember that. You want to find a system that has at least a three year DROP. A DROP is where you technically retire, but continue working while your pension checks are put into deferred comp for the three years. SC has the same thing - it's called a TERI. Check NC's state benefits to see if they do that as well. In my dept in VA we can retire at age 55/25 years of service @ 2.8% multiplier. When I worked for Charleston County, it was 28 and out at only 1.8%.
Also, what's more, 50% of $50k, or 50% of $100k? Work for the employer that pays better. You'll have a more generous pension, and then you can move wherever you like. The only real difference nowadays with regards to cost of living is housing prices. Fuel, commodities, services, etc. cost almost the same wherever you go. The more expensive area might have housing that's 50% more expensive, but your pay may also be 50% more generous.
Just some things to consider.
DrParasite
The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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Can't help you with that, but it's often easier to work FT for the FD and part time in EMS. or you can do what my (now retired) supervisor did, worked FT in EMS and FT in the FD. he retired as an EMS supervisor and still works FT as a captain on a busy urban fire department.
24s are awesome in a job where you have a bed you can sleep in.
I agree. Most FD's do not hire part-time, maybe paid-on-call, which isn't really worth it. EMS, on the other hand, is full of part-time and per diem positions.
Consider that the average tenure in EMS is maybe 7-10 years before leaving, typically due to burn out, injury, or leaving for a better career. Career firefighters tend to stay on the job until retirement more often than not. So, if you do FT fire (maybe fire/EMS) and per-diem/part-time EMS, you can have a good career, and enjoy EMS for many years without burning out.
@ OP - Take me for example - I worked NYC 911 for five years, three as an EMT and two as a medic. I liked it, but I knew I didn't have another five years in me to sit on street corners and run a bunch of calls for not enough pay and a lousy retirement. After a stint in Charleston SC, I got hired as a FF/medic, nearly five years ago. I still work IFT for a really good Health System on a per diem basis, and I actually enjoy working there. My NYC employer was both NYC 911 and IFT. Had I stayed there, I would have definitely been burned out on both fronts by now, and I have over ten years in EMS at the present.
Several firemedics in my academy said what I said - that we'd never go back to single role EMS unless we were desperate. A few classes ago one of my old NYC medic partners got hired on my dept. He said the same thing as I did - he got tired of sitting on street corners for not enough money coupled with a lousy retirement. Go figure.
Unless you can get hired by one of the Texas departments other forum posters say are really good, or King co. Medic One, you're probably better off going FT fire.
Thanks for all the info guys. I still have some time to decide of where I should go exactly and stuff, I just didn't think I could do EMS and fire both full time because of so many hours you have to work, but the way yall are talking, guess it is possible. So should I wait until I get my Paramedic before I look for a job in a Fire-EMS department to increase my hiring odds? I think I'll do a Fire-EMS department as 46Young was saying unless I can find 2 separate good paying Fire and EMS agencies
RocketMedic
Californian, Lost in Texas
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If you get a job that pays the bills, take it. You can always work up, and experience will help you find that fire/medic job- or help you figure out where to go.
Get your Paramedic, but try and get on a fire department too.
Get your Paramedic, but try and get on a fire department too.
Virginia (if you're willing to travel) has many combination Fire/EMS departments, as does Maryland. Depending on where you are, you could be doing EMS response off of fire apparatus, rotating between ambulance/fire day to day, or permanently assigned to an ambulance with the option to pick up OT shifts on the fire side. If you're looking to move really far, there are combination Fire/EMS departments all over the country, though its my understanding that California and Florida have a whole bunch more than everyone else. Just do your research, there are some fire departments that deliver less then steller EMS.
All of these combination departments will look very favorably at you if you have your paramedic. If you're planning on attending college, you could also look at getting your paramedic as part of your degree.
All of these combination departments will look very favorably at you if you have your paramedic. If you're planning on attending college, you could also look at getting your paramedic as part of your degree.
Yeah I would prefer to stay in the state, but if the money is right, then I'm willing to travel, and I'm starting to look into Texas, Florida, and Virginia. I have plenty of time before I should start to worry about where to go, I'd just like to have a general idea of what I need to do and look at my options.
I've sent you a PM. A FF/medic where I work that finished the academy and ALS internship (about 9 months) gets a bump from a little over $50k to over $70k. That's basically double what Wake Co. EMS offers for a medic the last time I checked. The cost of living less than an hour away from the department is reasonable as well, with a ten day/month schedule as mentioned previously. You could even travel to NC and work per diem for Wake Co. on your four day breaks for kicks and giggles if you wanted to.
IMO, the quality of life in VA is decent, but it's nothing special. I prefer a Southern Coastal environment since I like surfing, kayaking, etc. We'll retire in SC, FL, or perhaps TX one day most likely. I suggest you visit each area you're considering relocating to for a career to see if you can really stick it out for 25-30 years. Our schedule is decent since we get three four day breaks. If you use one day of leave or do an exchange, you'll now have a six day break, plenty of time to travel back home or to the Outer Banks (about four hours or from work.
When you're about three months out from finishing medic school, I suggest that you start the hiring process for your target department, so that you can be done with the process, and then hand them your NR-P and get preferential hiring to jump to the top of the eligible list.
I'd like to know more about VA services if anyone has additional input. I used to live and work (IT) in the Reston area, and I really miss the state. I'm currently in Florida though I'd like to move after paramedic school ends in a few months.
rescue1: What agencies offer the ability to be permanently assigned to an ambulance?
46Young: Any VA application/hiring process tips would be greatly appreciated!
- Do any of the fire-based agencies hire single-certification paramedics?
- How do the in-house fire training programs differ from technical school programs?
- Would it be beneficial to obtain fire certifications in the current state of residence before applying?
- I would greatly prefer to work a rescue full time; is that something that can be arranged with scheduling, or does everyone rotate between the rescue and engine?
rescue1: What agencies offer the ability to be permanently assigned to an ambulance?
46Young: Any VA application/hiring process tips would be greatly appreciated!
MSPs
Forum Ride Along
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I guess how well you think they pay depends on where you are coming from. My department just lost 3 EMS people within the last 6 months; 1 to SC and 2 to NC. They definitely went for pay increases.
Around these parts (NE Ohio) pay is about $8-10/hr for EMT and $10-12/hr for medics. :blink:
Chief Complaint
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The only fire based system that hires single role medics is Alexandria County.
There arent any academies that arent affiliated with a fire department that you can enroll in (at least not in the NoVA area). You have to get hired by a department and then you will attend their academy.
Having fire certs from another state may help you to get hired, but most departments dont value those certs very much.
The only agencies that can guarantee that you will spend 100% of your time on an ambulance are the private transport companies. They only do IFT though, no 911. Essentially a taxi service. Alexandria County FD still hires single role medics so if you got hired with them you would only ride the ambulance too. They have been talking about cross training their new hires as firefighters for some time, but it hasnt happened just yet.
Anne Arundel county FD, from my latest info, assigns medics to ambulances permentantly. Some medics may end up on fire apparatus though, and promotions may force you off the bus. Baltimore City also permanently assigns medics to ambulances, but they tend to burn out medics very quickly.
I'm sure that there are also many stations all over Virginia and Maryland where the captain would love to permanently assign you to the bus.
I'm sure that there are also many stations all over Virginia and Maryland where the captain would love to permanently assign you to the bus.
abckidsmom
Dances with Patients
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You might be interested in checking out Richmond Ambulance Authority. Single role medics in a dynamic system with tons of experience to be gained and a relatively low percentage of IFTs.
I loved it there.
Christopher
Forum Deputy Chief
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If you'd like to stay in NC, the Southeastern area pays pretty well (14.50-16.50 depending on department/schedule) and has progressive scopes consistent with Wake Co. My fire department has part time slots available for dual role fire/EMS, especially if you are an experienced EMT or a Paramedic.
The area EMS departments also hire part timers, but usually they are looking for experienced folks. My FD has positioned itself as a teaching organization, so we're amenable to people looking to cut their teeth.
In general though, the other folks are correct that you won't find high paying EMS jobs in NC. If you could get on with Alexandria or Fairfax Co in VA you'd be pretty happy overall. Your scope of practice won't be nearly as nice as in NC, but you'll be dual role in organizations which pay well and support both sides of the house. If you want to focus more on EMS, I second the call for the Richmond Ambulance Authority as they do progressive EMS pretty well.
Feel free to PM me with any questions about EMS in Southeastern NC.
1) Alexandria Fire and EMS and RAA, as stated above.
2)If you're referring to the fire academy, it's full time professional, run boot camp style, typically M-F 8+ hours every day, some days in class and others practicing FF1/FF2 skills. EMT's get the EMT original, and the medics get their alphabet cards - BLS, ACLS, PALS, ITLS. Medic field internship lasts four months and happens after the fire academy.
3)No, at least not for NOVA departments, which pay much better than departments south of Richmond
4)If by rescue you mean ambulance, some departments can make that happen informally, otherwise you can make a deal with the other medics in your station, but nothing's for certain. For single role ALS with decent pay, you're restricted to Alexandria and Charleston County SC on the East Coast, I'm afraid. Maybe there's some opportunity in FL, IDK. Here, it's supposed to be half engine time and half medic time, but there are sual hatter engine drives and officers, so in some stations you're on the medic nearly 100% of the time unless the dual hatter is on leave and another dual hatter gets OT or detailed.
A guy from Michigan that I used to work with told me the same thing. I simply wouldn't work for that wage - I'd find something more generous, or leave the state. That's practically welfare wages.
But maybe I'm spoiled. I made over $22/hr plus 10% night diff as a NYC EMT, and $30/hr as a medic. I made 11-something an hour in Charleston, which was $38k/yr, but I would have been bumped to $44k/yr the next month if I didn't leave for my current job, where the base is $84k currently.