SuperstarInTheMaking
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I am on the brink of "officially" enrolling in an EMT-Paramedic program in my area. It's at a place called AllState Career School. Not a traditional college. I like the facility and I like how the program sounds, but it seems awfully expensive and I want to be sure I'm not being ripped off. Here are the details.
It's broken into two parts. The first 6 months the training is for the EMT-B certification. They also teach EVOC training. The class is pretty much half classroom and half hands-on with dummies. They take you out in the parking lot for simulated entrapments and everything. After you're certified as an EMT-B, they help place you in a job in the field, so that you're using your skills while training fo your paramedic cert. The paramedic end is a bit longer. The course, from start to full-fledged paramedic is about a year and a half.
Now for the part I'm not too sure about. The course is, in total, roughly $23,000. This includes all books, uniform, "starter kit" (like a fanny pack with basic steth, penlight, etc.), all clinical fees and tuition. Financial Aid will pick up some of that, and they have payment plans that allow you to wait until you graduate to pay it back, but they couldn't tell me roughly how much financial aid will cover. Does this seem like alot of money? What did you guys pay for something like this?
The EMT path is definitely one that I want to take. My concern is that I could probably get my EMT-B training if I joined the local firehouse. Are the EMT and firefighter volunteers generally seperate? If I could get the EMT-B cert through the firehouse, I would probably attend some classes at the local community college working toward an RN degree. To put in in perspective, the community college is like $1300 a semester. I've taken some general courses so I'd probably need to go for another 3-4 semesters. Which is the better idea?
I know I've asked a ton of questions and I know this is a super long post, but the best people to ask are those who live it, so, who better? Any information or opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
It's broken into two parts. The first 6 months the training is for the EMT-B certification. They also teach EVOC training. The class is pretty much half classroom and half hands-on with dummies. They take you out in the parking lot for simulated entrapments and everything. After you're certified as an EMT-B, they help place you in a job in the field, so that you're using your skills while training fo your paramedic cert. The paramedic end is a bit longer. The course, from start to full-fledged paramedic is about a year and a half.
Now for the part I'm not too sure about. The course is, in total, roughly $23,000. This includes all books, uniform, "starter kit" (like a fanny pack with basic steth, penlight, etc.), all clinical fees and tuition. Financial Aid will pick up some of that, and they have payment plans that allow you to wait until you graduate to pay it back, but they couldn't tell me roughly how much financial aid will cover. Does this seem like alot of money? What did you guys pay for something like this?
The EMT path is definitely one that I want to take. My concern is that I could probably get my EMT-B training if I joined the local firehouse. Are the EMT and firefighter volunteers generally seperate? If I could get the EMT-B cert through the firehouse, I would probably attend some classes at the local community college working toward an RN degree. To put in in perspective, the community college is like $1300 a semester. I've taken some general courses so I'd probably need to go for another 3-4 semesters. Which is the better idea?
I know I've asked a ton of questions and I know this is a super long post, but the best people to ask are those who live it, so, who better? Any information or opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!