Thinking Paramedic School

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clibb

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So I just finished my EMT class. I got around 50-60 hours of experience. Yeah, not too much. I like the job though, a lot.
I got 1 year until I'm going to Pre-Med, didn't get in this year I was too late.

So Paramedic school here has 3 different programs. 6 months, 12 months, and 2 years. I'm thinking about doing the 6 or 12 month program. Paramedic school is around $6000-$8000, I've heard. Which isn't much at all if you think about how quick you'll earn it back.

Plus this would be a great way to make some good money while I'm in college. Maybe I'll end up just staying with the Paramedic job.

Honestly, should I just wait for Pre-Med or should I do Paramedic school, graduate and then work in the field while in school? I've heard that some people do that.
I honestly can't stand just sitting around. I love to study now when I finally have my motivation back.

What would you recommend?
 
If you want to go to Paramedic school go to the 2 year program
 
clibb said:
So I just finished my EMT class. I got around 50-60 hours of experience. Yeah, not too much. I like the job though, a lot.
I got 1 year until I'm going to Pre-Med, didn't get in this year I was too late.
Click to expand...

Are you saying you're about to begin a four-year degree program? If so, I suggest you give priority to that, even if it means you put EMS on hold. A degree would give you more options and financial security than any level of EMS certification. As you prepare to graduate, you'd reach another decision point about pursuing EMS, or med school, or something else.
 
clibb said:
So I just finished my EMT class. I got around 50-60 hours of experience. Yeah, not too much. I like the job though, a lot.
I got 1 year until I'm going to Pre-Med, didn't get in this year I was too late.

So Paramedic school here has 3 different programs. 6 months, 12 months, and 2 years. I'm thinking about doing the 6 or 12 month program. Paramedic school is around $6000-$8000, I've heard. Which isn't much at all if you think about how quick you'll earn it back.

Plus this would be a great way to make some good money while I'm in college. Maybe I'll end up just staying with the Paramedic job.

Honestly, should I just wait for Pre-Med or should I do Paramedic school, graduate and then work in the field while in school? I've heard that some people do that.
I honestly can't stand just sitting around. I love to study now when I finally have my motivation back.

What would you recommend?
Click to expand...

1 year until pre-med? How does your university run it? All the pre-med 'programs' I am familiar with are simply a bundle of classes that will get you prepared for medical school. These are classes and not a degree program, meaning when your 4 years are up you have no paper. The upside is if you do this, many colleges will provide opportunities to shadow physicians for college credits, MCAT prep classes, etc. I thought about pre-med, but I am going for a degree.

Now on to the paramedic school part. That's how I felt coming out of my EMT class.


Here's my quick take on your options

6 month program

Most people here will scorn you for even mentioning this. However, for a specific market of students, I feel this can be just as effective as a 12 month school as long as its run correctly. In my area, we have Acadian's National EMS Academy. They run a 6month program. You attend school Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm. the schedule is where the specific market comes in to play. You will be attending school 8-5 for 5 days a week, and your time outside of it will be studying. Can you do this? Most people cannot. An example of someone who could would probably be myself. I have no kids, no bills, no job at the moment, and no real responsibilities besides my grades. I am a college student with my parents backing me. If you are medically inclined and love learning, along with a scenario like I listed,you might could do this. However, know you MUST be devoted and it would be very easy to fall behind here.


12 month program

This is your typical program, NREMT/paramedic certification only. Acadian's NEMSA also has this. Many of these programs put you going to school twice a week, for several hours. This gives you a lot of time during the week to study and absorb the info, along with any personal responsibilities you may have. This is the route many people choose when getting their gold patch.

http://www.nationalemsacademy.com/site413.php

Two year program

Many community colleges are starting to require their paramedic students to attend this form of program, and walk out with an associates degree (AAS- associate of applied science). Now I won't say this degree is a waste- I'm all for expanding education in EMS- but outside of the college A&P classes, I don't understand where english and basic college classes will improve a paramedic's performance. However, the core classes in this program will be what you will have to start out with in pre-med, so you'd be getting some basic core classes knocked out and your medic license.



IMO, if you have a window of time before you start your main path- get your paramedic cert in that window.
 
My recommendation would be a 12 month program as you can go on to degree path later in a lot of community colleges using your paramedic certificate as the majority of hours for an AAS Allied health EMS degree. I am scheduled to take the NREMT-P exam, and upon completion I am going to apply all but 9 of my undergraduate credits in nursing to an AAS Paramedicine (The reason for all but 9 is because the college requires 9 residency hours for graduation). Once I complete three courses, I will be given my AAS.

Does this make me better in the field? Yes and No.

Let me begin by stating that the skills that a medic with a certificate can perform are the exact same as those a degree bearing provider can perform. Degrees are ideal if the individual wants to go into EMS Management, become an Instructor/Coordinator, or perform research in the pre-hospital setting.

The general education requirements (English Comp, Math, etc) can work to the paramedic's advantage in the field in the following ways:

English Composition & Fundamentals of Prof Communication (Speech)

This will benefit your ability to articulate vital information in both verbal communications and documentation via run reports. Moreover, you will find that individuals in the professional community will typically take a well-spoken individual more seriously in a lot of situations. This is not to say that paramedics with certificates speak less professionally or anything like that or that one is better than the other.

General Psychology

This will benefit your patient care in that you will gain the ability to recognize when a patient needs more than just physical care, sometimes a kind word can make someone feel better when they are sick.


Anatomy & Physiology I/II
Obvious.

College level mathematics & Chemistry
Collegiate level algebra or statistics can aid the paramedic in many ways. These courses can sharpen your dosage calculation skills, give you a better understanding of statistics presented in formal research, and even give you tools necessary to perform research of your own.

Chemistry will help you greatly in that you learn various methods with regard to the calculation of solutions, admixtures, and yes even medications. You will furthermore also learn about cellular interactions, chemical bonds, and get a better understanding of why some medications act the way they do at the chemical level, especially if your program has a specialized chemistry course for medical providers that surveys General, Organic, and Biochemistry with a focus in dosage calcs and biochemical processes (Kreb Cycle, etc) like my nursing program had (It was called chemistry for the life sciences).


In summation, it all depends on what you want to do when you get out. If you want to pursue research in EMS, Management, or becoming an instructor/coordinator; I recommend a degree program.

If your interest is strictly practice as a paramedic in the field, I would recommend a certificate program.


Do you remember when choices like this were simple? Pepperidge farm remembers.

- medicRob
 
Last edited by a moderator:
mct601 said:
1 year until pre-med? How does your university run it? All the pre-med 'programs' I am familiar with are simply a bundle of classes that will get you prepared for medical school. These are classes and not a degree program, meaning when your 4 years are up you have no paper. The upside is if you do this, many colleges will provide opportunities to shadow physicians for college credits, MCAT prep classes, etc. I thought about pre-med, but I am going for a degree.

Now on to the paramedic school part. That's how I felt coming out of my EMT class.


Here's my quick take on your options

6 month program

Most people here will scorn you for even mentioning this. However, for a specific market of students, I feel this can be just as effective as a 12 month school as long as its run correctly. In my area, we have Acadian's National EMS Academy. They run a 6month program. You attend school Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm. the schedule is where the specific market comes in to play. You will be attending school 8-5 for 5 days a week, and your time outside of it will be studying. Can you do this? Most people cannot. An example of someone who could would probably be myself. I have no kids, no bills, no job at the moment, and no real responsibilities besides my grades. I am a college student with my parents backing me. If you are medically inclined and love learning, along with a scenario like I listed,you might could do this. However, know you MUST be devoted and it would be very easy to fall behind here.


12 month program

This is your typical program, NREMT/paramedic certification only. Acadian's NEMSA also has this. Many of these programs put you going to school twice a week, for several hours. This gives you a lot of time during the week to study and absorb the info, along with any personal responsibilities you may have. This is the route many people choose when getting their gold patch.

http://www.nationalemsacademy.com/site413.php

Two year program

Many community colleges are starting to require their paramedic students to attend this form of program, and walk out with an associates degree (AAS- associate of applied science). Now I won't say this degree is a waste- I'm all for expanding education in EMS- but outside of the college A&P classes, I don't understand where english and basic college classes will improve a paramedic's performance. However, the core classes in this program will be what you will have to start out with in pre-med, so you'd be getting some basic core classes knocked out and your medic license.



IMO, if you have a window of time before you start your main path- get your paramedic cert in that window.
Click to expand...

I recently found out it's too late to apply to begin the Pre-Med in the college in my area. So I'll have to wait a year to apply. So I was thinking about doing Paramedic school while I'm waiting to begin Pre-Med. I don't want to spend a year doing nothing towards my education.

mgr22 said:
Are you saying you're about to begin a four-year degree program? If so, I suggest you give priority to that, even if it means you put EMS on hold. A degree would give you more options and financial security than any level of EMS certification. As you prepare to graduate, you'd reach another decision point about pursuing EMS, or med school, or something else.
Click to expand...

Four-year degree program in a year. So I have a year until then. I won't put EMS on hold. A lot of the Pre-Med students here work in the ER or for Ambulance agencies.
 
If you can fit a medic program into your downtime, sure, go for it. You'll get exposure to the clinical environment, and gain an opportunity to earn some money while you're in school.
 
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