So I got laid off work and during the search for a new job I'm thinking about going to the fire academy and becoming an EMT. But I have a question which is better EMT or certified first responder? Should I go ahead and become a first responder also?

 

EMT's have more training than a certified first responder.

 

An EMT has more education and has a better chance to get a job, however most full time departments only accept paramedic level certification. Just giving you the heads up paramedic certification is no laughing matter to get.

 

EMT is higher, and getting your first responder first would be useless. Once you are an EMT you can do anything they can and more. There are also two levels of EMT, Basic and Intermediate. EMT-I's can start IVs, cardiovert, intubate, and can run ALS units while Basics are limited to BLS. You also must have your Basic before you can begin Paramedic or Intermediate classes because everything you will learn will fall back on your basic classes. Before you do anything I would make sure you can find a job as a firefighter, unless you are only going for an ambulance. Where I live I work with an ALS service, but being only a basic I drive the ambulance everywhere unless we have a hospital transfer that is stable and on no meds. (basics here can only give aspirin, oxygen, nebulizers, and other basic drugs) There are still many departments, that even though they have many paramedics are only ILS certified, unless they also run a full time ambulance crew. On the Average your EMT-B is 3-6 months, EMT-I is another year, and EMT-P (paramedic) is 2.5 years plus the 3-6 months of your Basic. If you want a Paramedic cert you dont have to become an Intermediate you can go from basic to paramedic. If its not something youre sure you want to go into the ambulance companys around here let people ride along to make sure they like it, or try riding as a fireman. The job itself can be very boring to downright nasty, but is extrememly rewarding. Also, unless you take the NREMT (national registry) your cert is only valid in your state, so if you were to go somewhere else you must retake the class (i know it is this way as a basic, maybe different for a paramedic) And like said before, Paramedic is a ton of work, make sure it is something you like before you dive into that. I have been an EMT since I turned 18, and am working on my paramedic now. If you have any other questions you can PM me, or I will try to check back here. If you decide to go for it Good luck! you wont be disappointed!

 

My wife applied at this private ambulance company and the guy there was telling me that they were looking for some EMT's and told me some about about it and gave me the course number at the academy and said two weeks and I'll be an EMT-B, class from 8am to 5pm I think. (Also National registry) And I figure if I can't do something like that I get a job at a warehouse (there's a lot of warehouse's here) and try to get the paramedic and join a volunteer fire department.

 

I guess I shouldve stated that my education times were thorugh either a firehouse or a college, and clinicals. Check and try and get onto a department now, its a lot of paperwork for the two departments Ive joined. Also check and see if taking the NR gets your state cert too. May be different for those above 18 but I have heard of 17 year olds taking their NR and having to take the state test when they turned 18

 

How did you go about getting it threw college? Could you just take the class you wanted such as EMT-B?

 

Yeah its a community college locally. It was twice a week, four hours a class for a semester. I had to take a simple comprehension test and that was it!