Additional Information
So, have you got nerves of steel and a good strong back? This might be
the job for you. Try contacting your local ambulance service. Talk to a paramedic
or emergency medical technician (EMT) and find out how they got started.
Volunteer work and a first aid certificate may give you the added boost
you need to be accepted into EMT training programs, says paramedic Mike Smyrl.
Even once you've got your first level of training, the volunteering isn't
quite over. Many rookie EMTs clock up experience in volunteer ambulance and
fire departments to get experience.
It's a good idea to keep your options open. "If you want to work in health
care, get yourself some generic skills before you specialize in emergency
medical services. Explore nursing -- give yourself some options," says paramedic
Bob Rauscher.
This career can be a stepping-stone to medicine or nursing. "The advancement
potential for paramedics is usually limited," says paramedic Tess Goodman.
"The level of burnout is high."
"Paramedics are at the upper end of the training scale," agrees Rauscher.
"Once you get there, there's very little room to move around."
Don't expect to break into the field right away. "There's a lot of on-call
work," says Smyrl. "That's how you get started and with the way things are
right now, it'll probably stay like that for a while. It's pretty tough to
get on full time."
Qualifications vary widely from state to state. Training can even differ
from one municipality to another. Generally, a person must pass through two
or three levels of emergency training to become a paramedic, and hold an appropriate
driver's license.
The best advice is to contact your local EMT association to find out what
the requirements are before you begin any training programs. Be sure to ask
specifically what certifications are required.