Are you considering becoming an EMT? Being an EMT can be an exciting and challenging career, but it also may not be what you think it is. Most of the calls that you run will not be life threatening emergencies. Here are a few things you should consider before investing your time and money in getting your EMT license.
Experience
Becoming an EMT is great for experience if you think you may want to advance in the medical field. There are many potential careers where your EMT experience will help you. Some of these include: Firefighter, Nurse, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Paramedic, Respiratory Tech, Doctor, etc…, and the experience you gain will help you when you apply for these programs.
You can become an EMT relatively quickly, and quickly learn if the medical field is right for you. Some EMTs that I knew realized that it was not right job for them shortly after starting work as an EMT. You are going to see sick and injured people, and you will see death. Some people do not know how they will handle these situations until it happens.
Calls
Most of the calls you run will not be a true emergency. It is not like the shows you see on T.V. Some EMTs get burnt out due to the type of people they deal with regularly (alcoholics, drug seekers, drug overdoses, violent patients, mental health, people that just want a ride to the hospital, etc…). If you work 24 hour shifts, you will likely get called out in the middle of the night for non-emergent calls (example: toe pain that has been going on for 2 weeks).
You will also help a lot of people that are having a true emergency over time. Just be aware you will see potentially violent behavior. I have seen many Nurses, EMTS, Firefighters, and hospital staff members assaulted by patients over the years.
Employment
Are you becoming an EMT to apply for Fire Departments? Most of the EMTs that I know fall into this category. Almost all Fire Departments are very competitive, and even as an EMT, it may be very difficult to become a career firefighter where you live.
If you plan on working for an ambulance or hospital as an EMT, I recommend doing some research on what the pay is in your area; it may not be very high.
If you plan on becoming a Paramedic after getting your EMT license, be aware that there are many Paramedic jobs across the country that don’t pay that well in comparison to some other medically related jobs. My wife is a R.N., and she makes a lot more money than I do as a Paramedic, and she also has a much better schedule and benefits.
There are many EMTs and Paramedics that I know that love their jobs, but many need to work a lot of overtime to support their families.
See my EMT Jobs page to see some other possible EMT jobs.
Cost
The cost of EMT school can vary depending on your location. You will need to take a course approved by the NREMT, then apply for a license in the State you plan to work. These costs add up, and you may need to pay to recertify your NREMT and State licenses every couple of years, but some agencies pay for your continuing education.