OT: Paramedic School

Hey guys,


I was just wondering, do we have any Paramedic's out here on the board? I am getting ready to go to Paramedic school in the next month or so and am curious what I am getting in to. I am currently an EMT-B and just completed the class and took NREMT but sadly no one around is hiring Basics and the state of NC doesn't recognize NREMT so I can't even get on with a rescue squad until they give me receiprocity which they are taking their sweet time.

How is the programs in your area? Just curious....

I'm not a Paramedic but my wife is in Charlotte.  I talked with her about if Medic was hiring or not.  She is checking into it tonight while she is at work.  One thing you could do is get a job with Medic if you want and they have a paramedic class at Medic.  You would get paid while you go to school like you were in an academy.... Plus you dont have to pay to go to the school....

I was an EMT-B years ago  and worked part time with a Medic Service. In PA the Medic class is pretty intense and takes a long time. I think the full time program is 3 days a week for about 5-6 months not including the clinical time that you have to do. I do not miss it and gave it up after college and never did get my EMT-P, no time at all. I see lots of medics going to nursing school these days I assume for the better pay and maybe due to the burnout.

I've been a paramedic for just about thirty years - boy do I feel old.  Haven't worked the street for about five years but maintain my certification to work at Boy Scout events.

Well, I'm an -I in NC. I've seen NC handle NREMT reciprocity quickly; maybe it's who or how you ask.

As far as where, the NC community college system handles public service training. It's cheap, even if you're unaffiliated and have to do it out of your own pocket.

A volunteer squad doesn't want a credentialed Basic, even without reciprocity? I wish we had that kind of luxury/problem; maybe you need to move east of Raleigh...

Oh, and I'm considering a move up from -I to -P myself. That's a very long road with lots of clinical hours involved.

Hey guys, I haven't posted in a long while! I was a Paramedic for 15 years and my weight caused me to have to retire, kind of a hard job to do at 500 pounds but, since I have lost 383 pounds because of my surgery in aug of 06! I feel great, so I have started the process of getting back into the field! I loved being a paramedic, but one thing to remember is that you wont get rich doing it but, the rewards are great! I have finished a first responder class and evoc so I can start back as a volunteer at Lancaster County EMS (S.C.), as soon as I can get the money together I will be back in an EMT class, oh and it has gone up since I first went to EMT school in 1986, it was $119.00 for the class including all if the books now, it is over $800, I have never paid for an advanced class, so I have no Idea about the cost, but in South Carolina the paramedic school is about 18 months long