Got My EMT Basic Certification, but Cant Get a Job

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Stephen Perkins on July 30, 2009 at 10:37am

Most EMS agencies won't hire you with a DUI that recent. I know in WA state, theye do a 3 year driving record, and 7 years for a any DUI, DWI, and other BIG driving infractions. Find out from your agencies how long you will need to wait...And you will probably need to take the course again.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Rice on July 30, 2009 at 12:38pm

First of all..
Getting a paid/career position as an EMT-B is tough. Most 911 agencies/fire depts/private ambulance companies want people with atleast the EMT-I certification. So, trying to get in as an EMT-B is pretty worthless, unless you start off in a volunteer agency. Do a few years there, get the experience, and let that DUI conviction get further behind you. Also, if you can get your ALS certification, that would be some extra icing on your "cake" - so to speak. The ONLY place where EMT-Bs are hired in abundance are in the hospitals as "patient care techs"/"emergency department technicians". Try looking into that at your local hospital(s).

Secondly,
By reading your post, when several agencies told you that their insurance policy would not be able to cover you since you had a DUI, its not your EMT-B certification they are talking about. Your EMT-B license/certification is an extension of the medical license of your OMD/Medical Advisor(or whatever you call it in SC). They are more than likely referring to that they would not be able to cover you as a driver once you take EVOC and get your class II/III cert.

Jeff

By the way.. you paid $500 for an EMT-B class?? I have never seen them costing more than $100-$125, including the book.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Smith on August 1, 2009 at 6:32pm

In SC, $500 is how much a Basic class runs, with Basic Certification, an Intermediate Certification runs about $150-$175.

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Permalink Reply by Megan Creaser on August 2, 2009 at 5:09am

I paid $400 just for my tuition at Ft. Hood to take my EMT-B class, then $125 for the book, and $50 for uniforms. Then the cost for State certs. and the cost of the NREMT test. It all depends on the area your in. Tampa, where I am right now, its about $500. Nothing is cheap now-a-days.

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Permalink Reply by Xina on August 10, 2009 at 5:06pm

my EMT-B class cost 500$ and I am eligible to take the national test. The St Louis fire academy charges 3,000$ for the EMT-B training WITHOUT it reaching National standards so if someone takes that course, they would still have to take the class I took to be eligible to take the national board exam. Sucks eh?

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Permalink Reply by Cody Jones on August 13, 2009 at 11:56pm

I paid about 400-500 for my class over all in Kansas City. then we had to Pay 100 for state practicals and 70 for national Registry. pretty expensive! the medic program here in KC is anywhere from 2500 to 4000 after its all said and done

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Permalink Reply by Kendra Burke on August 5, 2009 at 4:01am

I just completed the EMT-B class here in Pennsylvania on July 12th & it costs me $220.00. Inflation....
Above comments are correct though. I is very hard to get a full time job in this field. I started on a per diem basis and am only working 3 days a week for now. Hopefully soon a full time position will become available.
I volunteered with my local ambulance company for the past 6 months during my training so that helped a lot.

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Permalink Reply by lawrance mathis on August 9, 2009 at 1:26pm

I went to unitech and it cost $4000.00. The catch is it only took 14 days and we got emergency room as well as ambulance time. It also included two tries at the NREMT. It was great.

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Permalink Reply by Joshua R. Twito on August 15, 2009 at 9:36pm

you got EMT-B cert in 14 days? I pray to god you never are put on an ambulance and faced with having to save someones life. I took the course in New York State, NYC to be exact, paid 800$. I dont know how SC or anywhere else is but here there are only EMT-B and EMT-P's so if ur a basic u can works anywhere a medic can. As for your DUI to be honest I wouldn't hire you either. As an EMT you see what happens when people drink and drive, how could you be dumb enough to still do it.?

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Permalink Reply by Joe Smith on August 18, 2009 at 9:31pm

I actually got the DUI before I got certified as an EMT. I am trying to put my life back together and make a difference. It is people like you who prevent good people who just happened to do something stupid from coming back from it. Insurance regulations are the main factor in me not being able to get a job as an EMT. You really dont have to seem so hateful and ungrateful. I was having a difficult time in my life when I got the DUI. I was drinking to cover up the pain of coming back from Iraq and coming home to friends who had ruined their lives with meth. To see people you care about that far gone is a very painful situation. Readjusting to civilian life is not easy for many combat veterans. We come home and cannot find a decent paying job and sometimes feel like our efforts in foreign conflicts were for nothing. The situation in Iraq still bothers me, but I am proud to say I no longer turn to alcohol as an outlet. I did not post on here for your negative judgements of me. I am already suffering the ramifications of my stupidity. I just want to help others to pay back my debt to society in a useful way. I am sure there are some people who already have EMT jobs who drink and drive, so don't jump on me because I made a mistake. I am human just like everyone else.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Leach on August 20, 2009 at 2:07pm

Joe wrote;
"It is people like you who prevent good people who just happened to do something stupid from coming back from it".

Not so much, what you need to do (and I think it is spelled out here) is "Prove it"......From one vet to another your service to country really has nothing to do with this.....It was voluntary, it was admirable, you are a Patriot, no-one doubts that....I guess the "final answer" in my book is either get pro-active or move on......Tying yourself in knots over this will not help you, rather it'll just add to your bitterness......................
Turn that use- less energy into something productive.....Really, you do not have much of a choice.

Be well,

Dave

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Permalink Reply by Lance Kopman on August 21, 2009 at 6:30am

I don't think Josh was attacking you personaly as much as making an observation. You will be in charge of peoples lives, a responsibility that should be held by those that don't give in to alcohol or drugs. That being said, everyone makes mistakes and where we move from there is what counts. I would suggest finding a paid state squad (We have them here in NJ, its a volunteer independent squad that pays its members; not sure on the inner workings), because like volunteer agencies they are willing to give people a second chance when it comes to DUI's and the like.

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