How do you become a Paramedic??

[1ABCBP]

Is there a selection process like the police?
Do you go to school to get a certificate them apply?

Please elaborate on this subject to me.

[Sandles2Sidearm]

I would look into the prerequisites of the school you would like to attend. Here the self sponsored program goes like this:

Attend a first responder course-American Red Cross, American Heart, Title 22 First Responder, any thing that meets the DOT standard.

Then its off to EMT-Basic class. This is a 4 month, 2 day a week, 3 hours a day course with ride-a-long and clinical requirements. Upon successful completion of the course with an 80% or better you can take one of the many EMT-B Certification courses. Most of the counties in our area are going to the National Regitery and must be passed with an 80% or better.

Next come the prerequisites for EMT-P (Paramedic):

These are general and will vary, but this is a guideline followed by privately sponsord medics in my area:

1. Work on a BLS Ambulance for a minimum of 6 months. This requires a transport care provider license and a very repeat VERY strong back.
2. Take Anatomy/Physiology, there is a paramedica prep version that is good if you are great with it already other wise you are better off taking the full version rather than the abreviated.
3. Courses in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Dsrythmia, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pharmacology, are plusses but I have known others to get in with out them.
4. Then the applications: Most Junior college sponsored programs are filled with fire guys already employed being sent through so they can staff ALS rigs. These programs are difficult if not impossible to get into if you are not somehow affiliated with an agency or department.
5. Private schools like Daniel Freeman, are pretty difficult, but you can get into them if you have the $.
6. While in the programs you will have alot of dydactic and clinical portions, not to mention a ton of ride outs that you will be required to complete. All in all I have been told it is a tough 6-8 months and one should be ready for the worst.


There are an assortment of routes you can take, but this is the one that is most common in our area for unaffiliated prospective ALS candidates in Orange County California.

God Speed on your journey.

[1ABCBP]

Thanks for the quick run down

[JimSpoor]

Paramedic programs are either hospital based or community college based. Either way you are considered a matriculated student. The lonly question then is who is paying the bill. Is the agency or the individual? Prerequisites that are pretty standard is 1 year as an EMT. Some states require to be employed by an Advanced Life Support agency, others do not. Some may even require Human Anat.& Phys. as prereqs in additon to the EMT cert.

Become an EMT and spend some time on the street. Then once you get the blood, guts, lights and sirens out of your system if you want to continue your education as a paramedic, GO FOR IT!
Good Luck.

[nyfo]

As was stated prior, there are many routes and every state has its own paramedic program. Become an EMT-Basic. You will get a feel as to what EMS is all about, how your local system operates, gain experience, and make some contacts. Once you get your EMT-Basic cert, new doors will begin to open up for you.

[1ABCBP]

Would anyone here know how things go in California, specifically the orange county area?

[GixxerNick]

read the posts above, it specifically states what is required for the orange county area :idea: :p


(which seems exactly the same as the chicago area)