I have a few questions about becoming an EMT Basic as part of the pre-med process. Does the EMT Basic training and applicable licensing realistically lead to working for an ambulance company and obtaining clinical experience? Is it feasible to take an EMT training course while also studying for the MCAT? My D is planning to study for MCAT next summer (4 months of intensive study) and is also considering simultaneously taking a 2-month EMT course through a community college with hopes of working for a couple of months before returning to school and then perhaps 1 day a week next school year. I think another possibility that would probably take the same amount of training time and cost would be to become a CNA. Her preference would be the EMT training. Any thoughts?
It’s going to depend on your local job market. In some areas there is an oversupply of EMT-Bs and consequently jobs are hard to come by.
It’s been a while since D1 took her EMT-B, but from my recollection the material wasn’t difficult, though the class itself was somewhat time-consuming and did require some outside of class practicums. Whether your D can balance both MCAT prep and an EMT class will depend on how good your D’s time management is. YMMV. (Both my Ds did their MCAT prep while working full time jobs. So it’s not impossible to do both.)
Be aware your D won’t be able to work until she is licensed in the state. How quickly she’ll be able to get licensed will depend on how often the EMT-B licensing exam is offered in your area and how quick the licensing turn-around time is. Your D will need to have a fingerprint & background check run by state law enforcement as part of licensing process. IOW, don’t expect her to finish the class and be handed her EMT license that same day. It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to get licensed.
And as FYI, if your D plans to work in different state than the state where your D does her EMT class, be aware that reciprocity in licensing is not guaranteed, even if you D is listed on the national EMT-B registry. If she will be working in different state, she will probably need to take a refresher/review course first Why? Because both scope of practice and legal liability of EMTs vary by state.
RE; part-time EMT work. Finding part-time paying EMT-B jobs is difficult. Companies that hire EMTs don’t want to be paying liability insurance on part-time employees who only work a few shifts/month. There are plenty of EMT-Bs in the job market. If your D is willing to work 20+ hours/week, I’d be more optimistic about her finding a part-time position.
Good info that will help her make an informed decision. Thank you.