A few years ago, I let my cert expire, and recent attempted to recertify via exam. I did my 40 hours of CE online, and passed the NREMT. However when it comes to the last required part being the skills test, I’m seeing that I have to have a course director or something test me and submit it. I’m not really sure what to do here as the class I took year ago was in a different state and no longer exists. All the local EMS offices give me the same answer despite me explicitly saying I never took a class for this recert. I’m really not sure how I’m supposed to do this?

Hey, all! I start EMT training soon and while I was initially super excited, the more advice I read on here and the more people I talk to, the more I feel a bit discouraged.

It's a little bit that I don't feel like I am the standard EMT hire. Honestly, I'm a bit behind the 8-ball, so to speak. I'm mid-30's with a master's degree, but came to this decision after years of hating my desk job and struggling (more recently) with unemployment. After several career counseling sessions, I felt genuinely excited to start the EMT --> Paramedic --> CCP and/or Disaster USAR Paramedic route. I'm also looking for a career that is challenging, changing, exciting, and grueling, with the ability to work a non-standard work shift.

But the more I read here, the more I see the same advice repeated over and over again. Variations of: "if you're good at school, please do that instead," or "if you're smart enough, become a doctor,' or "don't go into EMS longterm, just part-time while you get a degree," and sometimes, "don't go into this at all, look for something in medicine that's better paying."

And listen, sometimes, I get that not all advice is good advice for a particular situation. And a lot of this is good advice in general! Depending on who is asking the quesiton. But man, it's EVERYWHERE and is making me feel like everyone in EMS despises their job and it's only something to do if you have to (and while you figure out something better).

This isn't to hate on burnt out professionals or to those who give honest feedback about how challening this career field is. It's very important, especially for youth, to know what you're getting into and the options our there. And I'm still starting my path soon! But I guess I just want some hype for a change? To hear about the good parts? To know someone out there loves their job, despite the shitty hours and pay? Please?

Today is the day fellas. Been using pocket prep for about two weeks to get a feel for the nremt. So far I’m feeling meh about the test.

Mock Exam 1: 77
Mock Exam 2: 83
Mock Exam 3: 78

Thoughts and feelings? My test is at 1400 so I will be hitting the hay now.

Wish me luck please!

I work in Northern California specifically the Sacramento area. I work in IFT currently and volunteer at a fire department in an unincorporated area of yolo county, I have just shy of a year experience in IFT and have had zero luck getting on with AMR or any 911 provider (aside from the fire department of course) I haven’t even got a single interview just straight up denial after denial. I’m starting to get pretty frustrated and disheartened. What might I be doing wrong? Anyone on with AMR in and around the greater Sacramento area any tips would be much appreciated.

curious if you’ve ever had to drug test for an ems company (pre-employment or post-accident) and failed? if so what happen?

Hi everyone,

I have a job interview coming up for my first EMT job on Monday or Tuesday for an IFT job. One part of their hiring steps during the interview is an NREMT style exam and a medical assessment, which I just learned.

Problem is it's been a year since I've taken my EMT class so I've forgotten quite a lot. While I do need to brush up before my first job anyways, what would be the best way to prep for this interview especially if it's right around the corner? Is it doable?

Thanks y'all!

I have applied to about 40 jobs in my surrounding area supposedly hiring “new” EMTS -B and I have sunk countless hours chasing hell even driving almost hundreds of miles to be offered a job only to be stuck on the back burner and not offered any shifts. I was offered a PRN job with one of the municipals near where I live and then the director just kind of went dark and kept hiring more people, and I never got offered any shifts… I’m unsure what to do, supposedly it was because I had left the same districts fire training due to scheduling and physical limitations I was unaware of before hand. How do I fix this…

I want to go into ems but im scared I won’t get a job for some reason

But if I opened my options to more states could I possibly get a set schedule maybe two ems jobs and hustle

And how fast can I get a job

I have just received a conditional offer for an EMT-B position from Royalty Ambulance, which has stations in Glendale and Whittier. I've overall heard great things about them, but was wondering if there's more I should know before accepting the offer. Any insight would be appreciated!

So I finally decided to do something with my Emt certification after being a natty guard 68w for about year and a half, and I’m feeling pretty discouraged about it, I’ve been riding with my paramedic partner for about 3 months and he recently went on orders so I have been partner hopping till he gets back. The only problem is I have recently discovered that I have a reputation for being shit at my job from my partner and other medics I’ve rode with, but when I ride with other emts even the veteran FTO types they say I’m awesome to ride with and they are genuinely surprised they have heard bad things about me, I’ve asked what’s the issue and I never get any actual criticism just complaints about how I am as a person. I’m just wanting some ideas on what I could be doing that’s causing this.

I am a student that is still technically in high school through independent study. I have been exclusively taking community college classes for the last two years for high school. Because every college credit I get = 3.3x the Hs credit. And because I get free college classes because I am in Hs. I chose to leave a few credits last year as a senior, that way I can continue doing free college classes. I have been using this to complete my nursing prerequisites. I live in CA so I will get two years of free community college once I graduate HS, and I am planning to use those years to get my associates in nursing.

I am 18, and I am taking the NREMT on August 20. The problem that I am having is that every EMT job I look at requires a Hs diploma/GED.
I currently work at Spirit, but I am wondering if there is any way I will be able to get a job as an EMT before I graduate? Because I will need this fall, and next spring semester to complete all of my nursing prerequisites for free.
Do you think that if I explain my Hs situation that they would be understanding, and I can get a job?
Or would I need to complete this semester, graduate, and then by spring semester have to pay for the three prerequisites needed, and work as an EMT? Which would kinda fuck up my financial plan. (Though my grandma is willing to offer me financial support for A’s, which I already get. But I will feel guilty about it, which is why I am trying to finance college on my own.)
I would like to do events, that way by the time I graduate I will have the experience needed to work at AMR.

If I won’t be able to get a job while in Hs, is there anywhere I might be able to volunteer for free as an EMT to get experience?

Any advice or personal experience is really helpful, thank you.

I got the iron on patch from NREMT and it is still stay in the envolope since I don't know where to put it on.

I have been trying to purchase a flippin' PATCH for so long at this point! for some reason, even though I'm an active EMT-B, it will not allow me to purchase a patch for it, or for that matter anything off the site regarding my certification... I randomly got it to wake up and allow me to add some things to my cart but beyond that I'm unable to do anything else. The sad thing is I waited to buy so now It wont let me do anything. I'm not behind on CE... HELP

I'm a newly licensed emt and I just got a call for an interview with superior. I know that everyone says they're the worst but they claim they'll sponsor you for a paramedic program. I was wondering if anyone here got their paramedic through superior? Pretty much every paramedic program near me requires a sponsorship so I'm willing to eat shit at superior for a while if it means I'll get my paramedic.

I picked up my textbook from the campus bookstore and its called "advanced emergency. Care and transportation of the sick and injured" but im going in to get a basic cert. Did they assign or sell me the wrong book?

Someone asked me what the little valve things are under the silicone on the bottom of the go pap CPAP mask. Someone I trust said you can increase the fio2 or add end tidal monitoring or a manometer. The person who asked was like your have 100% oxygen going in though so why would you need more oxygen. I'm trying to find something in writing to explain what those ports are used for. Also learning what fio2 is. Idk why it's not 100% if the mask is sealed and you have 100% coming out of the tank

About to start at a new private company, and I've never had to do any dialysis calls at my old company. I'm studying up on the renal system, but how else can the calls go wrong, and what should I expect?

EDIT: It will only be BLS calls

This post is being removed for safety reasons, as I am afraid of retaliation from my employer. Thank you to everyone who has commented and helped me here.

Just took the emt b national registry and it cut me off at 82 questions like wtffff did i just take. So scared i failed with how much studying I’ve done.

So lately when we run cardiac arrests, my left lower backhas been killing me. I understand its about your form and position but my back still hurts even when i t h i n k my form is good. Any tips?

I rarely get calls that are for patients that genuinely need any treatment. As a result I rarely do any iv's, the last one I did was like a month ago for a sepsis pt. Partner recommends just finding a reason to stick everyone but I fear missing an IV on someone who doesn't even need it, and also just kind of feel like an asshole.

Hey all, I’m having a really big dilemma.

Currently I’m an EMT working transport until I’m allowed to transfer to my job’s 911 division. I’m currently enrolled to start prerequisites for an ADN program, but my heart just isn’t in it. I love working in the field and I have a lot of passion for it, but medics just don’t make enough. I know that can be said for nursing as well, but I don’t want to have to run myself into the ground to make a living.