EMT Jobs!

I've never been and EMT but know several people who are. They all need full-time jobs to make ends meet. But, they are doing it because they love it.

I am an EMT in NYC. Take the course and graduate. Afterwards.... Unless you want to be making $9-$12 an hour to have people's lives in your hands, I'd suggest you join the EMS division of your city's fire department. Private ambulance companies will pay you what your local retail store pays people (ironic huh?). Aside from the EMS of Fire Department, hospitals with their own emts are the also the place to be, they treat their EMTs like royalty with the money and benefits they get. However, hospitals take 6 months to get into and some require experience. Get into the fire department or do a private ambulance in the meantime until you get to the FD or hospital.

I would say take the course regardless if you choose to work on an ambulance or not. The training is great, you will learn a lot and this knowledge will never go to waste you will learn how to handle all emergencies and you never know if you might need to render emergency first aid in your personal life. You have to shop around and see who's paying top dollar, ask your city ambiulance crew and the private companies too, what the current pay rate is. Only negative thing I can say about becoming an EMT is that you do not get a license, you get a certification and this means that it will be good for a certain amount of years then you must take a refresher course and get re-certified (another written and practical "hand-on" exam). EMT's have been fighting for years to try and change the certification to a license like nurses have so that they would not have to be periodically re-tested. Good luck and I hope you do decide to take the training, you will be glad you did.

You can survive if thats really what you wanted to do. I put myself through Paramedic school, my wife through RN school with a one year old on a EMT salary. You just have to really want it and it be your passion. I will say this if you have any experience with emergency medicine; theres nothing like it. You can hate it with a passion while rejoicing in being able to do something you love. You need to check around for who's hiring in your area. Sometimes a county service will pay for you to go to school. Also, check for pay and what shift you can work. For example my county right now has a 24 on 72 off schedule and I'm trying my hardest to get a job. One more thing if you can get with a fire ems service pay is even better with less chance of burnout.