Those of you who are FF'ers and EMT's, I have a question.

[rhendrix]

I'm currently going to school for my FF'er I and II, I plan on getting my EMT-B after I finish in November, should I pursue my EMT-P or try to get on with a Fire Department and let them pay for my EMT-P? I have 5 years in the Marines and 90 something college hours already. I know it'll increase my chances of getting hired if I have my EMT-P, and I wanna get hired ASAP, but I don't wanna be working on a box all the time, I wanna fight fires, so for those of you already at a FD, what do you think I should do?

[Bro. Bill]

Marine

hoooooooooooooooooooooorahhhhhhhhhh

[FIRETX12]

All we have to be in Tyler, is basics. We don't run boxes. It all depends on which dept you want to work for. Congrats on a great career choice.

[HeloMed1]

These days just about all the paid fire departments are looking to hire folks that are already paramedics. Especially if they transport or are ALS first responders. Some fire department's will hire you and then send you to medic school, but then they will fire you if you don't pass or if you ever lose your medic license. Some will also put you on contract for a couple of years if they pay for medic school. I would definitely recommend if you have the time and money to go ahead and go to medic school.

[JDL]

I would start testing as soon as you get your emt-b and ff. Also go ahead and start the emt p, and just see what happens!!

[deep n the heat]

If I were you I would put my application in with Houston now or when they have their next civil service test. If you get hired before you finish then they will pay to put you back through and will gladly put you through paramedic school if you so desire. If you get finished and they have a fast track class then you will be set. Also apply for both and let them hire you whichever way first, even if it means going back through the long class. At least you will be hired and it should be easy for you in the class.

[rhendrix]

Helo, I wanna work in either Houston, Austin or Dallas. Possibily even Raleigh or Charlotte, NC. Charlotte requires EMT-B at a minimum, Houston seems to be moving towards wanting to hire FF/Paramedics, Austin and Dallas seem to be similar.

I plan on applying to every possible FD that I'd be interested in working at once I finish my FF'er and EMT training, if I find any departments that will hire me on a fast track program before I complete my EMT training then that would be AWESOME! But, that would be ideal, and I do not consider that realistic.

My main concern is the time and money that I'll have to invest in and if it'll be worth it in the end.