Expert: Marcus LaBarbera - 12/21/2011

Question
Marcus,

My question is real simple, are there people who are getting hired as EMTs, I got my training almost 4 years ago and I have not used any of my skills or knowledge or anything like that. I can’t find any job here in AZ. My goal is to become a Paramedic but I need EMT experience before I even try to go to Medic School.

I am hoping that my volunteer experience with the Red Cross-Disaster Health Service, Search and Resuce, and the United States Coast Auxiliary will help in getting a job. What do you think?

On top of that I have taken some ALS class-EKG and pharmacology and in April I will be taking a PHTLS class.

But it is very frustrating because I have this education and knowledge but I

Answer
Hello Daniel,

I did a little looking around on the net about what was available in your state (I'm about as far away from Arizona as you can get and still be in the US).

I did find 1 job offer (which I assume you saw as well):

Life Line Ambulance
Prescott, AZ
Job Number: 41272579

I also searched the Arizona Bureau of EMS and found a list of agencies that applied for a "certificate of need" (CON), to operate an ambulance service in a certain area. Ihis document has a lot of contact info which may be helpful too?


Certificate of need issued to ambulances operating in the state:
http://www.azdhs.gov/bems/ambul-pdf/ambul.pdf

Maybe contact your EMT instructor or the place where you took your class (or the college they were affiliated with?) also you could look for a regional or state medical advisory group who are usually in charge of EMS for a region?

As for the Red Cross, and Coast Guard?.. both would be a nice start, though I'm not sure if you would really use your EMT skills to their full extent.

Good luck, I hope you find a job you like soon.

Happy holidays,

Marc