JustTrying123 Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 I just recently decided to go to PA school and am trying to get PCE hours but also be employed. Right now, I'm looking into whether it would be better to be an MA or EMT-B, but it seems like getting the MA cert would be faster, with online classes and easier accessibility. After looking through some forums, many have said that being EMT-B would be better, but the classes for these take longer and have less availability (if you know a good online program please tell me). Would it be a good idea to just start the MA class (SFSU MA program that also has an externship which I am also worried about, as many have said that it's harder to be employed with a NHA CCMA cert) and then also take the EMT-B course later on to do both? Is it possible to do both jobs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Being an EMT is a hands-on job and so there will have to be a hands-on component to the training. Depending where you live, it is either easy or not so easy to find a job as an EMT. Being an MA presents a lot of variability; for some positions, it provides a lot of patient contact and for others, not so much. I have no idea what different MA certification programs imply. For both fields, find people in them in your area and see what they have to say. I did the EMT route, having been an EMT for several years before I even knew what a PA was. I found it interesting and rewarding, especially working on teams of mostly strangers coming together in moments of tension to take care of critical patients, as well and the camaraderie between calls. Over the years, that gave me more confidence to deal with unstructured, time-critical situations. I was fortunate to have worked on an urban volunteer squad and later -- most of the time as a paramedic -- in a part-time paid position with a county EMS system. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia5827 Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 I also think it depends on kind of what specialty you want to go into/ what patients you want to deal with. i got my emt license because I wanted to deal with more emergent situations/ER care and see more of the pre-hospital care side of medicine. MA is more usually in clinics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuchiKopi Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 (edited) Depending where you work...Emergency techs often times have to be EMTs. I just like this idea because you will be able to see care of patients from all specialties from start to admission. You have people close by to always answer questions you may have. Also, for the most part you will work alongside PAs daily and can build rapport with them. Then hopefully get LORs. This is just another option if you get EMT-B. It will depend on the hospital what the scope of practice will be as an ED tech. If i wasn't in the position I'm in currently then I would go that route. The ED teaches you a good amount about everything! Good luck! Edited August 10, 2020 by Kirby219 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maynard Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 If you want hours AND employment then look closely at the "wanted" ads in your area before you make a decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Do not pay to become an MA. You should be able to get a position somewhere without certification Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustTrying123 Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 15 hours ago, UGoLong said: Being an EMT is a hands-on job and so there will have to be a hands-on component to the training. Depending where you live, it is either easy or not so easy to find a job as an EMT. Being an MA presents a lot of variability; for some positions, it provides a lot of patient contact and for others, not so much. I have no idea what different MA certification programs imply. For both fields, find people in them in your area and see what they have to say. I did the EMT route, having been an EMT for several years before I even knew what a PA was. I found it interesting and rewarding, especially working on teams of mostly strangers coming together in moments of tension to take care of critical patients, as well and the camaraderie between calls. Over the years, that gave me more confidence to deal with unstructured, time-critical situations. I was fortunate to have worked on an urban volunteer squad and later -- most of the time as a paramedic -- in a part-time paid position with a county EMS system. Good luck. Thank you for the detailed advice! It seems like everyone is saying that EMT is more worthwhile, so I've signed up for an EMT course with CIEMT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Thank you for the detailed advice! It seems like everyone is saying that EMT is more worthwhile, so I've signed up for an EMT course with CIEMT!Best wishes!Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooredc Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 On 8/9/2020 at 12:33 AM, JustTrying123 said: I just recently decided to go to PA school and am trying to get PCE hours but also be employed. Right now, I'm looking into whether it would be better to be an MA or EMT-B, but it seems like getting the MA cert would be faster, with online classes and easier accessibility. After looking through some forums, many have said that being EMT-B would be better, but the classes for these take longer and have less availability (if you know a good online program please tell me). Would it be a good idea to just start the MA class (SFSU MA program that also has an externship which I am also worried about, as many have said that it's harder to be employed with a NHA CCMA cert) and then also take the EMT-B course later on to do both? Is it possible to do both jobs? I am not sure where you live and if this would be an option, but I posted this a few weeks ago. The national center for outdoor and adventure education in Wilmington, NC has been offering a 19 day intensive EMT course. However, due COVID-19, they are now offering this as a hybrid course. You complete 12 days of online training (which is conducted live through video conferencing) and then you go to Wilmington for 7 days of hands on training. https://ncoae.org/trainings/19-day-intensive-emt-basic-emt-b/ I do not know all fo the details and I can not speak for the quality of the training, but it does appear to be a very quick route to becoming an EMT for those that could manage going to Wilmington for a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathang Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 On 8/9/2020 at 8:12 PM, iconic said: Do not pay to become an MA. You should be able to get a position somewhere without certification This is exactly what I did. Clinics salivate over hiring someone with a college degree as an MA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustTrying123 Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 On 8/10/2020 at 5:40 AM, mooredc said: I am not sure where you live and if this would be an option, but I posted this a few weeks ago. The national center for outdoor and adventure education in Wilmington, NC has been offering a 19 day intensive EMT course. However, due COVID-19, they are now offering this as a hybrid course. You complete 12 days of online training (which is conducted live through video conferencing) and then you go to Wilmington for 7 days of hands on training. https://ncoae.org/trainings/19-day-intensive-emt-basic-emt-b/ I do not know all fo the details and I can not speak for the quality of the training, but it does appear to be a very quick route to becoming an EMT for those that could manage going to Wilmington for a week. Thank you for the suggestion! I signed up for an in person EMT four week course in October an hr from where I live. I don’t live in NC but this sounds like a rly good option otherwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustTrying123 Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 On 8/10/2020 at 6:20 PM, nathang said: This is exactly what I did. Clinics salivate over hiring someone with a college degree as an MA I’ve been looking into this actually, and some ma’s have replied that clinics usually prefer ppl with a cert, in California at least. And idk about other sites, but on linkedin, they also ask for experience with the cert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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