Calling all EMTs or Medics! i got a ?

My EMT-B cert is going to expire in Jan, i already took the refresher class, and i havnt even started the continuing education yet.
But heres my question. I was looking on the NREMT website about recerting and it said unless i am a full time EMT with an ambulance or fire or law enforcement ect, then i cannot recert? is this true? unless i read something wrong.

I am trying to get a job and it may not happen for another 4 or 5 years and i need EMT to even apply for half of the jobs that ive been applying for (fire).

So if they do not allow me to keep my emt idk what im going to do. I dont have time to be full time on an ambulance right now, but i do do some volenteer work using it.

 

I got my EMT license many (10?) years ago, but never used it. I knew it was "use it or lose it". My plan was to volunteer somewhere, but I never did.

However, I believe the case was that if you lost your cert, you would have to take the test all over again. This may have changed in the past 10 years.

 

I think it varies state to state. Where I live, I think the rules mention doiong a refresher class, bit no one offers one.

I got my EMT B by taking a one semester class and passing the test. I was a volunteer firefighter, so the fire dept paid for it. After I quit the fire dept, I let it expire.

 

I let my NR lapse after the first two years. Re-certing for the state cert in AZ is just the 24hr refresher course.

 

I think it varies from state to state as well. What state you in?

 

The National Registry doesn't vary by state. You said you do some volunteer work with your certification (it isn't a license). List that agency when you complete the re-cert form. There is a place for it. I've been a firefighter/paramedic for almost 13 years and never seen them push this issue. I've seen many people quit running for many reasons and keep their certification current and never had any trouble.

FWIW, I recommend you look into another line of work. Local government police, fire, and ems are being cut. People want us to run in and save them and theirs with a fraction of the people it would take to do it safely, after taking huge cuts in pay and benefits. It's just not worth it anymore. It's to the point my main objective isn't serving the community, but making sure I go home to my family in the morning. Fighting a full-blown structure fire with people trapped and exposures with only five people doesn't cut it. Think about it before you get too many years invested.

 

National Reg is a bunch of bullshit. Once you have the cert most everyone lets it expire. You olny need to keep your county/state cert valid. National Reg just wants your money

 

Oh. And proff49 you're dumb. EMS is private so they're not going anywhere. Fire and Law enforcement will never go away. They may be hurting for funds now, but thats due to the poor economy. When things pick up, so will they.

 

demesauce, you are the one that isn't very smart. A great many ems organizations belong to local governments. They take the same hit as police and fire. Obviously you haven't been around very long and haven't been part such an organization. Everything you lose during these hard times takes decades to get back, if you ever do. Calling someone "dumb" when you haven't been through it shows your intelligence.

 

I renewed my NR just fine and I am not a full time EMT. The only problem I ran into was not being "affiliated" with an EMS provider which would have required me to mail in all required documentation for renewal. To fix that I just went to a local volunteer department and had them put me on their NR training list and I was able to renew online. Also I work for the Forest Service and we "don't provide" EMS services but many of our resources staff EMTs so renewal for us gets a little tricky. But to answer your question YES you can renew regardless of agency affiliation or "full time" status

 

i understand your concern, but im not doing it for the money.

 

I see how it is. You are some "good ol boy" firefighter from BFN. Now you fear a pay cut because the public has realized saving cats from trees isn't as heroic as people once thought. EMS will never die because they get paid by the people who use their services, whether its directly through private ambulance companies or through a local government agency.

 

Oh heck......here comes the Fire vs EMS show.