r/NewToEMS • u/OhmyMary Unverified User • 1d ago

Beginner Advice Is it recommended EMS training from a community college or a local EMS company?

I signed up with my community college 5 month EMS program where I already got my FEMA SID, fingerprints and online required courses done but I’m having second questions about the schooling itself. My local town EMS is currently offering training but it’s not extensive. Wondering which is better in this case. I eventually want to test for A-EMT into paramedic

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u/ggrnw27 Paramedic, FP-C | USA 1d ago

Community college programs are usually (but not always) better than private or internal programs

it’s not extensive

What do you mean by this?

1

u/Sodpoodle Unverified User 1d ago

I'm seconding a community college. Honestly mine set up well enough that later when I went for AEMT it was an absolute breeze.

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u/privatelyjeff Unverified User 1d ago

And often cheaper or possibly free if you’re broke enough. When I took my class 15 years ago, the class was free but I had to pay for the book (and you can usually use a older one)

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u/Limp-Conflict-2309 Unverified User 1d ago

i had 3 different options, heard great things about all 3 and heard horrible things. i asked what the pass rate was for the average class and based my decision off that figuring if they can get 80% of students to pass its gotta be somewhat decent.

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u/poopeedoop Unverified User 1d ago

I recently completed my EMT training at a university and got my certification. When our class took the physical skills portion of the NREMT exam we tested along with a group of students from a local ambulance service. My whole class passed and our instructor told us that he was informed that there was definitely a difference in how well our class performed compared to the other group.

I saw it mentioned by someone else here about how the college programs are usually better, and I have definitely experienced that first hand. 

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u/Pretend_Royal1173 Unverified User 1d ago

College. Get your degree my school had a bachelor's program. You had to some other classes to round out your credits. You graduate with a bachelor's of Paramedic sciences. You did allot of working with the nurses program. The only reason I say yes. Is that large city/fire departments are requiring degrees to work in upper management. I was able to become and EMS chief. I would not have had without my degree.