Becoming an EMT in the US (apply, 401k, degree, visa)

[Scotslass]

Hi all, I wonder if anyone knew the best route to go down to become an EMT preferably in NC or SC. (southern states)

I have had a keen interest in this profession for a while now. I would have a green card, visas are no problem just getting into this profession.

I would rather avoid going back into education and would rather be trained by an employer if possible?

Can anyone tell me what the pay, benefits is like for this type of role and if there is growth?

Thanks very much

[heydade]

To make very good money, you need to be cross trained as a firefighter/paramedic with one of the larger metropolitan departments that are unionized.

Each state has their own different levels of EMT...South Carolina has basic EMT, EMT-intermediate and then paramedic. If you only want to do the medical thing and be an EMT or Paramedic, then expect pay of around 25K-50k. Remember though, that in the United States pay is completely relative to where you live. Cost of living changes DRAMATICALLY from state to state...so remember to keep this in mind when first hearing about how much this place or that place makes. Do your research....find out what rent goes for in the neighborhood and things of that nature.

There will always be growth and demand for emergency street medicine. Some areas of the U.S. still have separate EMS and separate Fire departments. Many parts of both South and North Carolina are like that, while the bigger cities in SC and NC have unionized fire-rescue departments with very good pay and very good benefits including pension.

If you are OK with lower pay and not so great benefits and typical 401K, than you can work for any EMS/ambulance agency. Most agencies will not train you since they don't have the financial resources to do so. 95% of the time you need to already be licensed.

Make sure to go through the national registry route....it's going to become much more mainstream in the future and perhaps required since everyone is trying to push for a more universal credentialing system so every state is on the same page when it comes to emergency street medicine...something that has been long overdue in my opinion. NREMT - NREMT News


Anyhow...good luck !

[KevK]

It depends on the state. In some states it is 6 months for EMT and a few years for Paramedic. I would suggest you do a search in the state you are interested in and see what is required.

[Scotslass]

Thanks guys I appreciate it.

I take it you would already need to be qualified before getting a job. The company wont fully train you unless its a bigger area like a city department?

I know EMTs here make around £20,000 ($40,000) and paramedics £20,000 - £30,000 ($60,000 max)

[Threestep]

Slow down a bit. Nursing positions are in high demand in certain areas. Some medical providers offer tuition and visa assistance. There are a number of requirements from language test to a certain amount of classroom hours to passing US and State exams.

EMT is not a nursing position. Again you have to pass US and State exams. Federal and state agencies such as fire departments do no and cannot sponsor visas as one of the job prerequisits is citizenship.


You need a sponsor for your visa. A Green Card can be sponsored through an employer. You can read all the details on USCIS Home Page

You say you would have a green card. Through marriage or first degree family ties?

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by Threestep

Slow down a bit. Nursing positions are in high demand in certain areas. Some medical providers offer tuition and visa assistance. There are a number of requirements from language test to a certain amount of classroom hours to passing US and State exams.

EMT is not a nursing position. Again you have to pass US and State exams. Federal and state agencies such as fire departments do no and cannot sponsor visas as one of the job prerequisits is citizenship.


You need a sponsor for your visa. A Green Card can be sponsored through an employer. You can read all the details on USCIS Home Page

You say you would have a green card. Through marriage or first degree family ties?

If I have a greencard is there any an employer would train me or would i need to go to college to be an EMT? Not sure if it'd like to be a nurse.

The greencard would be through marriage but i wouldn't be moving to the US for a while. My boyfriend is here and almost has his citizenship (2 more years to go)

Even If i became an EMT (ambulance technician here) I could always transfer that and go straight into it over there?

[STT Resident]

Confused a bit about your boyfriend being there (in Scotland?) and has two years to go before he gets his citizenship. Citizenship of what country?

Obtaining a green card through marriage to a US Citizen is a very lengthy process and nowhere near as easy as it used to be years ago. I have friends here - she's English and married a US Citizen - and it took two years for her to get her green card and be eligible to work in the US even though they were living here. The whole process was apparently very frustrating.

I can't answer your question about transferring EMT credentials from one country to another - that would probably be an individual state matter. Cheers!

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Scotslass

If I have a greencard is there any an employer would train me or would i need to go to college to be an EMT? Not sure if it'd like to be a nurse.

The greencard would be through marriage but i wouldn't be moving to the US for a while. My boyfriend is here and almost has his citizenship (2 more years to go)

Even If i became an EMT (ambulance technician here) I could always transfer that and go straight into it over there?

As I posted - you have to pass State and Federal exams. Some of those require classroom training.
Even with a GC you are not eligible for Federal jobs and most State jobs.

"almost has his citizenship"? Will he be eligible to apply for his citizenship in two years? There is no set waiting period for citizenship.

[Scotslass]

He is American and is wanting to get dual citizenship.

I didn't realise I was only limited to certain type of work on a Green card, that is a bit strange. Would I need to be a US citizen to work as an EMT? Does that take a long time, even if we got married?

Thank you

[STT Resident]

I don't think anyone said that you're limited to certain types of work if you have a Green Card. The point is that obtaining a Green Card through marriage to a US citizen does take a long time and isn't anything automatic. In order to work in the US you have to be eligible to work which means that you either have to qualify for a working visa and be sponsored by a US employer - or have a Green Card as proof of resident alien status. Getting married to a US Citizen does not automatically give you the right to work in the US in any capacity, you still have to go through the immigration system.

Cheers!