Minimum Age for Paramedics?

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Posted by Sean Crotty on April 30, 2008 at 8:41pm in General Firefighting & Rescue Discussion

Just wondering if any state, county or regional medical directors have minimum ages for Paramedics?
I know the path I took to become a Medic- from NYS Certified First Responder at age 16----EMT-Basic at age 18---onto EMT-Intermediate at age 19 and Paramedic at age 20.
I was not old enough to consume an alcoholic beverage legally, but I was responsible for Narcotics.
We had to have a minimum 6 months EMT-Basic experience before we could apply to EMT-I School, and a minimum of 1 year experience running on ALS Car to be enrolled in Medic School.
That allows for some experienced based decisions being made by the students, understanding and being able to identify what medically is happening, but how it is occurring.
Curious as I see a lot of young, in-experienced EMS folk in Medic School.
Just wondering what people’s credentials/pre-requisites was before entering Paramedic School.

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on April 30, 2008 at 8:47pm: Sean you have to be 18 to get national registry of any kind. Kind of a no brainer here my friend. The minimum age to get your paramedic is 18. Maximum allowable certification for EMS below 18 years old is EMT.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sean Crotty on April 30, 2008 at 9:06pm: I know the National Registry age is young, and there, as always, are the ones who are not ready to get NR...and fail either skills or written.
Like our area, they are more rigerous ensuring there are fundamentals in place, and we are not wasting the students time if we will be fighting an uphill battle.
Experience is invaluable.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tommy Jr. on April 30, 2008 at 8:58pm: Do you have to go through emt-i school to become a paramedic? i was told you can just be a basic, then go stright to paramedic... help me out...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sean Crotty on April 30, 2008 at 9:04pm: Yes you can go from Basic to EMT-P.....but get some experience.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tommy Jr. on May 1, 2008 at 5:02pm: thanks... will do; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on April 30, 2008 at 9:06pm: I think in most states you can be EMT B and take the medic program. The reccomendation is to take the ALS provider classes before you take the medic, so it is a much easier program for you to take. Again thats just a reccomendation.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rescuefrog on April 30, 2008 at 11:14pm: The school in Spokane requires at least 1 year EMT-B and your experience can come from ambulance service, fire or other and A&P 100 series. I am so glad that I had A&P 200 series as it benefited myself and 3 others in the class during pathophysiology. I just completed my internship and one of my recommendations is during clinicals, if you have no ambulance experience get at least 24 hrs in before internship. I'm a EMT for fire and sar with no amb time before that. I had to learn the way it's done on one as well as take care of the pt. It took a 2 days to figure out what goes on back there (each call different, where everything is at).; ▶ Reply to This

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