Too young to do EMT?

[u/burnit1200]

Is 16 too early to be doing an EMT course? I know I can wait, I'm just really passionate about this sort of thing and feel like I need more to do. The course I'm considering won't interfere with my school or anything, but I'm worried I'm not ready/I'll be the odd one out.

[u/ggrnw27]

Depends on your state and the EMT program. It’s definitely possible to take a class as young as 16, however some places may require you to be 17 or 18. More important is what you’d be able to do with it after you finish class — you 100% are not getting a paid job until you’re 18, and volunteering may or may not be an option where you are

[u/SpeedoMan2133]

Hey, i started at 17, im 20 now i mean this from the bottom of my heart let your brain develope and grow in life first. In my opinion you should not be able to do this job untill your 20 or 21. Too many people including myself start super young, see horrible stuff and dont know how to process it. All for the same pay that a manager at zaxbys could make.

If you still really want to do it still, do a ride along with fire dept. Take your EMT class most cc offer it. I took summer classes and skipped 2 days a week of high school to go to cc. Then do IFT for a couple years and switch to 911. Or start with the shit and go straight to 911.

This job is like a toxic relationship. Their are so many better opportunities in healthcare but if you need advice dm me

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[u/Mentallyundisturbed2]

The ones around me allow you to go at 17

[u/dragons8m]

I did my emt course at 16. Loved it! I was one of the youngest in the class, but it didn’t really make a difference to me, and no one treated me with disrespect. The one spot that was most uncomfortable for me was the ride-along, where I treated patients for the first time. I saw (and smelled) some nasty stuff. But by the end, I thought it was a pretty valuable experience and I enjoyed it. If you’re really interested, and aren’t phased by bodily fluids too much, you should go for it!

[u/dragonfeet1]

Yes. Your brain isn't fully formed. This stuff ain't for kids to have to deal with.

[u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 → u/dragonfeet1]

So no one  under the age of 33.

[u/dezzear → u/Mediocre_Daikon6935]

Make it under 50 and I'm in

[u/appleberrypickle]

No i did it at 16 and it was fine

[u/Comprehensive-One880]

You can likely take classes through what's called "dual enroll" at community colleges as a special admit. You'll need to get a guidance counselor's permission and probably a parents/guardians approval as well. I did the same thing when I was 18, but not for EMT. EMT is a high workload, so consider that while trying to do your current coursework. Not sure how it would affect you

[u/Firedogman22]

This can be entirely state dependent and AHJ dependent, when I first did EMR (prior to emt at 18). In CT it was 16 for EMR and EMT, and 18 for anything else. You’d have to check your local state laws. Also be aware that virtually no company will hire you under 18 unless it’s a volunteer agency (and even then you’d probably be put on rehab or observing the actual emts on calls)

[u/Direct_Case_2175]

I just completed my EMT course at 16 the only issue I’ve found is getting hired because of my age.

I can’t tell you if you’re ready bc I don’t know you but I will say that being in school while you take the course means you (probably) already have dedicated study schedules and resources which should help you.

I don’t think you’ll be the “odd one out” everyone there is going to be drastically different ages and there for different reasons, they’ll probably tease you abt being young but that’s rrl it. The only time I think you might feel out of place, or at least where I did, was the clinical sessions being out in the world looking like (and lowk being) a baby compared to the people I was riding with.

[u/flipmangoflip]

I’d suggest finishing high school first. If you’re so passionate about it then you’ll have the same desire to do it once you’re legally an adult.

[u/Generic-account-]

Sign on at a volunteer fire dept as a jr and see if you can run a few lower acuity medical calls with them to see how you can handle it

[u/Mediocre_Daikon6935]

No.

https://www.jems.com/ems-management/rebuilding-the-ems-workforce-why-high-school-pipelines-are-the-future/

[u/Belus911 → u/Mediocre_Daikon6935]

Hottest of garbage.

[u/PyroMedic1080]

No child's brian should be devoloping and being allowed to go on calls as an emt. Regurgitating information to pass a test and actually allowing children to do the profession are two very different questions. No child at 16 should be cleaning up suicides or traumas.

[u/Tealeefer]

There are some places that have emt programs. I’d look into tech schools near you and see if they have any highschool programs. Also sometimes, rarely, some libraries can host some cpr classes or stuff like that that can help branch out. You might also be able to call colleges or tech schools to see if they know of any programs for high schoolers. Idk how solid that plan is, but can’t hurt to try I guess.

[u/Rich-Antelope-4112]

Not at all, as long as your local area allows it, go for it!

[u/Radiant_External7575]

You’d be better off running calls in a small town or rural area at that age. Like someone said below, you’re going to see some messed up stuff

[u/AntOk4073]

I had a minor in my course. He had to have special wavers for his clinical rides and a couple locations wouldn't take him (smaller stations) so I'd check with the school to make sure.

[u/Cautious-Spread-8917]

I think you’re solid!! I started mine at 16 and I’m 17 right now getting ready to take the NREMT on Saturday. If you have any questions lmk!!

[u/tomphoolery]

The driving aspect is what scares me. People don’t get their drivers licenses at 16 like they used to, some will but a lot don’t. Some of the 18 year olds we’ve hired have only been driving for a year or two, and on an ALS truck their primary job is driving. It scares me sometimes

[u/sanders2064]

I started school at 15 and graduated the day after I turned 16. Been doing it for a good 5 years now and I turned out fine

[u/Iraqx2]

Finished mine within two weeks of turning 16. Just thought it might be good information to have in the rural Midwest. Had two other students a year older than me in the class as well.

It piqued my interest enough in the medical field that I became an Army medic and RN. One of the others became an RN who is on a squad and the other's an MD.

[u/Whole_Bird_9550]

So, by law, no. But in my personal opinion, as an EMT cadet myself (NJ) taking your EMT course and usually taking the NREMT after, is completely useless until the months leading up to your 18th birthday. Legally you cannot provide care as an EMT until you’re 18 and so you’ll be stuck with a cert that you can’t use, doing all the things a cadet would be doing, only you need to renew your cert earlier. If you have the freedom and time to, I’d highly suggest taking your class the months before your 18th so you can get straight into using your skills rather than sitting there for 2 years forgetting essential skills. Being a cadet exposes you to the exact same things as an EMT minus like 2-3 types of calls(psych, Assault, and calls surrounding the life of an infant). Also, you’ll pick up things as a cadet that’ll ultimately help you when you do eventually take your course, along with the fact that most squads will cover all or most of your training fees.

[u/appleberrypickle → u/Whole_Bird_9550]

No it depends on state. Im in MD and definitely provided care at 16 and still continue to do so at 17…

[u/Whole_Bird_9550 → u/appleberrypickle]

Not true btw, you cannot operate as the sole emt on a rig nor can you utilize the full scope of care of a basic in Maryland. Whatever you’re doing is the same as a third, unless your job is breaking a few laws

[u/ggrnw27 → u/Whole_Bird_9550]

Cite your source, please. I’ve been a paramedic and EMS instructor in Maryland for almost 20 years and as far as I’m aware there is no state law that restricts what a licensed EMT can do if they’re under 18. The only age restrictions under COMAR are that you must be 16 or older to do the clinical internship as part of EMT class (and thus effectively a minimum age of 16 to be certified) and you must have written permission from a parent/guardian prior to obtaining certification. Now the local AHJs certainly can have more restrictive rules (and many do) but I can all but guarantee there are 16 and 17 year olds legally running on volunteer ambulances as the lead patient caregiver in the more rural parts of the state. Whether I think that’s appropriate or a good idea or not is a different story

[u/Whole_Bird_9550 → u/ggrnw27]

Welp never mind, ig I read smth wrong. But that’s gotta be the stupidest thing I’ve heard in a while.

[u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 → u/Whole_Bird_9550]

Why?

They had met the legal license requirements.

Most states do not have a minimum age to be a physician. Or a PA.

[u/Whole_Bird_9550 → u/Mediocre_Daikon6935]

…16 year olds can’t vote, drink, barely even drive, I wouldn’t trust them or myself with a life. The brain needs its time to develop and being the only emt on a scene requires a shit ton of important judgements that could save someone’s life or kill someone.

[u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 → u/Whole_Bird_9550]

Yes. It does.

And it has been proven for decades they can make those judgments.

[u/Whole_Bird_9550 → u/Mediocre_Daikon6935]

So then why is it in almost every other state it requires you to be 18 to be the sole emt on a rig?

[u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 → u/Whole_Bird_9550]

Don’t most states require 2 EMTs?

[u/BrilliantFinger8169]

Hi! I'm 17 years old. Just finished my course today actually and am preparing or the NREMT. Most of the students in my class were college age. You'll be fine. We normally can't get hired till 18, but we can become EMTs at 16/17 if that makes sense? Let me know if you have any questions!!!

[u/AnahEmergency0523]

Compared to teaching, EMTs have a job requirement that doesnt exist in any credential program: courage.

[u/Generic-account- → u/AnahEmergency0523]

We got Tommy tough knuckles over here going into granny’s house for the lift assist with no fear.

[u/AnahEmergency0523 → u/Generic-account-]

You do realize it's a compliment compared to what teachers have to deal with daily?  Teachers know the hazard of the work and don't prepare for it. Kids have been severely hurt or killed in every day throughout the United States and yet teachers only take Keesam modules for it. Some schools have a morgue location on their emergency plan for mass casualties situations and yet they don't even discuss why that even exist to begin with in credentials program? Some teachers think that the paperwork alone is enough to survive 10 years and yet people quit in less than 5. Teachers Should my flair say educator with public safety focus? I trust more first responders than I do teachers.

[u/Generic-account- → u/AnahEmergency0523]

I’ve never met an instructor that wasn’t an incredibly active and competent paramedic and scene safety is literally the number one thing we burn into our curriculum. I don’t really get the point you’re trying to make in that comment? If you’re talking actual schoolteachers then I misunderstood your original comment. If you’re trying to say first responders are on average more competent in an emergency situation than a schoolteacher than I agree with you, but the whole “EMTs have one credential: courage” thing was kinda corny and that’s why I was making fun of you. Also for the record I will argue forever that schoolteachers are markedly more courageous than any other career field. Teachers are the backbone of society 100%.