Reasons I didn't become an EMT, ranked
Analysis: Why I Postponed My EMT Certification (Ranked)
I currently hold an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) license. While my primary professional identity is that of a software engineer, I have harbored a long-standing fascination with the medical field.
The seed was planted during my college years via a friend, and the idea lingered for a long time. I procrastinated for years until 2024, when I finally dedicated a month of my life to earning the credential.
Below is a breakdown of the reasons I delayed this process, categorized by their level of absurdity.
📉 The "Ridiculousness" Scale
🟢 Not Ridiculous: The Legitimate Barriers
1. The Time Investment Obtaining the license is time-consuming. I opted for the NOLS Wilderness EMT program, which required 28 consecutive days.
- How I managed it: I benefited from Microsoft's unlimited vacation policy, a supportive manager, and the financial means to travel to Wyoming.
- The alternative: Most people endure a grueling semester of night classes.
- The catch: Certification is just the start; to be proficient, you must actually ride on an ambulance frequently.
2. The "Frat Boy" Culture A few years post-college, I had a negative encounter with first responders. To put it politely, many EMS services suffer from a "fratty" atmosphere. While people offer various justifications for this, the cultural barrier was a significant deterrent for me.
Note: Programs like NOLS WEMT can sometimes offer a healthier, more inclusive culture.
🟡 Kinda Ridiculous: The "Maybe" Factors
3. Social Integration I worried I wouldn't fit in. First responder communities are often tight-knit and hereditary (e.g., multi-generational families of NYC firefighters). However, I discovered that volunteers come from all walks of life—my own onboarding mentor is a Project Manager at a tech firm.
4. Peer Group Anxiety I wondered if I'd be the odd one out among students. In reality, my class was a mix of:
- Eager 18-year-old pre-med students.
- Adults my age seeking medical knowledge for similar personal reasons.
5. The "Career Signal" I noticed a pattern: I tended to crave EMS training whenever my software job felt stagnant. I viewed this urge as a signal to on my primary career. While a useful metric, I eventually realized it's healthy to pursue passions outside of one's 9-to-5.
6. Role Ambiguity If you aren't in the field, the scope of an EMT is vague. It's more than just driving, but less than being a paramedic.
- The Reality: It's essentially "Advanced CPR." I used the same AEDs as a layperson (since EMTs can't use manual defibrillators), but with significantly more training and the ability to administer oxygen.
7. Geographic Logistics Finding a place to volunteer varies by city:
| City | Volunteer Availability |
|---|---|
| NYC/Hoboken | Relatively accessible (e.g., Hatzalah or Hoboken EMS) |
| Seattle/SF | Significantly more difficult |
8. Employment Status I didn't want a part-time paid gig because I already love my main job. However, volunteer opportunities are plentiful if you have a vehicle.
9. Certification Decay I feared that without a steady ambulance rotation, I couldn't meet the NREMT's continuing education requirements, leading to an expired license. But then I realized: it's okay to learn something just for the sake of knowing it.
10. The SAR Detour To avoid the ambulance culture, I looked into Search and Rescue (SAR). Their orientation packet had a humorous warning:
"If you register and fail to show up for training, we will find you—because we are incredibly good at finding people."
Ultimately, I realized that to be a useful EMT in a SAR context, I still needed "truck experience."
11. The Financial Cost Learning medicine is an expensive hobby. My NOLS course cost \approx \5,000$2,000$, it's still a steep price for "fun." However, if the interest persists for years, it's rarely a waste.
🔴 Ridiculous: The Total Denials
12. "I don't actually want to learn this"
I didn't want to do it. I spent an absurd amount of time on Reddit researching the profession. The desire was clearly there.
13. The Harsh Reality of the System During training, I saw the grim side of EMS: a woman arguing with insurance providers to see if a life-saving helicopter flight for her husband would be covered. This highlighted that full-time EMS is not for me.
14. The Scope of Practice EMTs are the entry-level medical tier.
- Cannot: Diagnose patients.
- Must: Follow strict protocols.
- Action: Defer to higher-trained personnel for anything beyond basic trauma (like a broken arm).
15. The Glamour Gap Media portrayals make the job seem like a constant adrenaline rush—waking up at 3 AM for a heart attack call. In reality, the vast majority of the job is simply waiting.
Final Checklist for Aspiring EMTs
- Accept that it takes a lot of time.
- Prepare for potentially weird culture.
- Budget for the cost.
- Understand that you'll spend a lot of time waiting.
- Just do the real thing.
![NOLS WEMT Image Placeholder: A photo of a makeshift litter improvised in the wilderness] NOLS WEMT: I likely won't need to improvise a litter ever again.