Alternative jobs for EMT/Medic besides the ambulance

If working on an ambulance doesn’t sound appealing to you, here are TEN alternative career ideas that will not only pay a little bit more than an ambulance, but maybe spark up your interest in EMS!!

** For full transparency, I will say that some of these jobs might require 6+ months experience either 911 or some form of ambulance provider care, but it really depends on the agency. Don’t let someone tell you its not possible**

1. PCT in hospital (Emergency Room Technicians (ERTs), or ER Tech)

   • While an EMT works from an ambulance & can have gaps between emergency calls, an ER tech works in a hospital emergency room where they might have to manage a constant flow of sick or injured patients. Because they are mobile, EMTs carry limited equipment, supplies, & medicines, & have limited on-site support. By contrast, the ER techs will have an entire hospital filled with diagnostic equipment, treatment resources, & medical expertise.

2. First Aid Instructor

   • First aid instructors teach the fundamentals of emergency medical care to various groups, including school teachers, childcare providers & other professionals responsible for people's wellbeing. They help individuals with limited medical knowledge to understand the best way to prevent a medical emergency from becoming life-threatening or more severe. Skills they teach include providing CPR, administering wound treatment, contacting emergency services & monitoring vital signs.

3. Dispatch

   • Emergency Dispatchers answer emergency & non-emergency calls & provide resources to assist those in need. They include 911 operators & dispatchers for police, fire, & ambulance agencies. They either work out of a dispatch center for a single agency (police, fire, ambulance, etc.) or in a larger communications center serving multiple types of services.

4. IV Therapy

   • So this type of occupation is really based on what state you live in & who the medical director is for your agency. You can work under your EMT license doing IV Therapy, but it has to be approved by your medical director. IV therapy includes inserting, monitoring & removing an IV used to give medications, blood products & nutrition to a patient. During the IV therapy, the EMT monitors the patient for adverse reactions & ensures that the tubing, bandages & needle stay in place.

5. Medical Assistant

   • Medical assistants fulfill basic patient care needs & assist with the administration of healthcare clinics. They inquire about patients medical histories, check vital signs & answer patients questions. Medical assistants also handle paperwork related to billing & patient documentation.

6. Diagnostic Clinic

   • This occupation is similar to a medical assistant but also requires the EMT to have basic knowledge pertaining to diagnostic imaging; proficient in radiology information, understand & consistently practice MRI safety, & performs i-Stat Creatinine testing.

7. Industrial Medic

   • (EMT or Medic) Many industrial medics work in remote locations such as industrial complexes, mines, or oil fields. Many industrial companies need a first responder in case of an injury or illness on the factory floor. The job responsibilities of an industrial medic are the same as an emergency medical technician. However, the main difference between the two roles is the number of patients you serve is generally restricted to your company’s employees & visitors.

8. Contract Medic

   • Most EMTs and paramedics work full-time for ambulance services, local governments, or hospitals. On the other hand, contract medics are more likely to work for private companies and in more unique environments. These include concerts, amusement parks, hotels, cruises, & festivals. These jobs are often contractual—meaning an EMT may work gig to gig (PRN)—though some offer full-time employment.

9. Offshore Medic

• Offshore Medics are usually paramedics or nurses, so your experience as an EMT or paramedic makes you highly qualified to pursue this position. This job position is very competitive & is also dangerous . They are prone to injury &, to complicate matters, they’re usually hours away from land (and the nearest hospital). So having a medic onboard to provide initial emergency treatment is absolutely necessary. An offshore medic works hard & can expect to spend two weeks at a time on the rig, working 12-hour shifts. But the pay is often more than generous, making the hard work worth it.

  10. Ski patrol/ Search & rescue

• Ski patrollers are responsible for maintaining & promoting skier safety, providing first-aid assistance to accident victims on the hill, & transporting injured skiers. They play a huge part in what makes any ski area run. Working as a ski patroller can be physically demanding, but it also might be the most rewarding job you’ve ever had.

• Some ski patrol members participate in difficult missions such as a rescue operation involving a skier who is stuck in a high angle location, an emergency chair lift evacuation, or a search & rescue mission within the entire ski area to locate a missing skier. Ski patrollers sometimes operate a snowmobile to patrol the ski area before it opens, after it closes, & on search-and-rescue missions. The ski patrol monitors the ski area to identify the risk of a potential avalanche & participates in snow stabilization & avalanche prevention activities.

I hope this helps you in your journey into the EMS world!!

& if you’re not interested in EMS at all, I hope this was informational!

as always,

xoxo ambie