Generic

Here is a good website about the origins of paramedicine. http://www.pioneersofparamedicine.com/ Video:

Yes, each county or regional EMS agency handles their own accreditation process. Each county has their own medical director who establishes their own policies and protocols (via committee). For the most part, protocols are very similar but some counties may have certain meds or procedures while other counties do not. The fire service basically started EMS in California so it has been within the fire service from the beginning. Of course, there are all types of EMS systems in California with public and private providers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnYeUHyZv_o Sorry, we don't "sit around getting paid" around here. Your chances of getting hired as a firefighter increases if you are a paramedic. There are less candidates for the job of firefighter/paramedic as there are for firefighter/EMT. Exactly

You will need to take and pass the National Registry test. I haven't taken it because I became a paramedic before it was required and I am grandfathered in so I don't have much information on it. If you haven't already, go to http://www.nremt.org for more info. California has a crazy system. Once you are done with the state license (nremt etc.), you have to be "accredited" within the county you want to work. You take your state card to the local EMS agency and go through their hoops. It shouldn't be as bad as the state hoops. The local EMS agency won't issue you a card until you have a paramedic job within that county. Once you have a job, you can start the process of being accredited. Your employer will know what to do. Basically, you are correct. You need 40 ALS contacts during your internship/training. An ALS contact is any invasive procedure. IV/IO access, drug administration, defib/cardioversion, intubation etc... I think you get the idea. The only ALS skill that doesn't count is cardiac monitoring. That could be abused as every pt could potentially be placed on the monitor whether they need it or not. Question 11 on the link below talks about reciprocity from the California EMS authority. http://emsa.ca.gov/paramedic/files/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.pdf In my experience, hiring seems to come in waves. 6 months of no hiring followed by 6 months constant hiring. Like any medical field, there are is a shortage of paramedics. The economy seems to have slowed down that shortage. It could be hit or miss with you. Southern California has more fire department based EMS then the rest of the state so it will be harder to get a job. Please, unless you are 14 years old, it is California and not Cali. This is up to you. Do you want to be a firefighter? It is not required as there are private ambulance paramedics that are not associated with the fire department. If you do, then a firefighter I academy is a good idea. Generally speaking, firefighter/paramedic makes a better living then a private ambulance paramedic and the working conditions are better. I think as a private ambulance paramedic, you can make a decent wage depending on where you work but you will have to watch your pennies a little more.