I think that two year degrees would be a good thing if it produced a significant increase in pay and recognition. However, it does not do this right now even for those who do have it. You receive the same basic medical training either way, you just have to put up with all the other crap classes to be able to do it, though some states do require you have college level math and english in order to start a paramedic class (great ideas). Despite this one growing problem I am seeing with university based programs as opposed to fire programs is the lack of clinical experience which is obtained. This seems to be greatly lacking for two reasons. One in a two year degree, most go straight through emt into medic class with little to no time on a truck. They have excellent book knowledge and understanding of diseases, and know what to do, but lack the confidence in doing it, whereas in my experience, department trained medics or those with significant experience on a truck fare much better. A medic is simply nothing more than a basic with a bag of tricks. If all your fancy drugs and equipment fail, you have to rely on good basic skills, and university schooled medics seem to have tunnel vision on the advanced procedures, and lose track when forced to rely on basics. University based programs rely on financial aid, are much more expensive, and there is a push to get students through quickly. Though one plus for them is the financial assistance and usually better labs to learn in and larger budget to purchase needed supplies. Also, it is more difficult to attend classes on a 24-48 schedule. Truthfully, unless they have dual classes and allow you to attend either day as your shift allows, it is truly almost impossible to work and go. If it were a perfect world and EMS was how I would like, everyone would have two years in a high volume service as a basic before even considering going to paramedic school. 1 year minimum before intermediate or emt-advanced. That ensures the needed experience. The college level math and english to allow for drug calculations and well written reports, and finally the actual class time would take 2 years to complete. These accelerated courses leave much out, or barely glazed over. I have been on both sides, taking my basic through a university, then choosing to take 2 years off went to work for a department who paid for me to obtain my medic and they put me through, but it took two years to complete the entire program and was not an associate's degree. My next obstacle to tackle will be obtaining my critical care endorsement, but that has a two year experience requirement which I think is great. If these modifications were put in place, I think we would see a tremendous improvement in the quality of care given to our patients and respect gained from the community.
