It's true. If you have a background or a knack for EMS, then by all means take the accelerated course. If many of us think back to when we new EMT's, most of us didn't feel prepared for the first real call we had to sign our names to. Yes, I took the 4 month course back in 1994. However, the words in the books were skills that needed to be practiced on pts. Not family members.
Try this. Take the course, garner all the information you can from that resourse. Study your &#$@ off, take the test. If you pass the test, then go forth, young one and EMT to your hearts content. If you don't pass the test, re-take the test, etc.
I'm sure I'm not the only medic in hx to take cme or training classes that I didn't need- just because I liked the topic. (if the county pays I'm there). Afterall, a better trained basic makes a better trained partner, but I digress. If you do the 18 day be prepared to study, in the bathtub, the car, your sleep. Everywhere for that 18 days. My old roommate did the 24 day class. He passed the class, and failed the test, did it over. Regretted spending the money on the accelerated but was really well prepared for the 4 month course. LOL = lots of luck (for this one at least)