Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are first responders who offer life-saving care to people who are experiencing medical emergencies. As licensed medical providers, they are responsible for both diagnosing and understanding medical issues and providing care for patients before they can be examined in an emergency room or other location.
Emergency medical services is a demanding but rewarding job, and one which many consider to be an excellent way to get invaluable medical experience before moving to a different role. If you’re an EMT or paramedic interested in a career path beyond EMS administration, here are some of the many options in front of you.
Nurses and Physician Assistants
One common next step for EMTs and paramedics is to move into a medical role with more responsibility. This often means becoming a nurse or physician assistant, which can require further schooling and a wider breadth of medical experience.
Employment of registered nurses – already topping 3 million in 2023 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – is projected to grow 6% through 2033. Additionally, employment of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses – positions like nurse practitioner that typically require master’s degrees – are projected to grow at an even higher rate of 40% through 2023.
Physician assistants are less common, but it’s also a growing profession. The BLS projects employment of PAs to grow by 28% from 2023 to 2033.
Medical Technicians
Moving away from direct care for patients and into other roles in an office or clinic setting can also be appealing. One option is seeking work as a medical technician. These roles typically involve assisting a doctor, surgeon or other specialist to prepare and conduct medical care, whether it be X-rays or other imaging, surgery, clinical testing or some other form of care. Medical technicians are often tasked with cleaning, prepping and sometimes gathering information from patients for doctors to make informed diagnoses.
Health Information Technologists
EMTs and paramedics who are particularly skilled with technology and computers may be interested in transitioning to careers as health information technologists. These health care professionals may use electronic systems to store and retrieve patient data. Additionally, medical registrars are health care professionals who create and maintain databases of information, some of which track particular diseases or conditions.
Emergency Dispatcher
Another option for EMTs and paramedics is transitioning to a role as an emergency dispatcher. Experience as an EMS professional can help you in this kind of role, as it gives insight into the timing and process of medical emergencies. Additionally, there has been recent support at the national level to recognize the life-saving work done by emergency dispatchers.
Fire Service
Finally, EMTs and paramedics who still feel drawn to being a first responder but now seek something different may be interested in transitioning to the fire service. Firefighters are commonly required to hold EMS certifications, so it can be a natural transition. Additionally, the duties of EMS and fire service professionals are often intertwined, and they sometimes even operate out of the same facility.
Education Options at CSU
No matter what your career goals are, education can be a critical factor in helping you achieve them. To learn more about Columbia Southern University’s online degree programs in emergency medical services, fire science, health care administration, public administration and more, visit our website.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography and degree field, affect career outcomes. CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
