Should I keep my EMT license?

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Specializes in Forensic Psychiatric Nursing.

I just got my RN license today, and moved from California to Oregon. I got my EMT license before the National Registry test was required, and when Oregon didn't recognize the National Registry. I knew I was going to move, but didn't see any advantage in taking the test.

Well, now they require the National Registry. I probably have at least a week before I start a job so I have time to skim through the book and take the NR EMT test so I can keep that license.

Is it worthwhile? I'm not planning on driving an ambulance anymore. I want to work in the ED, but I'm not sure what the benefit of maintaining an EMT card is anymore.

It would run me $200 or so to take the test, another $50 for the book, maybe another $100 for some fee or another, and I have to do continuing ed every two years.

I dunno.

What do you think?

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Yes.

You are early in the career.

You may want to do transport/flight someday.

That EMT may help "set you apart".

Good Luck!

Practice Safe!

;)

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I am one who always plans for the future and the "what ifs" in life.

I would keep your license. You never know what may happen in your life. You may need/want that license in the future for whatever reason..not to mention, it looks good on a resume'.

I was a NREMT-B. But due to a glitch in my States DPH, my EMT license expired quite a few months before it should have. I had called the DPH to rectify the problem and was assured that it would be corrected. I soon found out I was pregnant, and needless to say, I totally forgot about the license expiration date and the final outcome. That is until one day while looking through my wallet, I realized that my certification had expired according to my wallet card. I checked the website and realized they had never fixed the problem, called them and was told basically, "too bad, you should have called before it expired". They wanted me to do a 2 week refresher course, quite a few hrs of CE, etc. I was 8 1/2 mths pregnant at the time and all that they required just wasn't feesable. I had no plans on ever doing the EMT thing again anyway (long story) so I let it go.

Now I regret that decision. For the reason I stated, you just never know when you might need/want that cert. It would have come in handy when a local hospital was looking for ER techs and one of the requirements was an EMT cert...grrrr. I didn't have it so I couldn't apply for the job (pre-nursing license).

If it were me, if I had the time and the $, I'd take the test and keep the license active.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm in nursing school and I've already let mine expire. I got it right before the NR was created and I too am ineligible for it. I plan to at some point in the future if I ever feel the need attend a semester long (or condensed summer) retroactive paramedic course.

For the record, I'd be a bit uncomfortable working as an EMT-B along with an RN. Your RN scope far exceeds your EMT-B scope, but you may be restricted in your capacity. EMT-P seems like a better fit.

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It's a lot easier to keep it than to get it back. I'd hold onto it for a few cycles to be sure. You'll need a current EMT-B cert to bridge to EMT-P as an RN.

Pete Fitzpatrick

RN, CFRN, EMT-P

Writing from the Ninth Circle

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I would also keep all certifications. You never know...nursing may not be for you, or you may want to have a bit of variety of choices if need be.

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
I would also keep all certifications. You never know...nursing may not be for you, or you may want to have a bit of variety of choices if need be.

Very good advice! :D

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I let my EMT-B lapse during nursing school and though I do regret not having kept it up (no money or time, then) not having it hasn't hurt.

Having just passed NCLEX in June, seems to me -as far as interviewing goes- having EMT-B on my resume didn't do me any good. In fact, my friends who got the best paying new grad jobs had no previous healthcare experience at all.

I would say, if you can maintain that cert. easily, go ahead and do it. Otherwise, don't bother.

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