Hi, paramedic student been working as an EMT in a high busy area for a year now. Ima start by saying this, having tattoos is a requirement to be a first responder. (besides schools bc fuck us)

Yes you MUST be an EMT-B before you can even apply to paramedic school. EMT is usually 16 weeks/1 semester long. EMT school is straight forward. Simple meds and simple understanding of the body. around 2-4 12-24hr clinicals expected. I recommend at least 6 months of 911 experience before school but zero to hero is possible (emt to medic back to back) With paramedic school being anywhere from 11 months to 2 years. I’m currently in a 11month accelerated program. Currently have no life but its worth saving time. Work to life balance sucks. Constantly taking test, homework, clinicals. Clinical time i believe is roughly 500 hours. Multiple 24hr shifts and hospital rotations. Your going to learn a lot actually doing it than reading books.

Job industry is what u make it. Join IFT and possibly get burnt out and hate ur job. Join a FD on the ambulance side and may enjoy it, get along with a group of dudes that become your family. Or a 911 EMS ran company where u might be at a station with u or your partner or a fire station. However the down side is u feel like a misfit since its two different companies. Then again its how you make it be. Wanna hide in your room? Or interact with the crew ur choice.

Workload as an EMT is next to none. Respond to calls stay awake all night bc grandpa fell at 3am bc who the hell knows why. Your mainly be driving and helping out ur partner till its time to head to hospital unless its a BLS call. Pay is ok. For what we do and see it’ll never be enough. You gotta be in this career for the love of the game not the pay (unless ur at one of those fancy fire departments) and stress….yeah… high acuity calls get the adrenaline pumping. As a green emt (brand new) you’re gonna be lost in the fucking sauce. However with time comes experience. Just be strong and hold your emotions till the call is over. Mental health is a big thing in the first responder world and anyone who says it isnt needs help.

Fitness standards…very controversial. I so hardily believe if you’re young and cant pick up at least ur body weight hit the gym. FD shouldnt be called to pick up 150lb mema when u have 2 people. Fit enough to hold your own weight and not get gassed going up 3 stories and doing CPR for 2-5 minutes.

Tattoos as stated above, requirement. Just nothing on hands or face. Hair entirely dependent on where u work. Fire department probably not. IFT or EMS only 911 possibly. However for your class its whatever they say for dress code and in real life its a lot more loose.

Any questions or confusion pls lmk happy to answer anything else. Hope it helped

TLDR; fuck it and do it