u/Illustrious-Order980

Where can I find "Public Safety First Aid" in-person certification courses?

I’m starting an EMT course while working 2 jobs, around 40 hours/week total. I also want to take the FCTC written exam and can realistically study about 1 hour a day.

For those who have taken the FCTC, how long would you recommend studying at that pace? 2 months? 3 months? Longer? I’m mainly looking to get a competitive score, not just barely pass.

Any advice from people who have balanced FCTC prep with work/school would be appreciated.

Had a ride-along recently and had a blast. Great group of guys. Seeing the FF2s and FAEs miss their ladies made me question whether I want the lifestyle, and I was surprised by how common nicotine use was around the station. But then I went home and realized I didn't care about not getting paid and hate being home lol. I went back to my normal 8–4 medical scribing job today, and the contrast was clear. Instead of doing something about problems, I was mostly listening to the practitioner complain about them. The firefighters were actually doing something.

I'm doing EMT this fall and fire academy in the spring. My goal is to get on with CAL FIRE as an FFI Schedule A. I know jobs are very limited right now (I got laughed by Admin when I asked this), but I want to get my foot in the door and see where it goes. Anyone know when CAL FIRE FFI Schedule A applications usually open?

Does anyone know of any California earn-while-you-learn or employer-sponsored paramedic programs that only require 1 year or less of employment after graduation? I'm an EMT looking for the fastest path to becoming a paramedic while getting paid so I can move out of my parents' house ASAP. Any recommendations are appreciated.

A couple months ago I posted here asking if I was crazy for considering CAL FIRE over medicine. At the time I was mostly worried about the sacrifices to become a doctor.

I took the MCAT a few days ago, and I'm still split.

Studying for that exam took over my life for 8 months. It wasn't just the workload. I spent most of my time alone, wasn't sleeping well, started feeling awkward in conversations, and I'd get headaches after a few hours of studying. I don't want to spend the next several years feeling like that again.

One thing I realized during all of this is that I really value working with a team. The more I learned about CAL FIRE, the more the crew environment appealed to me. Since my last post I've talked with several CAL FIRE captains, and I have a ride-along coming up soon.

Another thing I've had to come to terms with is that I'm not into women, so I don't think the traditional path of getting married and having kids is in the cards for me. Because of that, having a close crew, good coworkers, and solid friendships means a lot to me.

At the same time, I still enjoy medicine. I like patient care, I like science, and I can still see myself becoming a family physician.

For those of you who have been with CAL FIRE for a while, did the crew culture actually live up to what you expected? Or is it just another job once you've been in it long enough?

I'm not looking for someone to make the decision for me. I'm just interested in hearing from people who've actually lived the job.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

This isn't a post asking for study advice.

I've been studying for about 6 months. I use the Pomodoro method, take breaks, go to the gym, and I'm training to become a clinical assistant. I'm trying to do everything "right," but I feel like this process has completely worn me down.

Some days my head is throbbing after studying. My eyes get so strained from looking at a screen that I have to stop. During full-length exams I'll catch myself zoning out in the middle of passages, even after taking breaks and even after taking L-theanine. There are times where I put my head down and squirm in my seat because I don't want to reread the paragraph for the third time.

Outside of studying, I don't feel like myself anymore. I even feel guilty when I go for a run because it feels like I should be building my life instead of just preparing for it. Its become difficult to hold a conversation in the gym, because I spend so much time alone that conversations don't come as naturally anymore in the gym. The isolation has honestly been one of the hardest parts of this whole process.

I'm not asking if I should postpone my exam or change my study plan. I still want to give this exam my best effort. I'm just wondering if anyone else hit this point where they felt mentally exhausted and isolated. If you did, what helped you get through that last month, and did you feel like yourself again after the MCAT?

I got offered a CNA training opportunity, but it’s pretty intense (12 hour days, 3 days a week) and I’m currently studying for the MCAT. I’m trying to figure out whether CNA experience is actually valuable for med school applications, or if I’d be better off doing an accelerated EMT course instead.

Part of why I’m considering it is because nonstop MCAT studying is starting to get to me mentally, and I feel like having a real job/purpose outside of studying might honestly help me feel more useful and grounded.

For people who’ve applied or are in med school:

• Is CNA experience viewed positively?
• Is EMT generally considered stronger clinical experience?
• Which gave you better patient interaction/interview stories?
• If you could choose one before med school, which would you pick?

The MCAT is a lot, and doing this completely alone is exhausting. I’m looking for a study partner who is actively preparing, but I also want a genuine friend.

I’m looking for someone to connect with regularly; texting throughout the day, calling to talk through the stress, and just hanging out virtually while we study. We can keep each other on track, but also just be there to talk about life outside of medicine when we need a break.

If you are serious about the exam but also want a real friend to go through this whole crazy process with, please drop a comment or send me a DM!

Hey everyone. I am studying for the MCAT and recently hit a strange wall. I have a constant mental ache that is not exactly painful but always there and worse when I try to study. This started after a two point drop from my post content review baseline.

Since then I feel a strong aversion to studying even when I push through. I stopped listening to music. I started reading books instead. I am struggling to understand questions in the same style I practiced for months with JW and Ufold. I stopped using Ufuel because it started to feel overwhelming.

I also enrolled in a premium tutoring 515 plus guaranteed program and I am on a payment plan so there is good challenging pressure. I took a full day off but the mental ache is still there.

Has anyone experienced something like this and what helped.

I’m 23 and just finished my bachelor’s degree. The MCAT is next, but I’m seriously considering dropping the med school track to go for a permanent Firefighter II position with CAL FIRE instead. To be honest, it doesn’t make sense to me to become a doctor just to live with massive debt for the rest of my life. I don't want a mountain of loans that I need to pay off for 10 years (NSHA).

A huge factor for me is the work environment. I want to be part of a team-based culture. In my experience, studying for medicine is isolating, whereas I’m looking for a crew where you live and work as a unit. I’m being honest about wanting a culture where I feel I’d belong and be taken seriously as part of a team. Medicine, for me, has felt like a bottleneck with not enough med school or residency spots, whereas CAL FIRE actually has enough room for someone to become an Engineer if they stick to the program.

I haven’t even done my clinicals yet, so I’m at a crossroads. I know I can handle the academic side of the schooling fine, but I’m questioning if it really matters at the end of the day. I’d rather have a real career and a crew right now than chase prestige. Am I throwing my life away, or is walking away from the doctor path the right move?