Yep. Back in 1995 I started out as an EMT on a 911 ambulance at $7.50 an hour. Today's rate are higher but still very, very low. After I got into EMS I really began to realize just how little the profession is paid and in many cases how little sme respect it. That is true of many jobs you do not see the importance of till you need them.

Many still refer to them as ambulance drivers and many do not realize that there are skills and educational requirements between the various levels of EMS licensure/ certification.

I spent about 5 years at a hospital based 911 EMS service that paid enough to earn a living before I went to the fire academy. I paid my way through EMT, then Paramedic and lastly fire school while working a full time job. Luckily my employers all let mework out a schedule that let me do both. It sucked, you lose a lot of sleep but no regrets now. Been a FF/Paramedic about 20 years now. The good times outnumber the bad. Have enjoyed it and hopefully have left things better than I found them. Definitely ready to close the book on that career in a couple of years and retire. Will still work a bit just no more fire or EMS. Something totally unrelated if I have my way.

I start a 48hr shift in tbe AM....will be glad to never do one of those again.

Generally speaking credits generally transfer except sciences which have to be with five years so look at A&P, microbiology, maybe chemistry, maybe algebra. If you can get an interview ask someone who knows what the GPA has to be to be competitive.