Question About Work Exp-VS-College ED.

[jedimedic9428]

Hi, to all my question is i have little college, but a whole lot of work exp in my current profession ( Paramedic),Can my work exp and certification as a paramedic help me in some way, in the hiring process verses having a 2-year degree.I,understand that there is no subsititue to an education. Can anyone help out with some input planning on a new profession in LEO in Flordia..

[sureshot015]

Yea it will defenitaly help you. It shows that you have loyalt, and that you can hold a high stress job for an extended peroid. Also medical skills are pretty desireable. But I'd have to say that alot of depts. are puting more and more emphsis on the degree. It realy nice to say that your dept. has 75% of its officers holding degrees................but its hard to add on, oh yea, and one was a paramedic. It know its a bastardized system, b/c im sure you have tons more life experience than a college grad. The best advice is if you want a job now, send out some aps, test the water, and see what you get back. It can do no harm. But if you can get the degree, get the degree, b/c you're going to want it eventually anyway. Hope that helps, and good luck

Addition: didnt realize that you were looking in florida. There are a few depts down here who offer incentive pay to officers with Para/EMT certs. Ill post them up if I can find em. Alot of depts down here are starting to require a minimum of 30 semester hours in addition to the hours gained from the academy. There are a good number of depts though which are smaller, and dont have the best pay that would def. hire a former EMT. Work 2 years at one of those, use tuition payback to get your degree, and move to a larger dept. with more bennies.

[jedimedic9428]

Hey, Thanks for your input,Really does help me when i get good info from a flordia LEO. If you can find the list of departments,it will be great thanks for your help..... Oh by the way i have 30 credits-(Paramedic Program) ,And taking online courses at www.FEMA.GOV earning 1-college credit per a course.All about emergency managment.