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A software engineer who earned his EMT certification in 2024 has published a personal account ranking the reasons he put off training, from the time and cost to concerns about EMS culture and whether he would fit in. His account describes one person’s experience, not a survey of EMTs or students, and says certification does not require a person to work on an ambulance.
A software engineer who earned an EMT certification in 2024 has published a personal ranking of the reasons he delayed training, including the time and expense, concerns about emergency-services culture and uncertainty about fitting in. The account describes his experience rather than a broader study, and argues that learning EMT skills can have value even for people who do not plan to work on an ambulance.
The author, writing on ben.stolovitz.com, says he became interested in medicine while in college but put off training for years. In 2024, he took a month away from his software job to attend an accelerated Wilderness EMT course run by NOLS. He reports that the program lasted 28 consecutive days and cost about $5,000, before airfare, car rental and the cost of taking time off work. He says a more typical course may cost around $2,000 and take place over a semester, though that figure is his estimate.
He ranks the time commitment and his concerns about EMS workplace culture among the more serious reasons for waiting. He describes a previous negative encounter with first responders that discouraged him from pursuing certification for a period. He also writes that he worried about burnout and what he characterizes as a “fratty” atmosphere at some services, while warning that women may face particular challenges. These are his observations and concerns, not findings about every EMS workplace.
Other reasons he considered included whether he would fit in with first responders or younger students, whether training would distract from his main job, and whether he would have to work on an ambulance. He says his class included many enthusiastic 18-year-old pre-med students as well as people closer to his age. He also concludes that an EMT credential can provide substantial first-aid training without obligating its holder to take ambulance shifts, while noting that maintaining certification may require continuing education and, depending on the credential, practical involvement.
Training Beyond the Ambulance
The account highlights a distinction that can be lost when EMT training is treated only as a route into ambulance work: certification offers structured emergency-care training, but the author says he did not see ambulance employment as his vocation. He describes learning CPR, using an automated external defibrillator and providing oxygen as worthwhile skills in themselves. Those examples reflect his course and his account of EMT scope; the procedures an EMT may perform depend on certification, local protocols and medical direction.
His experience also lays out practical barriers that may shape whether someone pursues training: time away from work, course fees, access to a suitable program and concerns about workplace culture. The report does not establish how common those barriers are. It does, however, show why prospective students may weigh the demands of training and future service work separately, rather than assuming that interest in medicine must lead to an ambulance job.
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From Interest to Certification
The author says a college friend first introduced him to the idea of becoming an EMT. He spent years considering it and tried less intensive preparation before enrolling, including reading, CPR and Stop the Bleed classes, and a weekend Wilderness First Aid course. Those steps did not satisfy his interest, he writes, and he eventually decided to take the accelerated course.
His chosen program required a concentrated month away, which he says was possible because of his workplace’s vacation policy, support from his manager and his ability to pay for travel and tuition. He contrasts that format with a more typical semester of evening classes. The differences matter: course length, location and total cost vary, so the author’s schedule and expenses should not be treated as standard for all EMT students.
He also considered search and rescue as a way to contribute without joining an ambulance service. After meeting people involved in the work, he concluded that field experience on an ambulance would be important if he wanted to become an effective EMT. He says volunteer EMS work can be easier to find outside large cities, although availability depends on location and transport.
““To be a good EMT, you have to actually take calls on an ambulance, hopefully more than the typical ‘1 weekend a month’ minimum.””
— The author of the report
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What His Account Cannot Establish
The report offers one person’s retrospective account. It does not quantify how often prospective EMTs face the same concerns, establish how widespread the culture problems he describes are, or compare student experiences across training programs. The author’s cost and course-length figures are specific to the examples he cites; readers would need to check current local programs for accurate fees, schedules and certification requirements.
It is also not clear from the account whether the author later took ambulance shifts, maintained his certification, or used his training in a professional or volunteer role. He says it is possible to value the learning without planning to join an ambulance service, but continuing education and renewal requirements vary by credential and jurisdiction.
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Renewal and Field Experience
The report does not announce a planned follow-up, and it gives no date for any future ambulance or volunteer work. For the author, the next practical questions are whether he will pursue field experience and how he will meet ongoing certification requirements if he does not serve with an ambulance provider.
Readers considering similar training would need to check with course providers and the relevant certification body about current tuition, prerequisites, renewal rules and local scope of practice. Volunteer openings and the need for field experience differ by service, so those details cannot be determined from the author’s account alone.
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Key Questions
When did the author become an EMT?
He says he completed an accelerated NOLS Wilderness EMT course in 2024, after delaying training for years.
How much did his course cost?
The author reports that his course cost about $5,000, excluding airfare, car rental and time away from work. He estimates a more typical course may cost around $2,000, but expenses and formats vary.
Did he plan to work on an ambulance?
No. He writes that ambulance work was not his vocation, while recognizing that field experience can matter for someone seeking to become an effective EMT. He says certification itself did not compel him to take ambulance shifts.
What concerns did he rank as most serious?
He identifies the time commitment and concerns about EMS culture as major barriers. He also describes worries about cost, fitting in, balancing training with his software job and keeping a certification current.
Source: hn
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