Any reason to maintain national registry cert?

[HereToLearn]

So here's my situation...

I currently work for a private ambulance company in Los Angeles while finishing my BS in Fire Protection Admin. My ultimate goal is to become a firefighter in California. I am also approaching the two year mark of being an EMT and I am getting ready to recert. I was made aware by our local EMS office that there are zero requirements for EMT's to maintain national registry status in California.

So, if I only plan on working in CA are there any companies or fire departments that would count it against me for not maintaining my national registry status?

[mgr22]

National Registry certification is easier to keep than to regain. It can be very valuable if you move to another State and want reciprocity.

I understand that you are planning to stay in CA, and that you are more interested in firefighting than EMS, but consider the possibility that you might have an unexpected change in plans one day. That's what happened to me. NR certification made it much easier to get licensed and find work after my move.

[croaker260]

I have to second that. I can easily name DOZENS of medics who wish they kep thteir NR beccause they moved to a different service or state where they didnt expect to need it.

Let me tell you one of the most recent glaring examples of this. ....


I know most o flight medics that work for a local hospital based flight service. That service previously operated its multiple bases solely in our state. Recently, however, it opened a base a few miles across the state line. Now previously they had frequently responded out of state, but from stations in state. Even though its operation was based out of our state, it had a station newly opened at another states airport (Just across the state line).

Suddenly all the medics had to be NR certified in this new state. In some cases 20 year medics had to do the skills and CBT, or their job was at risk! They never moved residences, they never changed employers, but because of an operational change, they had to get the NR, as it was in their job descriptions that they had to be able to work at all the bases.

In short the future is an unpredictable beast. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Anything else is foolish. Especially considering how EMS is a major role (right or wrong) in most fire services, you can no longer lead an fire only career now.