FROM MILITARY MEDIC TO CIVILIAN EMT

Could the transition be simpler?

A military medic can provide lifesaving care in uniform. But what happens when that same medic comes home and wants to become an EMT? 

Military medics and Navy corpsmen receive extensive medical training and hands-on experience while serving our country. Yet translating those skills into a civilian healthcare career can be more complicated than many people realize.

California does recognize qualifying military medical training. Some transitioning servicemembers and veterans may be eligible to challenge EMT coursework rather than starting their training from scratch. 

But the pathway isn't always simple. 

EMT certification in California is administered through local EMS agencies and other certifying entities, with training provided through approved EMT programs. A transitioning servicemember may need to determine whether their military training qualifies, find an approved program offering the appropriate challenge examination, complete testing and other requirements, and then navigate the certification process.

That raises an important question: 

Are we making it as straightforward as possible for qualified military medics and corpsmen to put their skills to work in our communities? 

At a time when California communities depend on a strong emergency medical workforce, it's a question worth asking. 

Over the coming months, VetFund will be taking a closer look at the transition from military medical service to civilian healthcare careers — where the barriers are, what's working, and where we may be able to do better.