Reciprocity from the UK to the US

[timmah27]

Hi there my name is Steve and I am a State Registered Paramedic here in UK and I am really keen to move to the US (Florida) however I cant seem to find anything on how I can use the training I have recieved here to take either the NAEMT exam or to gain a Florida State Licence and would appriciate any information from other EMS members especially those who may have already moved from the UK. Look forward to all replies Thanks.

[davjohnson]

Years ago, I asked a similar question while visiting the UK. The first response was to learn to speak English!!! :)

No one there knew the answer and had no real reference to compare to. There is no reciprocity to my knowledge but some training and education may transfer between schools. Set aside the minor differences in some terminology and equipment, medical control, and legal issues, you shouldn't have much problem adapting. Also remember, we drive on the right, and roundabouts are few and far between in the US. :)

There are US military members on these forums who could probably give you more recent info.

Best of luck to you!!!

[triemal04]

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/EMT-Paramedic/requirements-pmd.html

http://www.nremt.org/about/nremt_news.asp

First link is to Florida's dept of health which run's their paramedic certifications at the state level, second is to the group that certifies medics at the national level.

I'm not from Florida and have no wish to be a medic there (at least one who was taught there) so I can't give you a lot of info, but those links should help. From a glance it looks like if you have your national certification you can challenge to get Florida's stat certification which is required to work as a medic there.

Unfortunately, I've met one guy who was a paramedic (or it's equivalent) in either Germany or the UK in the past, and he was forced to start from scratch. But, my state does have some stricter requirements, so maybe Florida is different.

Now it's your turn. Think you could post your local protocols? I read a bunch on EMS in England but have never been able to find a set.

[timmah27]

Thanks for the replies I hope that it will provide some assistance and if you can think of anything else or know anyone who could help that would be great, also I would be interested to hear from other states as after reading other chat rooms I like the sound of a number of different places and also Canada so please dont be shy. As for our protocols as State Registered Paramedics we dont really have protocols we have guidelines which allows us to autonomously provide care without any doctor assistance and as these are guidelines we can deviate from them as long as we can justify our reasoning however with this privalidge comes the responsability that if anything goes wrong when deviating we can be sued or worse. These guidelines which were revised in 2006 can be found at www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/research/hsri/emergencycare/jrcalc_2006/guidelines/clinical_guidelines_2006.pdf then click on UK Ambulance Service Clinical Practice Guidelines 2006 - All Sections this will then open the 300+ guidelines. Please look at these and let me know if this is anything like the US or are we differant.