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In a personal essay, software engineer Ben Stolovitz ranks the reasons he put off EMT training before completing an accelerated Wilderness EMT course in 2024. He describes time, cost and concerns about EMS culture as substantial barriers, while saying he found the course rewarding and that EMT training does not require someone to work on an ambulance.
Software engineer Ben Stolovitz says he earned an Emergency Medical Technician certificate in 2024, after years of postponing training over its cost, time demands and concerns about emergency-services culture. In a personal essay on his website, he ranks those reasons by how reasonable he considers them and describes completing an accelerated Wilderness EMT course.
Stolovitz writes that his NOLS Wilderness EMT course lasted 28 consecutive days. He says he could attend because his employer had an unlimited-vacation policy, his manager supported the plan and he could afford travel to Wyoming. He contrasts that schedule with a more typical route he describes as a semester of evening classes. The course cost him about $5,000, excluding airfare, car rental and time away from work; he says a typical course can cost about $2,000, though he does not provide a specific program comparison.
His most serious hesitation, he says, was concern about EMS workplace culture, shaped by a bad experience with first responders. Stolovitz describes some services as having burned-out staff and a “fratty” atmosphere, and says these concerns had led him to abandon the idea for a time. He also worried about fitting in with first responders and classmates. In his account, his class included young pre-med students as well as people closer to his age, and he found the students enthusiastic.
Other concerns included whether he would want ambulance work, whether a certificate would lapse without field experience, and whether he should choose search and rescue instead. Stolovitz says he had not aspired to ride in an ambulance and notes that earning an EMT credential does not compel someone to join an ambulance service. He describes the training as useful for skills such as CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator and oxygen, while noting that EMTs’ scope of practice is limited compared with paramedics.
Training Costs Beyond the Classroom
Stolovitz’s account illustrates how the decision to pursue EMT training can involve more than interest in medicine. Time away from work, tuition and travel may put a course out of reach for people without flexible schedules or savings. His own experience is one person’s account, not a survey of prospective EMTs, but it makes those practical barriers visible.
His discussion also highlights that workplace culture can affect whether someone considers entering emergency services. Stolovitz describes a negative experience as a major reason for delay, while also reporting that his training cohort felt welcoming. The contrast is relevant to readers weighing training: classroom experience and the culture of a particular service are not necessarily the same, and his account does not establish conditions across EMS agencies.
The essay also separates learning emergency-care skills from taking an ambulance job. Stolovitz argues that training can have value to him even if he does not pursue regular ambulance shifts. That perspective may matter to people interested in first aid who are uncertain about committing to EMS work, though certification rules and opportunities to use the credential vary.
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From First Aid to EMT School
Stolovitz says his interest in medicine began years before he enrolled. A friend introduced him to the idea during college, and he spent time preparing through reading, CPR and Stop the Bleed classes, and a weekend Wilderness First Aid course. He writes that those steps did not satisfy his interest, and he eventually chose a full EMT course.
He presents his decision as a personal ranking rather than a guide to licensing or a report on EMS employment. The article’s examples—including the 28-day course and the costs he paid—describe his route, not a universal requirement. He says course structures and expenses can differ, and that volunteer EMS opportunities may be more accessible outside major cities.
What One Account Cannot Establish
The essay does not establish how common Stolovitz’s concerns are among EMT students or how representative his course was. His descriptions of workplace culture reflect his own experience and impressions; he does not identify the service involved or provide independent data about EMS agencies. The account also does not compare course costs across providers or outline the licensing requirements in each jurisdiction.
It remains unclear whether Stolovitz later joined an ambulance service, found a volunteer role or maintained his credential through continuing education. He describes these as questions and concerns around training, but the material does not report what happened afterward.
Next Steps After Certification
Stolovitz’s account does not announce a new course, job or policy change; it is a retrospective on his decision to train. For readers considering EMT study, the practical next step is to check local course schedules, costs, certification rules and the requirements for maintaining a credential. Anyone interested in field work can also ask prospective services about onboarding and workplace culture before committing.
Whether Stolovitz takes ambulance shifts or pursues another emergency-response role is not stated. His essay leaves that question open while making clear that, for him, completing the training was worthwhile even without a stated plan to work on an ambulance.
Key Questions
When did Ben Stolovitz become an EMT?
He says he completed EMT training in 2024, after taking an accelerated Wilderness EMT course.
How long was his EMT course?
Stolovitz says the NOLS Wilderness EMT course lasted 28 consecutive days. That is the schedule of the course he attended, not a claim about every EMT program.
How much did the course cost?
He says he paid about $5,000, not counting travel, car rental or time away from work. He also says a typical course can cost about $2,000, but does not give a program-by-program comparison.
Did he plan to work on an ambulance?
Stolovitz writes that he had not dreamed of working on an ambulance and says earning an EMT credential did not require him to take ambulance shifts. His account does not say whether he later joined a service.
Source: hn
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