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A software engineer who qualified as an EMT in 2024 published a personal ranking of the reasons he put off training, including the time commitment, cost and concerns about EMS culture. His account describes one person’s experience, not a general survey of EMTs or emergency services.
Software engineer Ben Stolovitz has published a personal ranking of the reasons he delayed becoming an emergency medical technician, before completing an accelerated EMT course in 2024. His account describes practical barriers—including time, cost and concerns about EMS workplace culture—and explains why he decided the training was worth doing despite not planning to work on an ambulance.
Stolovitz says he had been interested in medicine for years but postponed training. The largest practical obstacle was the time required: he completed a 28-consecutive-day Wilderness EMT course through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He says taking it was possible because his employer had adopted unlimited vacation, his manager supported the time away and he could afford travel to Wyoming. He contrasts that option with a more typical course taken during evening classes over a semester.
He also identifies EMS culture as a substantial deterrent. Stolovitz writes that an earlier negative encounter with first responders caused him to give up on the idea for a time, and describes some services he encountered as having burned-out staff and a “fratty” atmosphere. These are his observations and experience, not findings about EMS workplaces generally.
Other concerns included whether he would fit in with first responders or EMT students, how to balance training with his software job, and whether the credential would be useful if he did not take ambulance shifts. He says his class included enthusiastic younger students and people closer to his age, and that balancing work and EMS after certification proved manageable for him. He also completed CPR, Stop the Bleed and wilderness first-aid training before deciding to take the full course.
The Barriers Behind EMT Training
The essay offers a firsthand account of factors that can shape an individual’s decision to pursue EMT education: time away from work, course expenses and uncertainty about the work environment. Those details may help readers understand that interest in emergency medicine does not automatically translate into training, particularly when the available course requires a lengthy absence or significant personal spending.
Stolovitz also distinguishes becoming certified from taking ambulance shifts. He says he did not view ambulance work as his vocation, but valued learning practical skills such as CPR and first aid. That distinction matters to readers considering training for learning or personal preparedness; certification alone does not mean someone is working in EMS, and requirements to maintain a credential may depend on the certifying body and how it is used.
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From Longstanding Interest to Certification
Stolovitz identifies himself as a software engineer with a longstanding interest in medicine. A friend introduced him to the EMT idea during college, but he says it remained on his mind for years before he took time off in 2024 to complete training.
His course was an accelerated NOLS Wilderness EMT program, which he says cost about $5,000 before airfare, car rental and the cost of taking a month away from work. He notes that a more typical course may cost around $2,000 and does not require the same 28-day block. Those figures are his estimates and describe the options he considered; the source does not present a national price survey.
Before enrolling, he says he tried less intensive preparation, including books, online discussions, CPR and Stop the Bleed classes, and a weekend wilderness first-aid course. He also considered search and rescue, but writes that he wanted to treat people and believed ambulance experience would be important to becoming an effective EMT.
What One Account Cannot Establish
The source is one person’s retrospective account, not reporting based on interviews, industry data or a survey. It does not establish how common the concerns he describes are among prospective EMTs, nor whether his experience of workplace culture reflects EMS services more broadly.
Stolovitz does not specify in the supplied account whether he currently takes ambulance shifts, where he is certified to practice, or the full requirements that apply to maintaining his particular credential. Course prices and volunteer opportunities also vary by location and program. Readers would need to check with relevant training providers, employers and credentialing organizations for current local requirements.
No Further Milestone Reported
The source describes Stolovitz completing his course in 2024 but does not announce a new development or a specific next step. It remains unclear from the account whether he plans to take ambulance shifts or pursue another EMS role.
For readers considering similar training, the practical next step is to compare local course schedules, costs, certification rules and service expectations. Stolovitz’s experience suggests those details can affect whether a program fits alongside other work, but his account does not provide a universal recommendation.
Key Questions
What is the news in this story?
Ben Stolovitz published a personal account ranking the reasons he delayed EMT training before completing an accelerated course in 2024. It is an individual essay, not a new policy or industry report.
Why did Stolovitz delay becoming an EMT?
He cites the time commitment, course expense and concerns about EMS culture, along with doubts about fitting in and whether he wanted to work on an ambulance. He says an earlier negative experience with first responders also made him pause.
How long did his EMT course take?
He says his NOLS Wilderness EMT course lasted 28 consecutive days. He notes that other course formats may take place over a semester of evening classes.
How much did the course cost?
Stolovitz estimates that his course cost about $5,000, excluding travel, car rental and time off work. He says a more typical course may cost around $2,000, but those figures are his estimates rather than a complete comparison of programs.
Did he plan to work on an ambulance?
He writes that ambulance work was not his vocation and says he did not have to take an ambulance job simply because he had completed training. The account does not clarify whether he currently takes shifts or how he maintains his credential.
Source: hn
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