r/ParkRangers • u/Willing_Power_7634 • 3d ago
Specialized Training
Hey everyone, I am a Park Ranger LE at a Historic Site. I was wondering how I can go about obtaining specialized training and certifying myself in Wildfire, PSAR, EMT, etc... Any others I don't know about? I would like to get all the certifications I can get while performing this great job.
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u/LongjumpingPound8906 3d ago
Structural fire, swiftwater rescue. Once EMT you can go for park medic
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u/GlonzoTheHedgehog 3d ago edited 3d ago
Depends on what your park needs and is willing to support. Talk to your supervisor.
Small urban historic sites might not need a Parkmedic or SAR specialist; whereas they may want you to get trained as the park's structural fire coordinator, which is responsible for assessing structure fire risk, fire inspections, alarms, agreements with local fire departments, etc.
On the other hand, if you're a larger site in a more rural area, the park may see a need for more organic EMS capacity, and if you've got any sort of verticality on your landscape, high-angle rescue training would make sense.
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u/Willing_Power_7634 2d ago
I will talk to my supervisor and see what can be accomplished, thanks for your insight
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u/blindside1 3d ago
Do you have an IDP where you can ask for training for your professional development?
I got my agency to pay for Wilderness First Responder training because we were super remote and I was the first to come onto accidents multiple times.
Red card was kind of a standard option for those interested.
Do you want to stay LE? Is interp a goal? There are skills that you can develop that way as well.
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u/potatogun 3d ago
LE aren't EMT? Or are you non-NPS? Or are cannonball sites less demanding on the EMS requirement?
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u/GlonzoTheHedgehog 3d ago
There's a fair number of smaller parks which don't maintain at least Level IV EMS programs, and if your park isn't Level IV or above, you don't have a LEMA and can't do EMT stuff anyway.
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u/Not_all_cows_moo 3d ago
I remember when I got those certs/trainings. Felt like I was the king of the castle with everything. Just remember, a veteran will still beat you out for any roll or position. Sucks to have to say this and I'll probably get down voted for it. The federal system is fucked when it comes to those of us who put in the time and effort to be certified to saving the resource and protecting people. Best of luck.
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u/Unsupervised_Kitchen 3d ago
I'm not LE, but I am looking into getting similar certs.
https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10622
this link is for wildland fire. Most everyone starting out gets the s-130, s-190, and L-180 certificates and then they pack test. The pack test is 3 miles in 45 mins or less while wearing a 45lb vest/pack. There are other certificates to get!
SAR certs start with an e learning if I understood my supervisor correctly. If you go onto where your e-learnings are, you should be able to search up "SAR training" and it'll come up. After the online portion is done, you'll need to attend a SAR day at your park to do an in-person portion. This may differ, I'm working off of memory lol.
ETA: if you aren't already, chainsaw certification is nice to have!