Seriously starting to consider enrolling in a Driver operator course.  Most of the courses here are Distance education with a built in skills day and state test. Avg price is $250 - $300. Not bad. FTF at Teex however is $625 per each phase . While FTF is my preferred way of doing it does anybody have any experience doing the class online?

My other question is it even worth doing? i'm trying to make myself more marketable to local departments. I know bigger departments have promotion lists that take years to just able to get the chance to move up a seat. Smaller departments at least around here already expect you to be able at the very least drive the truck. Class B is required 98% of the time. Having the apparatus operator cert and knowledge would help one would think?

It never hurts to have TCFP certs, but at any department that pays $40k plus you are looking at a wait of at least 2 years to need it (it seems like small departments in the $30k range are the ones you can drive very quickly). Having your Class B ahead of time is good though.

It would really help to know where you are at and what kind of department you would like to apply to. Most placed in Texas, having your Paramedic as well as TCFP Structural puts you very ahead of the curve.

I'm  near College Station.  Both Bryan FD and CSFD are paramedic preferred. It's something i have been chasing for awhile but you need to have a decent paying job in order to get that medic cert in the first place.

Already have my class B as well. I would prefer to find a dept that has a fairly active hazmat team. I would love to use my hazmat tech certification but beggars can't be choosers in most cases. However i would rather not make a 2hr drive to go to work unless it was a 48/96 or similar schedule. I had a decent chance with MCESD 3 but their shift schedule was 3 shift 24/24. Really didn't see myself making a 2hr commute at 3:30am 3x a week not including the trip home.

IM Sent. I live in Bryan.