You actually apply for your state registry after national ( NREMT ), and the EMT programs will prep you for the national test (there is no state test, you send in your national stuff plus fingerprints/background stuff to the state). Departments look for experience, especially on the ems side. EMT is a dime a dozen, but good experienced EMTs are much more rare. I couple of departments in the county offer their volunteers all of the state fire and hazmat training for free, especially if they already have EMT done. Stratmoor Hills, Falcon, Fountain, and Manitou fire departments all take volunteers and have a pretty good call volume. There are also departments that take volunteers that are less busy but still offer training, and some that will not provide either.

Fire departments are becoming more about ems and customer service by the day. They want to see recruits that are honest, intelligent, and most importantly care about the community. As of the last time I heard, Springs does not require EMT though it will help out a lot. Most other paid positions in the county will require all certs (and at least EMT and FFI) to get hired on. Degrees are worth what you put into them. Fire science is not worth very much, we teach people what they need to know for that. AAS for medic, BS chem, BS bio, ASN, BSN, and other harder programs will help much more with getting on a department. Departments love to see some type of volunteer or community work. It is very hard to get a fire job, both here in colorado and nationwide. I heard they are looking for firefighters up in alaska, and some of the mountain towns are hiring.

If your looking at emergency services in general, law enforcement is much easier to get into than fire service. Good luck in whatever path you take.