How to Become a Paramedic in Canada
Paramedics are healthcare professionals who work in the field of emergency medicine. They work in specialist mobile units, emergency response vehicles, and ambulances, providing diagnostic services, out-of-hospital treatment, treatment of minor injuries and other hospital-care. Paramedics usually perform as field
doctors but in Canada, paramedic positions differ, depending on the province of residence. Three main kinds of positions are available in the country: advanced care paramedic, primary care paramedic, and critical care paramedic. If you want to become a primary care paramedic, your scope of practice will include administration of symptom relief medications, semi-automated external defibrillation, performing trauma immobilization, and other types of basic medical care. Advanced care paramedics are in high demand in many Canadian ambulance services. They perform needle thoracotomy and airway management such as intravenous therapy and surgical pathways. If you become an advanced care paramedic, you will also perform obstetrical assessments, transcutaneous placing, and chemical and synchronized cardioversion, among others. Finally, if you want to become a critical care paramedic, you should know that they often work in rotary and fixed wind aircraft, but some work in land ambulances as well.
To become a paramedic, you have to get the appropriate
education and training. You will be required to finish certification courses and then find a medical institution or ambulance company to work for. The first step is to become a primary care paramedic. To this purpose, you have to enroll and complete a two-year PCP program. Then, you have to pass the PCP exam for your province and
find a job as a primary care paramedic. You will also need an approval from a medical doctor. If you want to become an advanced care paramedic, you will need a certification for this. First, you have to work as a primary care paramedic between 6 months and 2 years and enroll in an advanced care paramedic program. You also need to complete the certification programs which are required in your province of residence. The critical care paramedic position is the highest position in this field. To become a critical paramedic, you need at least one year of experience as an advanced care paramedic. In addition, you need an Aeromedical Certificate and certificate in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Finally, you should also complete a critical care paramedic program, which takes about one year.
Keep in mind that every Canadian province has its own requirements and terminology when it comes to the paramedic profession. You should become familiar with your province’s requirements before you enroll in a paramedic course. In Ontario, for example, you should hold a Standard First Aid certificate in order to work as a primary care paramedic. The majority of paramedic training programs require this certificate as a prerequisite. You may also sign up for an EMR course. While emergency medical responders are not paramedics, the EMR course will teach you important skills. This course is conducted by instructors from the Red Cross and takes some 75 to 80 hours. The standard primary care paramedic course in Ontario normally takes two years. You can sign up for the Emergency Medical Care Assistant examination upon finishing a college paramedic course. You can re-take the exam two times. If you have a failing grade all 3 times, you will be required to complete remedial training before you are allowed to take it again.