Paramedic training

[double0seven]

I will be finnished my fire training in the next few months and I'm interested in expanding my education and become a paramedic aswell. I'm a medical first responder now so my question is do any of you know of or reccomend a school where I can complete my paramedic training. I assume that most places will have a wait list but I'm willing to be patient. If anyone has any links I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[fireemsmom]

Where are you? There are a lot of schools out there, but it depends on where you are.

R

[double0seven]

Right now I am in Newfoundland but I'm willing to go elsewhere for school. So basically anywhere in Canada is an option.

[FireEMTGuy]

You will find that there are a lot of different definitions when it comes to EMS and the different levels of skills.

In the states they are EMT-B, EMT-I, and EMT-P.
In Alberta they are EMR, EMT, and EMT-P.
In Ontario they are PCP, ACP, and CCP.

The CMA has adopted the ontario style of designations for EMS. I am not sure what you consider a "paramedic" or what your goals are? They all involve different types of training, all which are covered in different lengths of time.

Do you plan to work in a integrated service? (Fire and EMS all in one... firefighters work on the ambulance as EMT's or Paramedics? I am unfirmiliar how NFLD works with integration or EMS...

Do you plan to work strictly fire? If so there is really no point in becomming a true paramedic. It all depends what your goals are. Fire, EMS, or both....

[double0seven]

I would like to have both options available to me. I'm not sure how it is in NL either but I am not only going to be looking for employment here, I would love to work in Alberta or B.C. given the opportuntiy and to have NFPA level 1 and level 2 along with paramedic would certainly beef up the resume.

[emtshields]

k

[emtshields]

The biggest thing you got to remeber is like fireEMTguy said which levels are reconized where. I know for a fact the your Ontario PCP(emca) is not reconized anywhere in canada but ontario but your EMT is. So depends on what province you wanna work in . I am going to school in the states (NCCC) in New York State, for my EMT I now the is reconized anywhere in the US and Canada except Ontario, enless you do you EMT-P from the states that is the only one that is reconzied anywhere in north America. EMT-P is = to Advanced Care Critial Care in Ontario and Advanced eveywhere eles in canada. So here on Ontario people say differant things about colleges, your best bet start at EMT-B and if you want more go on to I or P at least you have a chose of where u want to work.

[FireEMTGuy]

Excellent point. I had planned to post back earlier with more info but that pretty much sums it up. As he said, there is no point in going past your EMR/FMR/First Responders/EMT-B if you do not know exactly where you want to work (Maybe and a serious maybe your EMT/EMT-I if you have the time and money, but otherwise it is useless.)

On a side note, those who are fully trained medics with experience can, but not always, move from province to province by simply challenging the provincal exam, in other cases the province will not accept the other provinces training and thus force you to spend the $$ $$$ and take it again. :(

Oh if Canada only had a National Regestry like NREMT..... I probably won't see that day in my lifetime....

[double0seven]

Thanks alot guys, you helped alot. It would be great if there were some sort of common certification that could be reconized nationaly. I guess I'll stay with what I have until I know where I'll end up. Hopfully there will be some cities recruiting this spring!

[emtshields]

Hey no pro . If you have anymore questions let me know cause i am going though all this right now .

MERRY XMAS