Ambulance Attendants and Other Paramedical Occupations (NOC 3234)

What They Do Workers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties: May assist with triage of emergency patients. Assess extent of injuries or medical illnesses of trauma victims, patients with respiratory disease and stress, overdose and poisoning victims, industrial accident victims and other ill or injured individuals to determine emergency medical treatment Administer pre-hospital emergency care, such as oxygen therapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), spinal immobilization, bandaging and splinting, to patients Establish and maintain intravenous treatment (IV), apply adjunctive equipment for ventilation and circulation complications, administer medications and provide other advanced emergency treatment to patients Transport patients by air, land or water to hospital or other medical facility for further medical care Document and record nature of injuries and illnesses and treatment provided Assist hospital personnel with provision of medical treatment, if necessary Maintain ambulances and emergency care equipment and supplies May train and supervise other workers in this unit group

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Health care and social assistance 79% Public administration 11% People in this group work for: Private ambulance services Hospitals Fire departments Government departments Manufacturing firms, mining companies, and other business establishments The unionization rate (77%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Ambulance Attendants and Other Paramedical Occupations are found in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia while the lowest concentrations are in Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

Related Occupation(s) Firefighters (NOC 6262) Other Technical Occupations in Health Care (Except Dental) (NOC 323)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Continually updating your knowledge Improving interpersonal skills Setting standards and guidelines for safety/operations

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need To be an ambulance attendant or work in another paramedical occupation, you usually need a college, hospital-based or other recognized program in emergency medical technology or courses in emergency health care and supervised practical training. Depending on type and length of training, you need to be licensed by a regulatory body in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. If you'll be operating emergency vehicles you need the appropriate class of licence. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Health Technologies - Other (C523) Protection and Correction Services (C841) Physical Education (U240) Psychology (U870) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Multidisciplinary teamwork Business procedures Interpersonal skills		Useful High School Subjects Sciences English Math First-aid
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated GOOD because: Employement grew at an average rate. Hourly wages ($20.96) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average. The unemployment rate (2%) is below the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Good   2009   Good

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be GOOD because: The employment growth rate will likely be average because of the aging population, return of health care funding, increased coverage of health care plans, and new technological advancements. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition You'll benefit from advanced certification allowing you to provide higher levels of care to patients before they arrive at the hospital. You're more likely to succeed in the paramedical occupations if you can cope with stressful working conditions.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $17.60 $11.74 25-54 $21.66 $19.76 55+ $19.40 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $20.96 $18.07		Hourly wages ($20.96) are close to the national average ($18.07). These earnings are close to the average for occupations in the health sector and close to the average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an above-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Below the average
The unemployment rate (2%) is below the 2004 average (7%). This rate is below the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 3% 10% 1992 4% 11% 1993 1% 11% 1994 4% 10% 1995 2% 10% 1996 3% 10% 1997 2% 9% 1998 1% 8% 1999 3% 8% 2000 2% 7% 2001 1% 7% 2002 3% 8% 2003 1% 8% 2004 2% 7%

% of part-time work is about the same as average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 90% 81% Part-time 10% 19%		There were 16,800 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 26% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers is 10% compared to the 2004 average (19%) and has dropped since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Average
The percentage of self-employed workers is 3% compared to the 2004 average of 15%.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 3% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 15% 10% 25-54 81% 72% 55+ 3% 12%		The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average influenced by a similar-to-average age of workers (40).
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Average
The percentage of women is 30% compared to the 2004 average of 48% and has stayed about the same since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 30% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31