Emergency medical personnel work both indoors and outdoors, often in stressful circumstances, and may work in extreme weather conditions. This work is physically demanding. Emergency medical personnel are required to lift loads weighing well over 20 kilograms (for example, patients on stretchers). They must observe safety precautions to avoid injury when working with equipment and exposure to potentially hazardous biological agents. Their work is performed before patients reach a hospital, between health-care facilities and before they are seen by Emergency Department staff. At some sites, much of their time may be spent in ambulances, transporting injured or ill people to hospitals, urgent care centers or other health facilities. In other locations, they provide care to patients in an emergency room setting, assess the extent of injuries or illness to determine medical treatment, comfort and reassure patients, provide pre-hospital emergency medical care including controlling hemorrhage, CPR, oxygen, bandaging and the treatment of trauma patients.
There are three tiers of emergency medical service practitioners:
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Emergency Medical Technologist Paramedic (EMT-P)
They have different levels for training depending on their position. EMRs have a basic level of training while EMTs have more comprehensive training including an eight-month certificate program. EMT-Ps require two years of advanced training and practicum before they are certified to work.
Average Hourly
$28.17
Range Hourly
$18.87 – $33.50
Average Yearly
$54,925
Range Yearly
$36,797 – $65,318
Paramedical occupations (3234)
Advanced care paramedic; Advanced emergency medical assistant; Advanced life support attendant; Advanced life support co-ordinator; Advanced life support paramedic; Ambulance attendant; Ambulance attendant trainee; Ambulance attendants supervisor; Ambulance driver; Ambulance driver-attendant; Ambulance services field supervisor; Ambulance services supervisor; Ambulance services unit chief; Ambulance technician; Assistant paramedic; Chief ambulance attendant; Critical care paramedic; Drilling rig medic; Drilling rig medical technician; Drilling rig medical warden; Drilling rig medical worker; Emergency medical assistant; Emergency medical attendant (EMA); Emergency medical technician - paramedic/advanced care paramedic (EMT - P/ACP); Emergency medical technician - primary care paramedic (EMT - PCP); Emergency medical technician (EMT); Emergency medical technologist - paramedic (EMT-P); Emergency paramedic; Infant transport attendant; Intermediate care paramedic; Medical assistant (paramedic); Medical technician; Newborn emergency medical care technician; Newborn medical care technician; Paramedic; Paramedic emergency medical technician; Paramedic worker; Primary care paramedic; Registered emergency paramedic; Supervisor ambulance attendants
Applicants must be 18 years of age
Obtained a Standard First Aid certificate and CPR certificate at the Basic Rescuer Level (C) within the previous year
Have a valid Class 4 driver’s license
Average hourly |
Range hourly |
Average yearly |
Range yearly |
$28.17 |
$18.87 - $33.50 |
$54,925 |
$36,797 - $65,318 |
High
Employment outlook is mostly good across provinces. More information is available here
EMR to EMT or EMT-P and Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) is possible with further education.
0-2 years of experience is required
Excellent oral and written communication skills; strong leadership abilities; sound decision-making and critical thinking skills; a strong desire to help those in need; the ability to remain firm, reassuring and efficient in moments of crisis; the ability to work independently and as part of a team; experience with Meditech or NETCARE is an asset.
In Alberta there are three tiers of emergency medical professional, such as: Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician - Ambulance (EMT) and Emergency Medical Technologist - Paramedic (EMT-P). In general their duties include, but are not limited to: provide pre-hospital emergency medical care including controlling hemorrhage, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), oxygen, bandaging and the treatment of trauma patients; assisting in childbirth, management of cardiac, diabetic, allergic, behavioral, and environmental emergencies, and suspected poisonings; assess the extent of injuries or illness to determine appropriate medical treatment;
Obtaining a CPR, First-Aid certificate from a recognized institute.
Obtain an EMS certificate or PCP, ACP diploma degree.
Registration with the provincial regulatory body of paramedics (e.g., Alberta College of Paramedics)