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Recruitment & Education

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Paramedic Recruitment

There are no application forms to complete. Simply send your resume and cover letter to: careers@hastingscounty.com

Any recommendations or reference letters should be included with your resume, along with copies of relevant certifications and employment prerequisites. Please also indicate whether you are seeking a part-time or full-time work opportunity. Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Candidates selected for further consideration will be invited to attend an interview that will include standard employment related questions, written exercises, and scenarios to gauge responses to various possible situations.

Offers of employment will be conditional upon:

  • providing evidence of meeting all legislative requirements for employment as a Paramedic
  • achieving and maintaining certification with the Regional Base Hospital Program as a Primary or Advanced Care Paramedic, including written and practical testing
  • passing a physical agilities test for Paramedics

Education

In Ontario, high school graduates who wish to become paramedics must attend a recognized two year paramedic college program. Most colleges have the following prerequisites for eligibility. Some colleges may not require all of these as college entrance requirements, although asterisked items (*) are requirements under the Ambulance Act and are required in order to become employed.

  • Senior biology high school course (grade 11 or higher), and/or other science courses
  • Computer literacy
  • Current Standard First Aid certificate *
  • Current CPR (C) – Basic Rescuer level (or equivalent) *
  • Class ‘F’ Driver License *
  • Current Ontario Immunizations (including Hepatitis B, Chicken Pox – if needed & Flu vaccine) *
  • Free of communicable diseases *
  • Be physically fit and able to lift *
  • Possess good communication skills & be able to fluently read & write english *
  • Be at least 18 years old upon completion of the program *
  • Have a “clean” driver abstract (driving record) and be free of any criminal convictions involving crimes of moral turpitude *

The following colleges offer Primary Care Paramedic programs:

Upon completion of the two year college Primary Care Paramedic program, graduates are eligible to write the Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant (A-EMCA) examination. Candidates for the A-EMCA are offered 3 attempts to successfully pass (70% required) the exam before remedial training is required and may work for an ambulance service for up to 210 days (post college graduation) while preparing. For more information on the A-EMCA, please contact:

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Emergency Health Services Branch
Patient Care Standards, Education and Certification
5700 Yonge Street,
6th Floor North York,ON
M2M 4K5
Tel #: (416) 327-7813
Fax #:(416) 327-7911
Toll Free 1-800-461-6431

Requirements for Paramedics with training outside Ontario

Paramedics who have received training from outside Ontario must first obtain their Ontario A-EMCA before being eligible for employment in an Ontario ambulance service. For information on an equivalency process please contact the Ministry at the above address.

Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) training

Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) may seek further education to qualify at the ACP level. The ACP program is equivalent to 1 college year and is considered a post-diploma program (approximately 1,000 hours). Hastings Quinte Paramedic Services has supported selected Primary Care Paramedic employees in preparing for and completing this level of training, both academically and financially. Since 2004, Hastings Quinte Paramedic Services has sponsored a select number of Paramedics for this training every year.

Recurrent Education

At a minimum, each Primary Care Paramedic will be required to complete 24 to 40 hours of paid continuing medical education each year. Advanced Care Paramedics will be required to complete 40 to 80 hours. The base hospital and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care dictate the content requirements, but numerous electives also exist such as courses and seminars in 12-Lead ECG interpretation, pediatric emergencies, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, HAZMAT response, and other courses.