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Ambulance Attendant, Emergency Medical Technician
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in compiling information to assess trauma victims, patients with respiratory diseases and stress, overdose and poisoning victims, industrial accident victims and other ill and injured individuals to determine emergency medical treatment
Interest in assisting patients by administering pre-hospital emergency care such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), oxygen, bandaging and splinting, and in assisting hospital personnel with medical treatments if necessary; may assist with triage of emergency patients
Interest in operating equipment in order to establish and maintain intravenous treatment (IV), apply adjunctive equipment for ventilation and circulatory complications, administer medications and provide other advanced emergency treatment to patients; and in maintaining ambulances and emergency care equipment and supplies
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
In Alberta, there are 3 recognized designations of emergency medical personnel:
The designation Critical Care Paramedic is not yet recognized in Alberta.
Emergency Medical Responders (EMR):
In addition to the above duties, Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) may:
Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP) may perform the duties of EMRs and PCPs as well as:
This work is physically demanding. Emergency medical personnel must lift loads well over 20 kilograms, such as patients on stretchers. They must follow safety precautions to avoid injury when working with equipment and around biological hazards.
Emergency medical personnel work indoors and outdoors. They often deal with stressful circumstances and sometimes extreme weather conditions. They may work full time, part time, or as volunteers. Full-time or part-time employees may work shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays. They may work 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, or 24-hour shifts. In remote areas, they may work on rotation for up to 2 weeks in and 2 weeks out.
Emergency medical personnel need:
All emergency medical personnel should enjoy collecting information to assess injuries and illness. They should like having clear rules and an organized approach to their work. They should be comfortable operating medical equipment.
EMR training programs are designed for people who want to enter the pre-hospital care industry or who already provide emergency services (for example, fire fighters and police officers).
EMR, PCP, and ACP training programs are offered by public colleges, private schools, and other organizations. A current list of approved programs is posted on the Alberta College of Paramedics website. In general, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have obtained a Standard First Aid certificate and CPR certification at the Basic Rescuer Level (C) within the previous year.
In addition, it is preferred that applicants for PCP training are registered EMRs. Also, they must have a:
For ACP training, applicants must have completed an approved PCP program.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Emergency medical personnel provide pre-hospital emergency medical care to the sick and injured.
Under Alberta’s Health Professions Act [pdf] and the Paramedics Profession Regulation [pdf], only registered members of the Alberta College of Paramedics may call themselves an Emergency Medical Responder, Primary Care Paramedic, or Advanced Care Paramedic. Registered members provide health services listed in the Regulation.
For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Emergency Medical Personnel.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
EMRs work for provincial, private, and industrial ambulance services. Some firefighters are cross-trained as EMRs (for more information, see the Firefighter occupational profile).
PCPs work for ambulance services and related industrial and emergency services.
ACPs work for emergency service departments, ambulance services, and in other healthcare-related environments. Industries such as oil and gas may also employ ACPs to provide emergency medical aid on large job sites.
About 40% of the regulated members of the Alberta College of Paramedics work in the public sector (for Alberta Health Services). Close to 60% of practitioners find positions with private companies. These individuals may work as instructors or researchers, advisors on workplace safety and policy, in management as decision makers, or in other roles.
New opportunities may include community care paramedicine, which focuses on proactive and preventative healthcare measures.
All 3 designations of emergency medical personnel are included in the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3234: Ambulance attendants and other paramedical occupations. In Alberta, 78% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance [pdf] industry.
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 3234: Paramedical occupations occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 3.2% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 207 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Salaries for emergency medical personnel vary greatly depending on location (for example, rural or urban setting) and type of employer (such as private company, regional health authority, or fire department).
For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $22.82 | $35.00 | $28.45 | $27.25 |
| Overall | $28.24 | $42.16 | $35.51 | $32.00 |
| Top | $32.50 | $49.83 | $40.91 | $37.14 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $68,923 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $68,196 |
Alberta College of Paramedics website: abparamedics.com
Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website: hsaa.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 17, 2021. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.