Medical Technician - Unskilled, Semi-skilled, Skilled Application

[mariomike]

I may explore the option of getting licensed either in Ontario, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia as it is much nearer to me than Vancouver;

To get licenced in Ontario,

"If a paramedic does not hold license or registration as a Primary Care Paramedic from a recognized province or territory, an application for the Standard Equivalency Process may be submitted",
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ehs/edu/pcp_equiv.html

Phase 1 – Documentation

Candidates applying for Standard-PCP Equivalency must forward the following documentation to the Education and Patient Care Section of Emergency Health Services Branch :
Administrative fee in the amount of $50.00 made payable to the Minister of Finance in the form of a certified cheque or money order. Personal cheques are not accepted
Letter from Ambulance Manager/Supervisor confirming – must be on official letterhead
Minimum of 450 hours of Land Ambulance Time
Quality of Work and/or Recommendation
Original copy of College Paramedic Certificate
Official Educational Transcript(s) – must be on official, secure paper
Copy of Course Outlines/Curriculums for the year(s) in which you attended – must include course objectives

Phase 2 - Qualifying Evaluations

Once a candidate successfully completes Phase 1, they must then complete the qualifying evaluations within twenty-four (24) months to determine their knowledge and skills for pre-hospital care in Ontario. These evaluations include :
Ontario Medical- Legal Test (Administration Fee: $20.00)
This written test is designed to assess the candidate's knowledge of the Ontario Legislative framework as it pertains to the ambulance system roles and responsibilities of a paramedic.
Symptom Relief Test (Administration Fee: $20.00)
This written test assesses the candidate's knowledge of the Ontario protocols for the delivery of Symptom Relief medications (nitroglycerin, ASA, Ventolin, epinephrine and glucagon).
Semi-Automatic External Defibrillator Test (Administration Fee: $20.00)
This written test is designed to assess the candidate's knowledge of the Ontario Standards and protocols for the delivery of semi-automatic external defibrillation.
Patient Care Practical Skills Testing (Administration Fee: $100.00 [$25.00 per component])
The practical component is scenario based evaluations of common situations that paramedics may encounter in the course of their job. Candidates must successfully complete each of the following scenarios :
Trauma
Medical
Defibrillation
Symptom Relief

Certification

Upon successful completion of Phase 2, the candidate is considered "equivalent" for the purpose of Regulation 257/00, Part III 7. (4) (a), and is eligible to write the MOHLTC Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Theory Examination. The AEMCA Examination is conducted three times per year – every February, June and October.

Candidates who have been deemed equivalent will be provided with a registration package for the AEMCA Theory Examination.

Upon successful completion of the AEMCA Theory Examination, the candidate will be issued an Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant certificate.

5. (1) The operator of a land ambulance service shall not employ a person to provide patient care, whether on a full-time or part-time basis, or engage a person to provide patient care as a full-time volunteer, unless the person is a paramedic who, holds the qualifications of an advanced emergency medical care assistant referred to in subsection 7 (4). O. Reg. 229/02, s. 1.

Regarding the possibility of QL5A Med Techs challenging the AEMCA exam, after 120 hours minimum of "ride-along" with preceptor crews in Ontario:
https://army.ca/forums/threads/107868/post-1180343#msg1180343
Reply #2
See attachment below.

As always, best to contact Recruiting.

 

[mraemedic]

It's interesting - and slightly disheartening - to get so many different answers from CFRC Recruiters.  In Victoria, the answer at the front desk was generally that they did not know (and didn't make an effort to find out), but a Captain there explicitly said that I did not need to be licensed.
[...]
On the other hand, I can't help but question why CFRGPLAR would contact me asking for my license number and proof of employment.

From what I've experienced, since the license is a component of the PLAR only the recruiters/supervisors who are involved in the PLAR stage seem to be aware of it.  I went through the same process of being told that I didn't need it until the PLAR started and then I was contacted directly about it.  From what DAA and cfrgplar have said, your best bet is to get licensed.

 

[ScottBet]

Alright I've got some news:

I was contacted by telephone a few weeks ago by CFRC Montreal to conduct a follow-up interview (I assume this is the norm if a certain amount of time has passed since your last).  The interview went well and didn't take too long, though at the end I brought up the question of whether I needed to be licensed or not.  The interviewer on the phone was quick to pull up the "Entry Standards" for Direct Entry as a Semi-Skilled Med-Tech.  Everything was as DAA stated except for one important piece;

You must hold a current registration, licence, or certification (active status) to practise as a Paramedic from a Canadian provincial or territorial regulatory authority

AND....have been working as a primary care paramedic for AT LEAST three months on ambulance.

Right there and then, the interviewer changed my application to "Unskilled" and proceeded to tell me that there was only one position left as an Unskilled Med-Tech for this fiscal year (until April, 2016).  She basically said that I should probably go get licensed, work as a paramedic and then re-apply. So I got myself a licensing date in Victoria for March and was beginning to practice when, just last Thursday, I got another call.

I got the job as Unskilled Med-Tech.  This means that I will re-do my PCP course, fine, but the way I see it if I could say confidently that I know 80-90% of the material from my first course, I will hopefully know 95-100% of the material the second time around - and that makes one helluva paramedic.

Start date for BMQ is January 23rd, 2016 if anyone else might be starting then also.

Cheers guys, thanks for all the help.

 

[mariomike]

The interviewer on the phone was quick to pull up the "Entry Standards" for Direct Entry as a Semi-Skilled Med-Tech.  Everything was as DAA stated except for one important piece;

You must hold a current registration, licence, or certification (active status) to practise as a Paramedic from a Canadian provincial or territorial regulatory authority

AND....have been working as a primary care paramedic for AT LEAST three months on ambulance.

If that is the requirement for semi-skilled, I wonder what the requirement is for skilled?

Medical Technician - Unskilled, Semi-skilled, Skilled Application

Congratulations and good luck, by the way. 

 

[ModlrMike]

Just remember: two ears, one mouth to be used in that ratio.

 

[cadenc]

Start date for BMQ is January 23rd, 2016 if anyone else might be starting then also.

January 23? That is a Saturday, there are a bunch of us starting on January 25 2016. Maybe we'll see you there.
http://army.ca/forums/threads/121197.0.html

 

[MedCorps]

I got the job as Unskilled Med-Tech.  This means that I will re-do my PCP course, fine, but the way I see it if I could say confidently that I know 80-90% of the material from my first course, I will hopefully know 95-100% of the material the second time around - and that makes one helluva paramedic.

This attitude will serve you well in your career in the RCMS as a Med Tech... good on you!  Remember, you are getting paid this time while going to school whilst concurrently earning pensionable time... it is a pretty good life. Help those that are struggling with you existing expertise as these will be the people you will serve with for the rest of your career as well as be your brother-in-arms in battle.

Good luck on your training and I hope to see you in the Service after you have badged at the end of QL3. 

MC

 

[DAA]

Alright I've got some news:

I was contacted by telephone a few weeks ago by CFRC Montreal to conduct a follow-up interview (I assume this is the norm if a certain amount of time has passed since your last).  The interview went well and didn't take too long, though at the end I brought up the question of whether I needed to be licensed or not.  The interviewer on the phone was quick to pull up the "Entry Standards" for Direct Entry as a Semi-Skilled Med-Tech.  Everything was as DAA stated except for one important piece;

You must hold a current registration, licence, or certification (active status) to practise as a Paramedic from a Canadian provincial or territorial regulatory authority

AND....have been working as a primary care paramedic for AT LEAST three months on ambulance.

Right there and then, the interviewer changed my application to "Unskilled" and proceeded to tell me that there was only one position left as an Unskilled Med-Tech for this fiscal year (until April, 2016).  She basically said that I should probably go get licensed, work as a paramedic and then re-apply. So I got myself a licensing date in Victoria for March and was beginning to practice when, just last Thursday, I got another call.

I got the job as Unskilled Med-Tech.  This means that I will re-do my PCP course, fine, but the way I see it if I could say confidently that I know 80-90% of the material from my first course, I will hopefully know 95-100% of the material the second time around - and that makes one helluva paramedic.

Start date for BMQ is January 23rd, 2016 if anyone else might be starting then also.

Cheers guys, thanks for all the help.

Congrats and good luck at BMQ!  I still say that with a licence, you should be considered as "semi-skilled" provided you graduated within the past 24 months.

The yellow highlighted part above, is news to me and I'm pretty sure that requirement is NOT listed in the entry standards.   

 

[da1root]

I'm reading the documentation the same as DAA. 

I've been staying in the Ask a CAF Recruiter Section, however I did want to say that I'm one of the 3 (soon to be 4) newly hired Specialist Recruiters for Health Services.
I've sent ScottBet a PM to hopefully assist the file. 

For anyone reading this thread don't hesitate to get in touch with me about Health Service files, right now we're concentrating on MO, Dent, Pharm & SocW but I don't mind helping with other files as well.

 

[Shadcom]

i do not have a paramedic course. Do I have to apply to the CAF and a approved paramedic college OR do I just have to apply to the CAF and they will send me to their own college?

 

[Shadcom]

I am currently in the application process of joining the CAF. (I am just waiting for my medical to come back from Ottawa.) I do not possess any paramedic courses. My question is: do I have to apply to a approved college as well? OR Will the army send me to a college after basic training? I as not told anything about this by the recruiters.

 

[DAA]

I am currently in the application process of joining the CAF. (I am just waiting for my medical to come back from Ottawa.) I do not possess any paramedic courses. My question is: do I have to apply to a approved college as well? OR Will the army send me to a college after basic training? I as not told anything about this by the recruiters.

If you are applying for Regular Force Medical Technician and don't already possess your Paramedics Licence and if you are fortunate enough to receive an offer of employment, your entry plan will be "Med Tech - Unskilled".  After enrolment in the CF and upon successful completion of your BMQ, part of your occupational training will involve a College program arranged for by the CF.  There is no requirement for you to apply to any College at this time.

 

[DAA]

i do not have a paramedic course. Do I have to apply to the CAF and a approved paramedic college OR do I just have to apply to the CAF and they will send me to their own college?

http://army.ca/forums/threads/122053.0.html

 

[Loachman]

Merged - three into one.

Welcome to Army.ca, Shadcom.

Please do some research on this Site before asking questions that have been answered before, often many times. Also, post questions only once, and in the most appropriate thread if one exists.

 

[big.guy.for.you]

I was under the impression that "recent graduates" could apply as semi-skilled without ambulance experience. I graduated in July, licensed in September, got the PLAR seal of approval in November, and a job offer in February for semi-skilled.

Fingers crossed everything I learned doesn't leak out of my head by the time I get to Borden.

 

[DAA]

I was under the impression that "recent graduates" could apply as semi-skilled without ambulance experience. I graduated in July, licensed in September, got the PLAR seal of approval in November, and a job offer in February for semi-skilled.

Fingers crossed everything I learned doesn't leak out of my head by the time I get to Borden.

You are correct and you would be "semi-skilled".  Anyone who graduates within the previous 24 months, does not require the work experience portion but they still need to be licenced.

 

[Future Med Tech]

I am in the process of becoming a med tech and I had my interview with a career counselor today. I was told that the prerequisites for the job have changed since I started my application and I now need to complete grade 12 chemistry in order to move forward. The process has already taken over 1 year since I also had to take grade 12 biology. I am wondering at what point in the recruitment process is someone advanced enough that changes in the prerequisites don't apply to them anymore? For example, if I were to start BMQ in a few weeks, would I still have to go back and upgrade my chemistry? As far as I know for the RCMP the prerequisites that recruits are subject to are the ones that were valid the day they started the application process.

 

[Andraste]

Hello,

Unfortunately prerequisites (entry standards) for occupations are the sole domain of the occupation and can be changed based on various factors pertinent to the occupation.  If you are in the process of applying and do not have an offer then you will be held to the new ES.  If you were currently enrolled against the old entry standards and on training you would not be held to the new entry standards.

Andraste

 

[Future Med Tech]

Thanks for your input. Makes sense.

Hello,

Unfortunately prerequisites (entry standards) for occupations are the sole domain of the occupation and can be changed based on various factors pertinent to the occupation.  If you are in the process of applying and do not have an offer then you will be held to the new ES.  If you were currently enrolled against the old entry standards and on training you would not be held to the new entry standards.

Andraste

 

[mariomike]

I am currently a BC Ambulance employee looking for a contact of a Regular Force Medical Technician to ask some questions. Anyone know anyone that I’d be able to email or call?

Are your questions about joining the Reserves?

You may find this discussion interesting and informative. Also, a good place to ask questions about the trade,

Medical Technician ( Med Tech )
https://army.ca/forums/threads/28820.125
20 pages.