Medical Technician

[#Cevapi]

Hello all, I am in my final year of university with the ultimate goal of getting into medical school to become a physician.
I will be required to take a year off starting next year so I was looking at doing something amazing with my time. I've heard of people joining the forces, so I looked into it, hopefully being able to find something health-medical-related. I came upon the Med Tech position and it really caught my interest. I'm honestly not sure how everything with the Canadian Forces works, is it possible to be a Med Tech for a couple years (let's say 2 years) before I try getting into medical school? The experience I would gain and the different things I would learn is something that I would absolutely LOVE to try and get involved with. I live in Windsor, Ontario and I know we have a recruitment center here but I have not contacted them. Is my idea something absurd or is is practical? Please help me out I appreciate any feedback.

 

[mariomike]

is it possible to be a Med Tech for a couple years (let's say 2 years) before I try getting into medical school?

I believe the VARIABLE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT ( VIE ) is six years.

00334 - 737 - MED TECH - VIE 6
http://army.ca/wiki/index.php/MOSID_and_MOC

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/30846/post-219274.html#msg219274

 

[Civvymedic]

I am not in the military but teach at a college in ontario where we have several students who are going through on a subsidized education plan. The CF is paying for them to go to school in the Paramedic program to obtain employment and certification as a Med Tech. The CF requires Med-Techs to have the equivalent of a civilian Primary care Paramedic education as just one part of there education. You should know that in Ontario the Primary care Paramedic program is 2 years (4 semesters) and the Advanced care Paramedic program is another year on top of that.

Good luck. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[JorgSlice]

There's no point in going to be trained as a Paramedic if you're wanting to become a doctor.

Just contact a CFRC and talk to a Recruiter about the Medical Officer Training Plan

 

[MedCorps]

If your plan is two years, the CF is not the place for you....

Basic Military Qualification - Land
Med Tech Qualification Level Three including PCP (303 training days, not including weekends / holidays)

plus time in the "personnel awaiting training" platoon will take you two years. 

Then you generally need about 18 months of working as a private (basic) before you become occupation qualified (Journeyman) upon completion of another 101 training day course, known as the Med Tech Qualification Level Five (A) which includes the Advanced Emergency Care module. 

So two years... nope, not worth the time / money for the CF to bother training you.  We will not get a return on investment. 

MC

 

[#Cevapi]

Thank you very much for the responses. What is this "medical officer training plan" that PrairieThunder just mentioned? Is there at least ANY way that I can get involved over a one or two year period? So that I can at least have some type of CF work experience for a good 2 years? That would be amazing. I wasn't ONLY looking towards a "med tech" and closing all other possible opportunities, it was just the only thing I came across.
Thank you again! I look forward to hearing back

 

[mariomike]

What is this "medical officer training plan" that PrairieThunder just mentioned? Is there at least ANY way that I can get involved over a one or two year period? So that I can at least have some type of CF work experience for a good 2 years?

"Medical Officer Training Plan (MOTP) candidates receive full pay and allowances throughout their residency. Upon successful completion of a residency in family medicine, there will be a requirement to serve four years as a Medical Officer.":
http://cdn.forces.ca/_PDF2010/00196_medicalofficer_en.pdf

 

[#Cevapi]

That sounds great, however, I am not yet a medical student so that's a problem ! I just check on "forces.ca" and found this bit of information "Service in the Reserve Force is voluntary and is for an undefined period. Most Reservists are enrolled to serve on a part-time basis and have full-time careers outside the Canadian Forces or are full-time students, but some volunteer for full time employment in the military. This employment is normally under a specified contract period of 3 years or less." The last sentence is what I want to highlight here. This tells me that there is a potential position that I can have for 3 years or less, which would be awesome. I'm not sure what it means to serve on a part-time basis though and how that works. I guess I just need to contact a recruiter in Windsor.

 

[dimsum]

That sounds great, however, I am not yet a medical student so that's a problem ! I just check on "forces.ca" and found this bit of information "Service in the Reserve Force is voluntary and is for an undefined period. Most Reservists are enrolled to serve on a part-time basis and have full-time careers outside the Canadian Forces or are full-time students, but some volunteer for full time employment in the military. This employment is normally under a specified contract period of 3 years or less." The last sentence is what I want to highlight here. This tells me that there is a potential position that I can have for 3 years or less, which would be awesome. I'm not sure what it means to serve on a part-time basis though and how that works. I guess I just need to contact a recruiter in Windsor.

Yes, that will be the best way to get all your questions answered in one shot.  However, as others have pointed out here, if you are only looking to do 1-2 years, the problem is that no matter what trade you're looking at going into, the training will take at least that long.  So, it would be a waste of your time (and the CF's time) to do so.  The last line that you highlighted is for employment after all training is completed, so around the 4-5 year mark.