UK Paramedics in Alberta
 

Hi

My husband and I are planning a research trip in May 2008, he is a qualified paramedic here in the UK and looking to become a paramedic in Alberta.

Is there anyone out there that has already gone through the process and knows what is actually involved. My husband has already looked at the College of Paramedic in Alberta but it does not seem to be that clear.

Any advice would be useful.

Thank you for your help in advance.

Priya

Re: UK Paramedics in Alberta
 

I did a search, and found these previous discussion threads:
Also strongly suggest you read the Wiki article entitled Newcomers to the forum, if you haven't already done so.

Hope that helps.

Re: UK Paramedics in Alberta
 

There are dozens of Jobs, but the big but...


It is doubtful an employer will look at you without passing/challenging the alberta exams first. http://www.collegeofparamedics.org/r...ncial_exam.php

Apply for registration, fly out here, pass the exams and then apply for jobs

Once you pass the exams choose a city you want to live in and get a job. They are increadibly short staffed. If you want to earn big bucks (£300-£400/day $600-$800 Cdn) work in the oilpatch although it's a bit like the living quarters of the paras or marines.

It's all pretty standardised ACLS, PALS, NALS, BTLS/PHTLS. protocols vary by service

Jobs: http://www.collegeofparamedics.org/employment.php
http://www.aaoa.biz/
http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server....Recruiting.htm

Good luck

Re: UK Paramedics in Alberta
 

It can be done for sure.

I remember watching a BBC2 program "get a new Life" a couple of years ago and there was a guy from Yorkshire I think who moved out here to Bragg Creek I believe who was a qualified UK Paramedic.

He ended up having a top flight job to do with the oilfields as he had done specialist training in disaster limitations or something and this is what impressed the employer out in Canada more than anything else.

Just wanted you to know that it is possible and would strongly advise you to get your resume out and about in Canada and put stress on any specialities which you have been trained in.

Hope this helps - happy new year

Gaynor
x

Re: UK Paramedics in Alberta
 

I am going through this at the moment, I think you may have tried to conact me off list, apologies for not replying before, so here is what i have had to do so far,

Apply to the ACP (alberta college of paramedics) for them to review you for out of state equivalency, pay the fee, and send them everything related to your uk qualification, including all the materials you used to get it, and details of your current uk HPC registration,

once they have reviewed you, and they only perform these reviews 3 times a year, and you have a positive result, this will enable you to sit the state examination, be warned in alberta they practice at a considerably higher level than here in the uk, (more drugs, RSI unsupervised in the field etc) upon succesfull completeion of the exam you can apply for state registration, you can get temp registration prior to sitting the exam, but this only covers you up to the date of the next exam, (exams are only held three times a year)

choose your method of immigration, TWP with LMO or PR, or whatever, then get a job,if you go down the TWP route, your employer will have to apply for the LMO and in alberta this is taking in excess of 27 weeks at the moment, mine applied on the 22nd of may and after much pressure got it the beginning of decmeber,

If you are planning a recce trip might i suggest you contact three or four services with a view to going on a ride-along we call it observer or third manning here in brum. I have been out with 5 different services during two recce trips and managed a dozen or so 12 hour shifts over there in total, from big city services (calgary) to tiny rural services in the praries and in the north,

The big city services like calgary are exactly the same as working in the big 3 in the uk, only in calgary the handover delays at hospital are worse (8-10 hrs!!) the rural services were more attractive to me (and what i went for in the end)

Oilfield jobs are plentifull and well paid as has been said, but you will be expected to be at work for 7-21 days at a stretch(24 hr cover), and then 7 off not great if you are married have kids etc.

contact me off list if you have any more questions, hope this helps

Alan

i feel a wiki coming on!!

Re: UK Paramedics in Alberta
 

Just wanted to say that for anyone with a trade job that requires an exam pass - be careful.

For anyone just flying out to see if you can pass the exam (after you have been given the go ahead to 'challenge it' as they say here). You may well be issued a 3 month TWP at immigration and you have to pass the exam in that time or it's bye bye TWP idea.

We had a close call!

Re: UK Paramedics in Alberta
 

Hi there,

Just wanted let everyone know that the guy from yorkshire was a middle manager here but had MIMMS so went out as a manager NOT as a paramedic. He had to test for the ACP and have never heard how he got on. But then if he stayed as management with IPS then he did more than alright :thumbsup:

As for the ACP exams you also have to realise that they don't even make it easy for paramedics within Canada to "transfer" into the province under the federal agreement on internal trade (AIT)

Yes they operate at a higher level but nothing that an experienced UK paramedic can't do as once you get to grips with the meds and procedures then the experience of operating autonomously over in the UK will put you in a good position for employment.

It is possible and they don't hinder but then they don't go out of their way like the Oz services do. Canadian services are however slowly realising that there is a group of experienced paramedics in the UK that want out and they are starting to look this way.

The UK paramedic education and skill set fall between the Canadian PCP and ACP levels where the Canadians don't have anything. There are jobs for the lowers skill set especially out in industry. You need to deicde whether to de skill and then train up once out here or challenge the exam after studying and doing a few courses to get up to their speed. Also check out the immigration website on skills wanted for western and northern Canada as I am sure that paramedic type - I think they list it as ambulance/ambulance attendant - is a skill in need so WP are issued easier and faster.

Things to think about

Re: UK Paramedics in Alberta
 

All of it sound advice. The training in Alberta is very thorough and academic standards second to none. The exam is no "cake walk" as locals would say.


Don't be put off though, it's a wonderful country and Alberta is suffering a dire skills shortage with the rapid expansion of the oil industry (2nd largest proven reserves in the world after Saudi and oil just hit $100/barrel). Get out here and challenge the exam, get your registration number and you will have a number of jobs to choose from.

Good luck