UK to Canada

[hertzvanrental]

I work in the UK for a busy ambulance service on the south coast and am currently undertaking a 3 yr paramedic degree. I'm interested in moving to canada to set up home with the family and work as a paramedic. Any good info out there you could share, such as salaries , areas to live and work immigration issues etc. Cheers

[vs-eh?]

Should probably be in the Canada forum but...

Some other guy recently posted a similar question here - http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5874

My response...

1. Please link your program. Is it considered ALS or BLS?

2. Are you currently involved in this program? If so, how far in? If you have not started yet, and are set to work in Canada, it may be easier to just take a program in Canada instead of going through a shit load of equivalency.

3. Here are some links...

http://www.ontarioparamedic.ca/

http://www.paramedic.ca/

A link to my program (this is for BLS/PCP) http://postsecondary.humber.ca/07651.htm

A link to an ACP/ALS program (you need your PCP first obviously) http://www.conestogac.on.ca/jsp/cecatf/health/acp.jsp

An Ontario perspective...

1. You will need to do equivalency - likely following CMA/MOH guidelines and hope that your program jives.

2. If you only get PCP equivalency you will have a very VERY difficult time finding work currently. If you get ACP equiv. it will be much easier.

3. Areas to live in Ontario? Depends if you want urban, rural, or a mix of both. Cost of living in Toronto is basically the highest (outside Vancouver) in Canada. However most Greater Toronto Area Services will be difficult to get in. Urban centers expect 3-8 calls / 12 hours...Rural shutouts can be a regular occurrence.

4. Salary - PCP = $26-32 dollars an hour...ACP is $28-37... All services are unionized and municipal. Generally good health care plans, benefits, etc...

5. No clue of immigration. But I would imagine it wouldn't be difficult considering we are all commonwealth no?