Description
Workers in paramedical occupations administer pre-hospital emergency medical care to patients with injuries or medical illnesses and transport them to hospitals or other medical facilities for further medical care. They are employed by private ambulance services, hospitals, fire departments, government departments and agencies, manufacturing firms, mining companies and other private sector establishments. Paramedics who are supervisors are included in this unit group.
Job Titles
- Advanced care paramedic
- Ambulance attendant
- Ambulance services supervisor
- Critical care paramedic
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Emergency medical technologist – paramedic (EMT-P)
- Paramedic
- Paramedic emergency medical technician
- Primary care paramedic
Main Duties
- Assess extent of injuries or medical illnesses of trauma victims, patients with respiratory disease and stress, overdose and poisoning victims, industrial accident victims and other ill or injured individuals to determine emergency medical treatment
- Administer pre-hospital emergency care to patients such as oxygen therapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), spinal immobilization, bandaging and splinting
- Establish and maintain intravenous treatment (IV), apply adjunctive equipment for ventilation and circulation complications, administer medications and provide other advanced emergency treatment to patients
- Transport patients by air, land or water to hospital or other medical facility for further medical care
- Collaborate with ambulance dispatch centres, hospital staff, police, firefighters and family members to ensure relevant information is collected and proper treatment is administered
- Document and record nature of injuries and illnesses and treatment provided
- Assist hospital personnel with provision of medical treatment, if necessary
- Maintain emergency care equipment and supplies
- May train and supervise other workers in this unit group
- May assist with triage of emergency patients.
Workplaces
- Fire departments
- Government departments and agencies
- Hospitals
- Manufacturing firms
- Mining companies
- Private ambulance services
- Private sector companies
Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Oral Communication: Active Listening
- Oral Communication: Oral Expression
- Problem Solving
- Social Perceptiveness
Abilities
- Explosive Strength
- Multi-Signal Response
- Pattern Organization Speed
- Perceptual Speed
- Static Strength
Personal Attributes
- Adaptability
- Attention to Detail
- Collaboration
- Concern for Others
- Independence
Similar Occupations
- Emergency medical care attendant (non-paramedical); Emergency medical care assistant; Emergency medical responder (non-paramedical) (in 33102.00 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates.
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be Good for paramedical occupations (NOC 32102) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
- Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Paramedical occupations, including primary care paramedics and ambulance attendants, continue to face good employment prospects in P.E.I., with shortages reported across the province. Demand is driven by the aging population, immigration growth, and government priorities to strengthen emergency health services. The province’s Licensed Practical Nursing and Paramedic Support Program, which offers full tuition support, remains a key initiative to attract new entrants. The demand for these health professionals may be greater in rural and remote communities as it can be difficult to attract and retain these workers given the potential for more opportunities in urban areas. At the same time, high stress levels, irregular hours, and physically demanding tasks contribute to turnover, sustaining demand for replacements.
For new graduates, this occupation offers secure employment and pathways to advancement through further training in critical care or advanced care paramedicine, while experienced paramedics with broad skills and specialization in emergency response enjoy the most favourable outlook.
Here are some key facts about Paramedical occupations in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
- Paramedical occupations mainly work in the following sectors:
- Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): more than 95%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 93% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 7% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 79% of paramedical occupations work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 61% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 39% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 6% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 17% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 56% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 14% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 6% compared to 8% for all occupa
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $17.50 | $27.31 | $35.00 |
| Canada | $25.56 | $38.00 | $49.00 |
Training
| TRAINING PROGRAM | INSTITUTION | CREDENTIAL |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Care Paramedicine | Holland College | Diploma |
| Advanced Care Paramedicine | Holland College | Post-Graduate Certificate |
| Applied Health in Paramedicine | UPEI | Undergraduate |
There are currently no job listings for this occupation on WorkPEI.