Assuming the applicant has good grades, how much does volunteer experience make or break chances of getting accepted into a paramedic program? Not going to lie, I don’t have any recent volunteer experience in anything, and don’t have much time to get some either.
Hey everyone I’m 4th on the waitlist for St Clair. I did originally have a lot of hope but the list literally hasn’t moved 1 spot. I really want to get in this year. Does anyone know my chances at this point? be honest. Thank you!!
There's recently been a renewed push to form a regulatory college of paramedics here in Ontario. Particularly by certain groups like municipalities and paramedic chiefs.
I think it'd be wise for all to understand that a college is not there to benefit the paramedic, but to protect the patient. All the potential benefits people espouse are merely second fiddle to that primary goal.
Everyone should also be asking, why are these groups pushing so hard for the college? What's in it for them? Well, the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus said the quiet part out loud in their 2026 Advocacy Package Report.
"Government cost and liability savings: Municipalities as paramedic employers have the potential to save money through reduced malpractice and liability insurance requirements, changes to how education and continuing education are funded, and increased individual professional accountability for continuing education. Municipal employers currently bear significant liability; a college model would shift professional responsibility to individual paramedics, similar to nurses and other health care professionals."
A college would cost the individual medic hundreds, possibly even thousands, of dollars per year in increased costs. Plus the possibility of losing their license if they can't qualify for insurance. Many services are already struggling with lagging wages and benefits, so I imagine this is the last thing that would help. Especially in an era of rising inflation.
For those of you that hear your colleagues singing the praises of a college, make sure they're informed of this and fully aware of what they're getting themselves into.
FTM here going back to work in two months and my baby is still nursing 6 times a day looking for tips on how to manage breast feeding and pumping while working 12hr shifts. I work a busy service with shifts often being 14hrs meaning I won't get home to my baby before he goes to bed. Not ready to wean and looking for pump recommendations. Anypne been through this and able to help?
I’ve heard of medics doing your basic blood work, IVs and ECGs in hospital but was curious if they ever participate in patient care? monitoring your little old lady with a UTI, helping with trauma cases, or generally more forward facing patient care that’s not just skills.
too much of a nurses job?
I’m 23 years old and have been working in the automotive industry for the past five years. I’m planning to apply to the January 2027 intake for the Conestoga paramedic program. Right now, I’m upgrading my high school courses and only have Biology left to complete. By the time I finish, I expect to have an 86% average across all the required prerequisite courses.
I currently have my Standard First Aid, CPR-BLS certification, and I’ve recently earned my Class F licence. However, I don’t have any volunteer experience or any experience working in the medical field.
Based on my background, what are my chances of being accepted into the program? I’m also hoping to avoid taking the Pre-Health program because I don’t want to leave my full-time job to spend a year completing an additional prerequisite. Do you think that’s likely to hurt my application, or do I still have a realistic chance of being accepted?
Hello all,
I’m starting at Conestoga in Jan 2027. Was wondering what the job market right now is in Ontario? Are there any ways I can make myself more competitive for the job market during school? Do my grades matter?
Thanks
My record includes:
● 2 at-fault accidents ( private insurance)
● 2 insurance cancellations ( private inserunce )
● 1 conviction for driving without insurance
● No licence suspensions
● No Criminal Code driving offences
● No demerit points
Would this affect:
1. Getting clinical placements during paramedic school?
2. Getting hired by an Ontario ambulance service after graduation?
Has anyone been hired with a similar driving record, or know how ambulance services look at insurance-related offences? I’d appreciate any firsthand experience.
Starting paramedic school this fall and trying to understand the real day-to-day before I'm in it. Everyone warns me about the patient care reports and the charting, but I want to hear it from people actually doing the job.
What's the part of the documentation side that genuinely annoys you the most? Is it the typing in the truck, the time it eats after a call, the ePCR software itself, the billing/coverage stuff, the handoff at the ER? Or is the paperwork honestly fine and I'm worrying about nothing?
Just trying to learn what's real vs. what gets exaggerated. Appreciate any honest takes!
Getting tired of our 1-year-old Crestline Fleetmax 2.0 shutting off on scene. Our truck doesn’t have the stand-alone button to disable Eco Mode on the screen (compared to others in our service), but we recently discovered that we can press and hold the anti-theft button to disable it. When disabled, the crossed out eco mode leaf pops up and the truck stays running as expected
Our new issue is that when Eco Mode is disabled, the anti-theft button no longer keeps the truck running when the key is removed. Disabling eco mode results in the anti-theft light illuminating as usual, but the truck immediately turns off once the keys are removed. Anti theft works as expected whenever Eco Mode is left on.
Am I missing something? Are we only able to use anti-theft OR disable eco mode?
I’ve tried both of the following:
•disabling eco mode (2 second press of anti-theft button) and then removing the keys. Truck immediately turns off.
•disabling eco mode and then repressing anti theft to disengage and reengage before removing the keys. Truck immediately turns off.
Figured I’d see if anyone else has this issue
Hi! I am a 25 year old, I've been working in customer service for about 10 years and marketing for just over two. In the past year I started to have the itch to fully career switch and go into first responding, specifically becoming a paramedic. I am currently upgrading my marks right now and doing very well in my math, english, biology, and chemistry courses, and am looking forward to my prospective future. However, I often go between feeling good about starting over and feeling scared. I am beyond unfulfilled in my professional life at the moment, and as crazy as this seems I sometimes have felt like it's too late for me. it doesn't help that I have a firefighter in my family who is unsupportive of this decision due to some very outdated beliefs about women, but also based on his own personal experiences and traumas.
I guess I'm here to ask for any advice from anyone who was once in my shoes. ALSO if anyone has any information about getting into school with marks from an upgrading service, that would be quite helpful too.
Thanks!
Here are my thoughts:
I believe it’s insane that our very public facing profession does not have a regulatory college governing the conduct of paramedics. They make the decisions who can be licensed, when revocations are warranted, etc. they maintain a public database of licensed paramedics (including issues of past misconduct). This keeps the public safe.
a lot of people will reply that this is why base hospitals exist (which is partially true: but only in the context of the ALS). The employer then has wide (and oft unchecked latitude) in interpreting the BLS causing a fragmented system of oversight right in front of our eyes. Fragmented systems of oversight do not work effectively especially in complex health care related disciplines like ours.
Why do the unions oppose? Imagine how much more expensive it will be for unions to represent members before a regulatory college where the game board is entirely different and is generally outside the comfort level of many unions. This may create conflict between unions and members in the future because unions may opt away from representing members at the board — and may have to hire their own legal counsel.
It also keeps a check on member-member interactions because it would impose an expectation of behaviour that would need to be followed in the workplace. In cases of misconduct, proceedings may be initiated by the college to determine questions of liability and if necessary, penalty (up to and including revocation of a license for example). These public facing proceedings are necessary to keep the public safe. This profession needs to be regulated in the public interest. Paramedics are becoming increasingly capable of making decisions that could ultimately decide a persons fate. An error in VSA management, for example, could be fatal. The public is entitled to expect that paramedics will be regulated to protect them. That calls for the establishment of a regulatory college.
There is good news! The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) which represents upper tier and single tier municipalities is calling for a regulatory college. In fact, it elevated a paramedic regulatory college to one of its top healthcare advocacy priorities.
they’ve so far delivered on that advocacy by consulting directly with government stakeholders at the recent ROMA conference where they met directly with cabinet ministers including the Minister of Health. This is an example of organized political activity that changes the discussion of this issue significantly. With increased pressure from the chiefs (who have also publicly supported a regulatory college) and the Ontario Paramedic Association, it’s clear this issue is no longer just hypothetical. I’m curious to see what the government will announce upon returning to the legislature in the fall.
There’s very little reason for the government to deny the establishment a college in my view. It’s an investment in healthcare after all. The government knows very well that we can contribute to healthcare outside of ambulances including in ER departments, for example. Paramedics are becoming increasingly utilized in clinical roles like harm reduction (like emergency response at prevention sites). I have heard no compelling reason for why a college should not be established.
What do I hope for? The establishment of a college. I stepped away from this profession in large part because l cannot reconcile the issue of fragmented oversight in a complex position such as ours. Fired from the employer for a BLS contravention? You lose your base hospital certification too. When paramedic services are running thin, they turn to candidates who can cross certify. How does an experienced paramedic cross cert if they lose their BH certification — because of an alleged contravention away from the ALS? A regulatory college resolves the issue of fragmented oversight entirely and is good for the public. No longer will an employer be able to determines the loss of a paramedics right to practice based ln issues that rnay be entirely unrelated to clinical performance for example. Fired for showing up to work late because you have trauma related to the profession? Say goodbye to your status with base hospital. It’s entirely inexcusable to me that a single employer can have so much influence over a single paramedics career.
Proceedings commended by regulatory colleges have an obligation to provide procedural fairness. There is no requirement in law that employers provide procedural fairness to employees, which paramedic services routinely take advantage of in unfair ways.
Gone are the days where management can congregate against paramedics because management would also be subject to the same standards outlined by the College. There is no more risk for inconsistent and unfair treatment that could create significant implications for the paramedic.
All of this information is available online including the position of the EOWC.
I am interested but hear 4 semester success rate low and often requires added semesters and course retakes.
Ok so I am currently enrolled in the hybrid version of my program. They offered me a seat for the in person program. The program is exactly the same.
Hybrid
- online classes between 5-10pm Monday to Friday (not the entire 5 hrs nor is it everyday)
- in person every other weekend (both days) from 8am to 4:30pm. So every 2 weeks.
In person
- in person classes between 8am and 10pm.
Hybrid gives me more flexible and saves me money on buying a laptop, parking pass and getting myself to school. But I do admit being in person may help learning (tho idk how good it is for me...)
A common theme I hear among new paramedics in Ontario is that the schooling is incredibly condensed and out dated in terms of the modern scope. Although nothing is confirmed, is it worth waiting for a three year degree, or is it advisable to take advantage of the current diploma program?
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Hey everyone,
I just finished my first year of Computer Science (BA Honors) at York University. I did Calc 1, Calc 2, Intro to Programming, and Object-Oriented Programming. I’m currently doing my summer semester, but honestly, I realized CS isn't for me. I want a career that is active and hands-on, and I’m really interested in becoming a paramedic in Ontario.
I have a few questions about how to make this switch successfully:
If anyone has made the jump from university to an Ontario paramedic program, I would love to hear how you did it and what your daily school schedule looks like now.
Thanks!
Looking for stretchy and comfortable EMS pants for woman , I can get the hi vis added to after. Preferably would like somewhere I can try them on but any recommendations are appreciated.
I am looking for current patches from all services with ❌, if you have one please reach out. Happy to cover shipping cost or any fees associated with it.
Can provide MOH card if required!
Can anyone give me their experience of working for the Canadian Armed Forces while also working for a civilian services. And if deployed what does that affect in terms of your job security.
I am going into a PCP program in the fall and looking into all my opportunities that are available to me as a Primary Care Provider.
Just interested in hearing how the process was/is for individuals.