Paramedical Science and Career questions

ch252

Hi, I'm in my Leaving Cert year at the minute. I hope to become a Paramedic in the future and am currently a member if the Civil Defence with some experience working with HSE ambulance staff which helped give me a quick peek into what it's like. I understand the phecc ranks and I am only an OFA at the moment but through CD I have recieved some more extensive training. Anyway enough of that, the reason I am posting is because I have done some research into what courses would be best to do in college for this career. At the moment all I have found is Paramedical Science in the UK. I have a few questions for those of you who may have some knowledge regarding this course before I commit to it, because it is a big decision I want to be sure about before I make it.

Will my qualification be recognised over here, do I have to sit a phecc exam or do I have to undergo my traning again here?

What is your opinion on this course? Would I be better off to just do the EMT course in IATI and wait for the HSE to recrit again?

If there is any other route you think would be more beneficial to take in going for this career?

Darragh

Hooch

It depends on the course you do whether PHECC recognise you as a Paramedic after it. You may have to do a convertion exam which involves the MCQs and OSCEs. If you get recognised you can then apply to HSE for a job in the same way eveyone else does and sit the exam and the interview.

My advice would be do the EMT course and try for the next recruitment in the near future. But thats just me, I wouldnt do two years in the UK and still have to go through the recruitment process aswell!! Bang bang/buzzman might give you a paramedic insight though.

Leo Demidov

Would it be ludicrous to suggest considering recruitment to ambulance services in uk, given that you were considering a move there anyway. If you do get in over there you just wait for recruitment in ireland, process can be very long and drawn out.

C1 and D1 licences might not be a bad idea but I dont think you can do D1 till you're 21. College might not be a terrible idea, even if you consider a different discipline, god knows what your future holds.

Alternately, and again possibly a ludicrous idea, but it might be possible to get a job as emt with privates without D1. prob not a runner as they are no doubt inundated with applications.

My two cents, non expert opinion. Best of luck with it, good to see such determination.

Elessar

You are more likely to get a job with the NHS. EMS in the UK is going the way of 3rd level qualifications, i.e. sooner rather than later you will not be able to get a Paramedic job unless you have a Paramedic degree. C and D licenses are a must.

I have heard that the UK Paramedic IS recognised over here, but you will have to call PHECC to confirm. It really just depends if you want to stay in Ireland or go abroad?

maglite

Having gone through this thinking. I'd look at getting an unrelated degree. Arts, Comm, or even Nursing.

Your 17/18. 4 year degree program will put you at 22 comming out, work on your licences during that time, get the EMT, in 4 years the CD should put you through. Now your 21/22, have you licences, experience, a Phecc Qual, and a back up if something happens on the job, or the ability to have a side line job. And the crack of a college life

Leo Demidov

maglite wrote: »

Having gone through this thinking. I'd look at getting an unrelated degree. Arts, Comm, or even Nursing.

Your 17/18. 4 year degree program will put you at 22 comming out, work on your licences during that time, get the EMT, in 4 years the CD should put you through. Now your 21/22, have you licences, experience, a Phecc Qual, and a back up if something happens on the job, or the ability to have a side line job. And the crack of a college life

Exactly what i was thinking, just couldnt find the words.

Tango Alpha 51

darragh-k wrote: »

Hi, I'm in my Leaving Cert year at the minute. I hope to become a Paramedic in the future and am currently a member if the Civil Defence with some experience working with HSE ambulance staff which helped give me a quick peek into what it's like. I understand the phecc ranks and I am only an OFA at the moment but through CD I have recieved some more extensive training. Anyway enough of that, the reason I am posting is because I have done some research into what courses would be best to do in college for this career. At the moment all I have found is Paramedical Science in the UK. I have a few questions for those of you who may have some knowledge regarding this course before I commit to it, because it is a big decision I want to be sure about before I make it.

Will my qualification be recognised over here, do I have to sit a phecc exam or do I have to undergo my traning again here?

What is your opinion on this course? Would I be better off to just do the EMT course in IATI and wait for the HSE to recrit again?

If there is any other route you think would be more beneficial to take in going for this career?

Darragh

Darragh,
My advices to you as a serving paramedic would be to take Maglite's & NGA's advice re this. If you have specific questions in relation to the job, ask & I shall attempt to answer them for you.

Bang Bang

buzzman wrote: »

Darragh,
My advices to you as a serving paramedic would be to take Maglite's & NGA's advice re this. If you have specific questions in relation to the job, ask & I shall attempt to answer them for you.

My reply would be similar to the above replies.

You have 3 or 4 years before you can legally attain a D1 and C1 driving licence's so use some of your time to get your car licence, keep that clean then when 21 go for your D1 and C1.

Gain experience at dealing with people as patients in a voluntary capacity with Civil Defence or similar, this will stand to you when you go for interview. It will also give you a lot of the knowledge needed for aptitude tests.

Any training you receive in the UK will of course stand to you too but you will have to sit PHECC exams and cover the cost of same to get your qualification recognised.
There is a Pre-Paramedic study course being run in the college in Inchicore, Dublin, (I'm unsure of the college name) certainly check that out as they currently have students doing station placements for one day a week, these placements do not include ride-outs but they give you the insight of life in the station.
I think this course is a post leaving cert type of course.

Gain as much knowledge as you can about the Ambulance Service, visit stations, meet Paramedics and know what's involved in the everyday life and running of an Ambulance Station. Visit one of the Command & Control Centres too.
If you're in or around the Dublin area I can help you there.

5500

Just regarding the Pre Paramedic course in inchicore, it covers 8 different fetac level 5 modules which at the end of the year gives you the qualification of healthcare support worker, but Nats/Nasc are also certifying the pre paramedic studies section of the course.

It might be of some benifit to look into this if you dont fancy going abroad to the uk just yet

Elessar

eireal wrote: »

Just regarding the Pre Paramedic course in inchicore, it covers 8 different fetac level 5 modules which at the end of the year gives you the qualification of healthcare support worker, but Nats/Nasc are also certifying the pre paramedic studies section of the course.

It might be of some benifit to look into this if you dont fancy going abroad to the uk just yet

Nasc "certifying" - what is that supposed to mean? Nasc are not the provider of the fetac course, they can't certify anything.

OP, another one to look at is the Fire and Ambulance Access course in Dun Laoghaire, it's a fetac level 5 aswell, but with the addition of other optional modules like EFR and EMT (at discounted rates too).

EDIT: Nasc

Hooch

Who are NATS??

Maybe ye are refering to NASC?? And as memory serves they dont run any pre Paramedic course.

(O and relax folks;))

5500

The nasc certify the component "pre paramedic studies" which is seperate to the fetac certification. Starting in september it was the first year the course has been ran hence the probable lack of information in the public domain about it.

ch252

Thanks guys for all the replies, they have all been helpful.

From what I've read here I should probably sort out my licenses first. My two plans origionally were to either do a college course here, get the EFR course done over the summer holidays and when the course is finished, sort out the D1 license and an EMT course. From what I've heard from people who have completed the EMT course, it's a full time thing and very tough going.

On the other hand I could go over to the UK and do a 4 year college course in Paramedical Science, say and go from there. I applied to the London amb service who are taking student paramedics but they are looking for people who have ben driving for two years so that was the end of that. I reckon my best bet is to go to college here as maglite said. I intend putting medicine down first on the off chance I get it. Otherwise I'll probably do engineering or nursing as you said and I'll be eligible for the London Ambulance service course then should it be still available in 4 years time, or I can still go for the EMT.

Thanks bang bang, unfortunately though I'm in the west!:(

I do have two more qustions for you though.

Is it possible to get work experience in the ambulance service in the base or something?

And secondly, for the peple who were successful in the HSE EMT interviews this year, what advice would you give to somebody in my position? Essentially, what sets the top applicants apart from the rest?

Darragh

EDIT: The course in question by the way is this one, or one very similar in a different college. http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/3409/BSc+(Hons)+Paramedic+Practitioner+(Community+Emergency+Health)

Leo Demidov

darragh-k wrote: »

And secondly, for the peple who were successful in the HSE EMT interviews this year, what advice would you give to somebody in my position? Essentially, what sets the top applicants apart from the rest?

Darragh

From somebody who was unsuccessful, I'd say interview preparation is critical. I was in top 10 from aptitude tests and worked on interview prep with ex hse guy who specialises in career advice, albeit a management specialist who knew nothing about amb service. My prep went in the wrong direction completely and i failed one of the modules.

Based on what i've heard theres a company in cork who specialise in emergency service interview prep, apparently they get good results.

Any of the proposed paths you intend to follow will stand you in good stead, I've spent years in vols. but first aid was not my priority in those years and this was a big factor in the interview. Know the structure of their training programme backwards, know the organisation and speak to as many paramedics as you can over the years. Do your first aid duties, cover the big events and get the hands on experience.

Dont bluff them or lie in your application and avoid breaking the law too much, this has been an issue for more than one person i know.

Bang Bang

darragh-k wrote: »

Thanks bang bang, unfortunately though I'm in the west!:(

I do have two more qustions for you though.

Is it possible to get work experience in the ambulance service in the base or something?

You're welcome Darragh. My advice regarding your locality is to call into your local ambulance station and ask for a tour, you won't be turned down. Have a chat with the Paramedics there and maybe they'll be able to arrange a visit to the control centre.

Regarding work experience, you won't get work experience onboard an ambulance but it is possible to get work experience in the office of some stations. This will certainly give you the insight into station life.
I would ask your careers teacher in school if they could arrange this for you.
We've often had students in doing this type of work experience.

Credit is due to you for your effort in finding out as much as you can about the ambulance service.
The very best of luck with your studies.

ch252

Thanks again lads for all of the advice, I'll get in contact now and see can I get a day or two over mid-term in February for that work experience.

Yeah wexfjord, that company in careerservices I think, they were reccomended to me for a HPAT prep course, and on their website it says they cover "careers such as An Garda Siochana, the Prison Service, Firefighters, Clerical Officers, Emergency Medical Technicians, Mature Nursing, Banks etc." so I'll keep them in mind, the ambulance training institute nearby in Galway do them also AFAIK if you're going for it again.

Thanks anyway and I'll let ye know how I get on next September sure!:)

timmywex

I had this exact same problem last year, what would be the best way!

My advice certainly would be to get a degree in whatever you want to do, itll stand to you either way, then after that and with licences sorted etc, try getting into being a paramedic.

For example, Im studying engineering in trinity at the moment which has totally nothing to do with ems, but i want to do it and it gives me more options when i finish aswell if needed, and with the likes of an engineer aswell, ill be a problem solver/manager so id imagine itll help my employment chances/promotional chances. (even suit course work to pratical examples, ie, ive a project on the city of 2030, the area im looking at/analysing is ems/emergency services)

As of yet, i havnt joined any vol org, really must look into it someitme, aswell as visiting dfb station in tara street or the likes soon (in college right beside there anyways).

So basically sit tight, have fun in college, and get the licence issues sorted out is my best contribution, im hoping itll work anyways!