Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C. NOC: 3234 REGULATED Emergency Medical Assistants Emergency Medical Assistants Introduction What are the Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C.? British Columbia welcomes you! Like you, over 35,000 immigrants from around the world settle in B.C. each year and find work in a variety of professions. The process of finding work can take time, so it is important to understand each of the steps needed to gain employment. If you are preparing to come to B.C., or have just arrived, this guide provides the following information: Section 1 - how this occupation is practiced in B.C. Section 2 - steps to help you prepare before you arrive Section 3 - qualifications needed in B.C. Learn More Section 4 - tips to help you find employment Section 1 Occupational Overview Occupation Description Emergency Medical Assistants (EMAs) administer pre-hospital emergency medical care to patients with injuries or medical illnesses, transport patients to hospitals or other medical facilities, and document and record the nature of injuries and illnesses and the treatment they have provided. Working Conditions In B.C., Emergency Medical Assistants are primarily employed by the B.C. Ambulance Service. However, some of these workers work in industrial, hospital, and other settings. Emergency Medical Assistants may have various job titles Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) First Responders Occupational First Aid Attendant Paramedic Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) Workforce Highlights 5,200 Emergency Medical Assistants in B.C. $13.00-$35.00 Hourly Wage Range For more information on wages and workforce see Section 2. This Occupational Guide for Immigrants to B.C. is a resource to help immigrants build a career plan. Occupational qualifications and requirements sometimes change. Planning your career in B.C. will require additional research and direct contact with the appropriate regulatory bodies, professional associations and training institutions. This Occupational Guide is for general information only and is not legal or professional advice. WelcomeBC.ca Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C. NOC: 3234 REGULATED Emergency Medical Assistants Section 2 Prepare Before You Come to B.C. Explore Regions in B.C. to Live and Work The demand for each occupation varies throughout the regions of the province. B.C. is a big province, about the same size as Tanzania or Venezuela, and bigger than Pakistan or Turkey. Each region has different employment needs and industries. Use the labour market information and resources in this guide to explore regional employment options. B.C. Labour Market Information To learn more about your chosen profession visit the following websites where you will find information including salaries, regional employment opportunities, and job descriptions. B.C. Job Trend Tracker www.bcjobtrendtracker.ca 7 8 Education Planner www.educationplanner.ca 6 WorkBC www.workbc.ca Working in Canada Tool www.workingincanada.gc.ca 5 BC Wage and Salary Survey 2009 www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/LabourIncome/Earnings.aspx 3 1 4 2 Prepare Yourself Plan and prepare for your career as much as possible before arriving in B.C. Be sure you understand the provincial job market and professional requirements of your occupation. You may be able to start or complete many of these tasks before you arrive in Canada. B.C. DEVELOPMENT REGIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. Vancouver Island/Coast Mainland/Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay 5. 6. 7. 8. Cariboo North Coast Nechako Northeast Get Started! 1. Learn about the occupation. Know the name of the job in Canada, and make lists of potential employers. 2. Collect documents. Collect copies of relevant documents, and if necessary, have them translated into English. Degrees, diplomas or certificates from universities, colleges or schools Program descriptions related to your studies, and transcripts of grades Reference letters and performance reviews from employers Work descriptions and letters from professional agencies 3. Improve your workplace skills. You may need to improve your skills or knowledge before you start working in B.C. Explore all the resources provided in this guide. 2 Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C. NOC: 3234 REGULATED Emergency Medical Assistants Essential Skills Essential skills are the basic workplace abilities you need to succeed on the job. The most important Essential Skills for Emergency Medical Assistants are: document use, oral communication, and problem solving. The resources below can help you assess and upgrade your essential skills. Essential Skills in the Workplace www.itsessential.ca How Do Your Skills Measure Up? measureup.towes.com/default.asp Test of Workplace Essential Skills www.towes.com English Language Requirements Medical terminology, pharmacology, and toxicology are all part of the training for Paramedics. You must know the specialized language involved, including English terms for the tools, medical supplies, and equipment. Time is critical in a medical emergency! Although there is no formal English language prerequisite to being an Emergency Medical Assistant, in order to work in this industry you should have reached a minimum English proficiency level of CLB 8 (Canadian Language Benchmarks: www.language.ca) All of the training programs for Emergency Medical Assistants have language level requirements and each varies in the types of tests and minimum scores they accept. For example, the Justice Institute’s Primary Care Paramedic program requires a TOEFL CBT score of 220 (PBT 560/IBT 83), an LPI score of 4, or an IELTS score of 6.5. Some programs may require candidates to go through an interview process. The following website can help you to explore various training facilities and their entrance requirements: www.educationplanner.ca Improve Your Language Skills Continue improving your language skills by taking further English and Canadian cultural training, joining organizations, getting involved in different community groups, and attending events where English is the primary language spoken. The more skills, certification, and languages you have, the more attractive you are to a potential employer. English Language and Communication Services DIVERSEcity www.dcrs.ca English Language Services for Adults www.elsanet.org Planning to Work in British Columbia, Canada Workbook www.welcomebc.ca/local/wbc/docs/ BC_Workbook_EN_June4_Fillable.pdf IELTS International English Language Testing System www.ielts.org Immigrant Services Society of BC www.issbc.org MOSAIC www.mosaicbc.com S.U.C.C.E.S.S. www.successbc.ca TOEFL www.toefl.org Welcome BC www.welcomebc.ca 3 Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C. NOC: 3234 REGULATED Emergency Medical Assistants Section 3 Qualifications The following information will help you understand how to become qualified to work in your profession in B.C. This is only a guide; you should do more research to make a career plan that will work for you. To work as an Emergency Medical Assistant, you will need to hold an Emergency Medical Assistant licence and be registered with WorkSafeBC. WorkSafeBC oversees industrial work safety in British Columbia. The Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board is responsible for examining, registering and licensing all Emergency Medical Assistants in B.C., including first responders. The Emergency and Health Services Act requires that all Emergency Medical Assistants working in B.C. are licensed. Emergency Medical Assistant Qualifications Getting an emergency medical assistant licence in British Columbia is a multi-step process. If you completed your training outside of Canada and want to get a licence in B.C., you will be required to: Complete all required forms in the application process Send proof of successful completion of training (translated certificate or transcripts may be required) Complete an educational prior learning equivalency assessment (www.plar.org) Learn More Important Links for Emergency Medical Assistants in B.C. Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board www.health.gov.bc.ca/ema WorkSafeBC www.worksafebc.com Complete an essential competency comparison report Undergo a criminal record check Once the EMA Licensing Branch has received all your documentation a clinical advisor will review your file to determine your equivalent level of training in British Columbia. You will then receive further information on your examination or other requirements. For further information visit: www.health.gov.bc.ca/ema/get-licence/ outside-of-canada.html Contact Information for Unions and Organized Labour Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia (APBC) CUPE local 873 www.apbc.ca B.C. Federation of Labour www.bcfed.com 4 Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C. NOC: 3234 REGULATED Emergency Medical Assistants Section 4 Tips to Finding Employment in B.C. Get Help with Your Job Search Finding a job in B.C. may be very different than in your home country. You may need help finding job vacancies, updating your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for interviews, and understanding what B.C. employers are looking for. Skills Connect for Immigrants program provide employment-related support services that move internationally educated professionals into the B.C. labour market: www.welcomebc.ca/skillsconnect B.C. Employment and Labour Market Services employment programs: www.labourmarketservices.gov.bc.ca Industry Links These industry organizations provide important information and offer key resources: ! Paramedic Association of Canada www.paramedic.ca B.C. Ambulance Service www.bcas.ca British Columbia Health Authorities www.health.gov.bc.ca/socsec ! Employers want experienced workers. Even with the right certification and years of experience in your country, some employers may want you to start in an entry-level job to show your skills before you work in your chosen profession. Look for jobs in the classified sections of newspapers, or use on-line resources like: CraigsList geo.craigslist.org/iso/ca/bc B.C. Ambulance Service – Job Postings www.bcas.ca/EN/main/careers.html ! The Canadian government provides employment and settlement services in China, India, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. The program is called the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program. More information about these pre-arrival services: www.newcomersuccess.ca Build Connections Within Your Profession Many job vacancies are not advertised. Get advice from people you may know in B.C., including relatives, friends or neighbours. Working as a volunteer, attending events, and joining clubs and associations are good ways to meet people, learn about Canadian workplace culture, and improve your English language and communication skills. You may benefit from joining local Chamber of Commerce business clubs, attending business functions, and meeting with unions, contractors, employment agencies, and recruitment specialists. For more information see: www.bcchamber.org This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada with support from the Province of British Columbia. WelcomeBC.ca Updated December 4, 2012 5 The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is used in Canada to classify jobs by industry and level of education. If you are applying for an immigration program in Canada, you will need to know the NOC code for your occupation. The NOC Code for Emergency Medical Assistant is 3234. To learn more about NOC 3234, visit www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/ NOC/English/NOC/2011/QuickSearch.aspx?val65=3234