Ambulance Technician Training

[rainhopper]

I have just received an application pack to join the London Ambulance Service as a Trainee Emergency Medical Technician. However it says on the pack that I must hold a C1 or D1 license. Is this applicable for trainees as well, or do they teach you and then test you for a license? If not, I was horrified to read that it costs approx �1000 to get a C1 license! Surely they can not expect potential recruits to pay this and then join?! Anyone in the know on this one?

[Ethel]

Contact them and ask.

But I am sure you must hold this licence before you apply. The licence is not specific to ambulances and the probability is you could earn more as a commercial driver than in employment with the LAS.

[Ethel]

I have found this relevant information:

Entry

The ambulance service in the UK is organised on a regional basis and run by district health authorities or NHS trusts. Each ambulance service sets its own entry requirements, and recruitment procedures will vary between regions. It is essential you contact your local ambulance service for further advice regarding their specific entry criteria.

Some ambulance services will only recruit technicians from existing employees already working as ambulance care assistants (see job profile); contact your local ambulance service for details.



If you passed your driving test after 1996, you may need to gain an extra driving qualification (known as C1 and D1) which will enable you to drive passenger carrying, medium sized vehicles. Some ambulance services may provide support to candidates through this extra driving qualification, however, this is not standard practice. All new entrants must pass a medical, and many services conduct a police check.

[Buenchico]

Many organisations expect potential recruits to pay for training which will still be useful to them if they fail to complete their in-service training or quickly move on elsewhere. (e.g. many airlines require potential pilots to pay for their own initial training, at a cost of about �60,000, before they'll consider them for the airline's own specific training programme). Only companies and organisations which have difficulty in recruiting staff will normally agree to pay for initial training in transferable skills. (e.g. most bus companies will pay to put drivers through their licence training simply because ther's no other way for them to recruit enough staff).

It appears that the LAS must have enough applicants for them not to need to offer to pay for C1/D1 driver training. This might not apply to neighbouring ambulance services so perhaps you should consider transferring your application to one of them.

Chris

[rainhopper]

I am really shocked at this, and find it extremely discouraging. It must be extremely disappointing for those young people straight out of school who could not afford this sort of money to train.

[rainhopper]

Come to think of it, I have never seen an Ambulance person under 30!!

[Ethel]

rainhopper - I know this is a lot of money but it will be a driving skill that will see you through life, not just your career.

I hope you find a way to do it - and wish you every success.

[spaced]

if you do not have a D1 catergory on your licence you wioll have to do the following to obtain it: -

Complete D1 application form - FREE

Your doctor to complete D4 Medical Report Form - APPROX �108

Theory test - APPROX �20

Practical Test - APPROX �80

[rainhopper]

I contacted them and they said that I only need to take the license once I have been offered a position, and I will need it after about 4 weeks of the 16 week training. They said it costs approx �500-�1000 at my own cost, so I have decided to go for the job. Thanks to everyone who gave advice!

[dan_999uk]

As has been said previously, the ambulance service will expect you to obtain this qualification at your own expense. Due to the appeal of the job, the employer has potential applicants over a barrel.

I was lucky and my C1/D1 was issued automatically with my licence - one of the guys on my technician course was a bit younger and got his privately, paying about 800 notes.

PS I'm under 30!

[reecedan123]

I'm having problems finding a suitable ambulance technician course, I live in the west midlands is their any body who now's.