Ambulance Driver Job Description, Career as an Ambulance Driver, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job

drivers emts medical paramedics

Education and Training: License and training

Salary: Median—$24,722 per year

Employment Outlook: Excellent

Definition and Nature of the Work

Ambulance drivers and other ambulance personnel are often the first members of the medical team to reach a person in need of medical attention. Ambulance drivers operate vehicles that carry sick people and accident victims to hospitals. Ambulance drivers work for hospitals and for police, fire, and community first aid squads. They also work for private ambulance companies that provide emergency or invalid carrier service. Invalid carrier service is provided in a variety of situations, such as bringing a recovering patient from a hospital to a nursing home. In some communities, a large percentage of the ambulance drivers are volunteers. Some drivers, however, are salaried.

Ambulance drivers are trained to give basic life support to ill or injured people. Paramedics can give advanced life support under the direct supervision of medical professionals. (© Liz Hafalia/San Francisco Chronicle/Corbis.)

Ambulance drivers are often trained to serve as emergency medical technicians (EMTs). EMTs are able to give certain kinds of emergency care, which is called basic life support, when they reach a patient. Various levels of EMT training provide workers with basic, intermediate, or advanced skills. The most highly skilled EMTs are called paramedics.

Education and Training Requirements

Ambulance drivers must be at least eighteen years old, licensed to drive a bus, and have a good driving record. Some are required to have the Red Cross first-aid training certificate. To become an EMT or paramedic as well, ambulance drivers must complete a formal training program and become certified. They must be recertified every two years.

Getting the Job

You can apply directly to your local ambulance service or hospital for a job. If you are in school, ask your school's placement office for help in finding a job.

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

Ambulance drivers can advance to become EMTs or paramedics with the appropriate training and certification.

The employment of ambulance drivers, EMTs, and paramedics is expected to grow much faster than average through 2014. Municipal government and private ambulance services will provide the best opportunities for qualified ambulance drivers.

Working Conditions

Ambulance drivers usually work forty hours a week. They work irregular hours including nights, weekends, and holidays. Since many ambulance calls involve matters of life and death, drivers work under intense pressure. Ambulance drivers may have to perform physically strenuous duties. The work is demanding and requires a high degree of commitment.

Where to Go for More Information

American Ambulance Association
8201 Greensboro Dr., Ste. 300
McLean, VA 22102
(800) 523-4447
http://www.the-aaa.org

National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
PO Box 1400
Clinton, MS 39060-1400
(800) 34-NAEMT
http://www.naemt.org

Earnings and Benefits

In early 2006 ambulance drivers earned a median salary of $24,722. Benefits usually include paid holidays and vacations, health insurance, and retirement plans.

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User Comments

12 months ago

esmaeil albasha

man

almost 2 years ago

kayla hernandez

ok so look...i really want to be a paramedic when im older. I am currently 16 years old. I love to help people and i am kind of stuck on whether i should still be one or not...help!!!

If i want a big family soon, is this the job for me?

12 months ago

esmaeil albasha

man

about 3 years ago

Unfortunately in this current state of society we are little more than just "ambulance drivers." I'm an EMT in Seattle, WA and in our county (King) we take a back seat to pretty much any other public service agency. We're expected to take orders and direction from fire fighters with less patient contact experience than us and who have exactly the same EMT certification as we do. Paramedics (limited to the Medic One Foundation in this county), will come on scene and declare an otherwise obvious ACS event as being ok for BLS transport and we're the ones (without the fancy tools and drugs that paramedics carry) taking this person with a possible acute MI to the ER. What appreciation do we get? About half a paramedics salary? Getting yelled at by the nurse at the ER for our transporting an obvious ALS patient? Of course the patient doesn't care who brought them in, all they know is that we didn't give them anything for pain. Why? Because that's ALS!!

over 2 years ago

JOE

This is disgusting. Paramedics are no longer trained; they are educated medical professionals providing life saving interventions, some skills being shared only with physicians, to the ill and injured. -"Ambulance drivers are trained to give basic life support to ill or injured people. Paramedics can give advanced life support under the direct supervision of medical professionals." (© Liz Hafalia/San Francisco Chronicle/Corbis.)

I'm a Paramedic and i've never been "directly supervised" by anyone while performing an invasive skill. Ambulance driver!?!?! Seriously? Was this written in the 1960's?! Get with the program!

almost 4 years ago

Ambulance Driver? Do you also have information about Police Car Drivers and Fire Truck Drivers?

about 3 years ago

Does emt drivers work part time.

2 months ago

hey

2 months ago

hey

3 months ago

I've a LTV-License. I want a Full time job in our company. I live in Himachal, so I need a job. I' m a Graduate from Himachal University, Shimla. I' m able 2 communicate in English & Punjabi, with Excellent communication skills. I also know Computer Basics.Mob no-919418778999.

4 months ago

Rachael CAna<3

HOLY COW MAN!!! SHEESH!!! I would like to be one...

4 months ago

lacey

what are some personal qualities.

4 months ago

hello iam 37 years old am i to old to train for a emt driver and were can i get info in nottingham

5 months ago

iwant to make atraining to be an ambulance driver ilike the job how can i do the training

5 months ago

I am going to own a private EMS provider in Ohio and be a police officer.

7 months ago

Dmytro Uliganets

sport 142 pounds ,high 6.0

over 3 years ago

I would just like to comment on EMS Paramedics. A good friend of mine is an Advanced care Paramedic and he offered to take me on a "ride along" with him for the day and I accepted.At the end of the day I was exausted mentally from the hurt and pain that I witnessed throughout the day.We were called to car crashes,suicides and suicide attempts,heart attacks ect.
It was a real eye opener to see these professional EMS people in action saving peoples lives.
I've always respected EMS personel but after spending a day with my friend,I have 1000 times more respect for the guys and girls in EMS more than ever.
Thank you EMS people for the great work!!

over 3 years ago

what are the chances of overseas applicants for employment?

almost 4 years ago

We are Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics, according to our level of training. Calling us "ambulance drivers" is quite frankly, an insult. Even non-attending drivers have to be certified First Responders so they can assist the EMTs. Please do some research and correct this.