Emergency Medical Services Recruitment

Halton Region employs both Primary Care and Advanced Care Paramedics. This page contains information about the education and training required to become a paramedic and the process for applying for a paramedic position within the Region. Visit Halton's employment opportunities to view current postings.

How can I become a paramedic?

  • All paramedics must complete a 2 year college level Primary Care Paramedic course.
  • Following successful completion of the required college diploma, prospective candidates must undergo a certification process administered by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), before becoming paramedics.
  • Candidates from jurisdictions outside the Province of Ontario without their Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant (A-EMCA) designation are required to enter an equivalency process with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in order to establish their qualifications to work in the Province of Ontario.
  • Detailed information on the equivalency process can be found on the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website.

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Which colleges in Ontario offer paramedic training?

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What is the recruiting process for Halton Region Emergency Medical Services?

Discontinued: The Centralized Paramedic Competency Recruitment Testing process Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF)76KB, used in previous years for Primary Care Paramedic candidates.

Here is an outline of the 2012 Halton Region EMS recruitment process:

  • December 5, 2011Online posting for paramedic positions, applications accepted
  • January 4, 2012 – Closing date for job postings
  • January 9, 2012 – Registration begins for written exam
  • January 13, 2012 – Last day to register for the written exam
    • Registration for the written exam extended to 4 p.m., January 30, 2012
  • February 1 & 2, 2012Written exam dates
  • February 13 - March 2, 2012Practical Exams/Driver testing and PAE due
  • March 19 - 30, 2012Interviews
  • April 23, 2012Job offers
  • April 30, 2012 – Pre-orientation information day
  • May 7, 2012Orientation begins

Qualified Advanced Care Paramedic applicants will be required to participate in a separate hiring competition.

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Details regarding the Recruiting Process

Job Postings

  • Job postings for Halton Region Emergency Medical Services 2012 Recruitment Process will be available online December 5, 2011
  • Only resumes submitted electronically between December 5, 2011 and January 4, 2012 will be considered to be eligible to register for the written exam.

Written Exam

  • Registration will begin on January 9, 2012 - 4 p.m. on January 13, 2012.
  • To book a time for the written exam, please email ambulanceservices@halton.ca.
    Please provide the following information in your email message:
    • In the subject line, please type "Written Exam"
    • Full Name
    • Phone number
    • Email address
    • City where you reside
    • 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice of the date and time you would like to write the exam
  • No bookings will be made over the phone. 
  • As there are limited spots available for each sitting, scheduling is based on a first come, first served basis.
  • You will receive a confirmation of the date and time of your writing and will be assigned a tracking number which will apply for the duration of the recruitment process.
  • Written exam times are as follows:
    • February 1, 2012
      • 9 - 11 a.m.
      • 1 - 3 p.m.
      • 5 - 7 p.m.
    • February 2, 2012
      • 9 - 11 a.m.
      • 1 - 3 p.m.
    • Each date has 5 exam slots each; a 6th time slot may be added as demand requires.
  • The exam will consist of 100 multiple choice questions over a 2 hour period.
  • The exam will take place in the Auditorium of the Halton Regional Centre located at 1151 Bronte Road. 
  • We ask that you use parking lot E (Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF)476KB) and enter through the South Auditorium Entrance
  • Candidates are expected to arrive 1 hour prior to your scheduled time for registration
  • The following documentation is required to gain access to the written exam:
    • Photo ID - valid driver’s licence 
    • AND one of the following:
      • Current college student ID card
      • College diploma from an approved program
      • MOH&LTC ID card
      • AEMCA certificate
      • MOH&LTC equivalency letter
  • Failure to provide ALL of the required documentation will result in denial of access.
  • All candidates for the written exam will be REQUIRED to sign a Code of Conduct waiver.
  • Due to an overwhelming response to 2012 recruitment processes, only successful candidates will be contacted to move onto the next stage of the recruitment process.

Practical Exam/Driver Testing

  • All successful candidates who are contacted via email to continue in the recruitment process will be directed to confirm the date, time and location of their practical evaluation.
  • Dates for the practical exam and driver testing have been scheduled from February 13 - March 2, 2012.
  • Candidates are expected to provide the following on the date of testing: Failure to provide this documentation on the day of testing will result in the immediate removal of the candidate from the recruitment process.
  • The practical exam will consist of one simulated patient care scenario.
    • Simulation mannequin and/or live persons will be utilized as patients for the scenarios.
    • The patient care may involve symptom relief, SAED, trauma or medical situations based on the newly approved provincial BLS/ALS Patient Care Standards.
  • The driver test is a spatial awareness analysis where the candidate will be manoeuvring an ambulance through a series of pylon obstacle courses.
    • Both of these processes will be completed at:
      • Halton Region Emergency Medical Services Headquarters
        Woodlands Operations Centre
        1179 Bronte Road, Oakville  view map External Link
    • Only successful candidates will be contacted to move onto the next stage of the recruitment process.

    Interviews

    • All successful candidates who are contacted via email to continue in the recruitment process will be directed to confirm the date, time and location of their interview.
        • Location of interviews:
          • Halton Region Emergency Medical Services Headquarters (Woodlands Operations Centre)
            1179 Bronte Road, Oakville  view map External Link
        • Scheduled Dates:
          • March 19 - 30, 2012
    • At this point, candidates will be expected to provide:
      • an updated resume
      • 3 professional references related to the EMS field

    Job Offers

    • All successful candidates will be contacted by phone between April 23 - 27, 2012.
    • They will receive further instructions on how the process will continue and expectations for the pre-orientation information day conducted on April 30, 2012

     

    Orientation

    • Orientation begins at:
      • Halton Region’s EMS Headquarters view map External Link
      • May 7 - June 6, 2012.
    • Orientation is a 4 ½ week process combining education, practical assessment and certification of skills, ultimately assisting the new recruit in starting a long and successful career with Halton Region EMS.

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