Any Australian Paramedics on here?

Thom

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Hi all,

I am about to start my Bachelor of Paramedicine in Sydney, Australia.
After graduation and just a couple of years working as a paramedic to gain experience, I am thinking of looking into a move to the US.

I understand each state has different rules etc, but I am hoping to gain an insight from any non-US Paramedics in what they had to do to get where they are today. In particular if we have any Australian Paramedics on here.

Is a Bachelor Degree in Paramedicine the same, higher or a lower caliber of training to US counterparts?

Many thanks

Thom
 
There are two USA Paramedics here; one from Texas and the other from Arizona.

Apparently Paramedics in USA are paid quite poorly, have to work very long shifts and are less able to do things like leaving people at home or they have to ask a doctor for permission. In many places it is part of the fire service so you have to also be a firefighter.

Doesn't sound like a place I'd want to work. Probably better off staying down here.
 
There are two USA Paramedics here; one from Texas and the other from Arizona.

Apparently Paramedics in USA are paid quite poorly, have to work very long shifts and are less able to do things like leaving people at home or they have to ask a doctor for permission. In many places it is part of the fire service so you have to also be a firefighter.

Doesn't sound like a place I'd want to work. Probably better off staying down here.
Thanks Special K. Gives me something to think about, although I think the Mrs is pretty set on the move at the moment.
 
Thanks Special K. Gives me something to think about, although I think the Mrs is pretty set on the move at the moment.
The good news is that not everywhere in the US has the problems Special K describes, at least not to the same degree. Overall, our educational and career situation certainly leaves much to be desired compared to the Australian or NZ EMS systems, but it's not all gloom and doom.

There are systems where one can make a very livable wage as a single role paramedic with a set schedule on an ~40 hr work week. There are many areas that require a fire certification as well or excessive amounts of OT, but this is why people can do whatever research they want before they accept a job or move to an area. Unfortunately, there are some regions where EMS as a single role provider is going to leave you broke and working far too many hours. If you and your wife haven't decided where you want to live yet, start there.
 
The good news is that not everywhere in the US has the problems Special K describes, at least not to the same degree. Overall, our educational and career situation certainly leaves much to be desired compared to the Australian or NZ EMS systems, but it's not all gloom and doom.

There are systems where one can make a very livable wage as a single role paramedic with a set schedule on an ~40 hr work week. There are many areas that require a fire certification as well or excessive amounts of OT, but this is why people can do whatever research they want before they accept a job or move to an area. Unfortunately, there are some regions where EMS as a single role provider is going to leave you broke and working far too many hours. If you and your wife haven't decided where you want to live yet, start there.
Thanks Chaz90.

We're thinking New Hampshire at the moment. The Mrs has family there so makes sense for us to be near to them and it looks really nice there.
 
As above .

Unfortunately being a paramedic will not secure you an H1B visa. Even if it did, it's the employer who has to apply on your behalf at the cost of several thousand $s, and they will generally have to prove that there are no US citizens who can fill the position. US visas are generally not allocated on the basis of 'skilled work' unlike many other countries. The H1B not only requires a degree (which you will have), but the job itself also requires on (which it does not in the US).

Sorry to say unless you have another means to an 'in' it's probably not going to happen.

For the record, you could probably walk into a job in London within a year or two.
 
Several years ago, my service went to the trouble of obtaining a visa for an Irish paramedic who came to work for us. The director of our service went to bat for him and had to jump through some pretty impressive hoops to allow him to work over here. He ended up working here in Delaware for several years before moving on to something else, and I don't even know if he's in the US any more. Either way, it's at least possible if not common.
 
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