When do paramedics get promotions?

Answer 1

Im not sure where your from, but in the UK it works like this

Trainee Ambulance technician -> Ambulance Technician (EMT) -> Trainee Paramedic ->

Paramedic -> Emergency Care OR Critical Care Practice Student (University Degree) -> Emergency Care Practitioner OR Critical Care Practitioner

Or, People can work their way up to being a Paramedic (or higher) then apply for a management job (Ambulance officer) after they have been working for the ambulance service for a while.

Management staff or Ambulance officers (who are usually experienced paramedics or practitioners working alone in rapid response cars). Get called to major incidents where they take command. They also have a responsibility to take care of the ambulance crews working in their area (patch). Management staff can get paid salaries ranging from the same as practitioners to £80,000 a year (depending on their seniority).

The officer that looks after my patch is fantastic, a few weeks ago I attended a woman who had taken a huge overdose but was refusing help. If I had left her to die (even though I couldn't do anything) I would be responsible for her death. I called my DSO (Duty Station Officer) and he came down and took care of everything and made sure that I would not be held responsible if something happened to her.

(And sometimes, if we've been on a very stressful call, then we're allowed to go for a coffee!! :D ) Score!

Hope this Helps