What is Paramedicine?
Paramedics administer pre-hospital emergency medical care to patients with injuries or medical illnesses and transport them to hospitals or other medical facilities for further medical care. (Source: National Occupation Classification)
Paramedicine program is grounded in the life science and focuses on the critical thinking, research and laboratory experience needed to save lives. Students examine the spectrum of emergency medical, trauma and psychological situations faced by today’s healthcare professionals. Students are prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Health Advanced Emergency Medical Care Attendant (AEMC) exam and positions graduates for advanced careers in the field of emergency medical services.
What makes Paramedicine at UTSC unique?
Students in Paramedicine earn an Honours Bachelor of Science degree and an Ontario College Diploma while learning from leading academics and professionals.
Skills of Paramedicine Grads
- Assess extent of injuries or medical illnesses of trauma victims to determine emergency medical treatment
- Communicate and interact effectively and appropriately with patients and others
- Establish patients’ treatment and transport priorities based on assessment findings
- Understand human behaviour and psychological disorders
- Ensure the operational safety and preparedness of an ambulance and its equipment
- Understand and critically analyze scientific literature of cellular microbiology, bacterial pathogens, and pathobiology of human diseases
- Learn modern laboratory technologies and techniques
- Collect, analyze, and interpret data
- Document and record nature of injuries and illnesses and treatment provided
Entry-Level Jobs for Bachelor Grads
Common employment destinations include:
- Primary care paramedic
- Military medical technician
- Search and rescue technician
- Medical attendant
- Patient transfer
- Emergency first responder
- Firefighter
- Research Assistant
Source: LinkedIn; National Occupation Classification Canada
Paramedicine Grads from UTSC have gone on to:
- Paramedic (City of Toronto)
- Superintendent, Community Paramedicine & Research (Regional Municipality of York)
- Medic (Emergency Rescue Academy)
UTSC Paramedicine graduates are working in Research, Education, Healthcare and Business.
Graduate & Professional Studies
Popular further education opportunities include:
- Disaster and Emergency Management – Certificate, Diploma, Master
- Health Care Administration, Bachelor, Master
- Advance Care Paramedic - Certificate
- Public administration – Certificate, Master
- Public Health – Master, PhD
Examples of Fields that ‘Fit’ the Skills of Paramedicine Grads
- Healthcare
- Municipal governments
- Non-profit organizations
- Research (hospitals, non-profit organizations)
- Education
- Military
Your 4-Year Career Exploration Action Plan
1. Do Your Research
The databases below provide you with details about job prospects, nature of work, educational requirements, working conditions, pay and related career paths:
- Career Cruising: Log into cln.utoronto.ca, click on Resources, and click on Career Cruising to be logged in automatically
- O*Net: online.onetcenter.org (U.S. site)
Attend our workshop Discover Your Skills and Career Options, meet with a Career Counsellor, and use our resources to get to know your skills, values, personality and interests.
Use the advice on our tip sheets for gathering information:
- Information Interviews
- Working On-Campus
- Internships
- Volunteering
2. Explore Career Options & Get Experience
Gain exposure to your options in the world of work and make connections while you’re a student via campus events and programs listed on cln.utoronto.ca and ccr.utoronto.ca:
- Extern Job Shadowing
- In the Field
- Explore It! (course-based)
- Partners in Leadership (4th year students)
- iLead, uLead, weLead (Department of Student Life)
- Employer Information Sessions
- Career & Volunteer Fairs
- Departmental Student Association Events
Apply for Work Study jobs in CLN in Fall and Spring! You might also find work via the SCSU.
Find networking opportunities, internship programs and entry-level jobs via websites like TalentEgg and Charity Village.
As an upper year student (14+ credits), attend UTSC’s Get Hired conference and participate in Jobs for Grads.
As a graduate, explore internships and other trainee programs like Career Edge.
3. Build Your Network
Explore professional associations and get involved! Volunteer for their events and get to know people in your industry of interest. These are your future mentors, supervisors and colleagues!
- Biology Student Association at UTSC
- EMRG at UTSC
- Canadian Coast Guard (Federal Student Work Experience Program)
- Toronto Paramedic Association
- Canadian Paramedicine
- Hamilton Health Sciences
- Ontario Paramedic Association
- Ontario Skills Passport
- Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC)
- St. John’s Ambulance of Canada
- Toronto Paramedic Services
Please note: This information is a starting point for your further research into career options in this field of study. For more information on this program and course requirements, please visit the Department of Biological Sciences website.