Everything You Need To Know About Being An Ambulance Driver

Being a paramedic is an incredibly rewarding career choice. It’s also one of those jobs that many wanted to do as a child, alongside fireman or policeman. It’s a heroic job option, and one that has been proven all the more essential during the current, troubling times. It’s a job where no two days are ever the same, you learn as you earn, and while there are some lows involved, there are also some amazing highs. There is a level of teamwork and camaraderie among ambulance drivers that you rarely find anywhere else, and even when you leave the job behind, that family stays with you for life. It’s a calling, really, which is why we are proud to help aspiring ambulance drivers learn the ropes.

How Long Does It Take To Become An Ambulance Driver? 

We should warn you – becoming an ambulance driver is not a quick process. This is mainly because all ambulance drivers are required to be trained paramedics. So you will need to go through full medical training before you can take it up as a full time job. This training is usually split into 2 parts – traditional medical school, and on-the-job learning to get you used to the environment and how to deal with stressful situations. On average, it takes around 5 years to complete paramedic training, and by the end of it you’ll be the proud owner of a degree/diploma of higher education in paramedic science.

What Drive Training Do I Need?

On top of all that, you also need to hold a Cat 1 HGV license, which means also doing a Driver CPC. This is because ambulances are classified as HGVs, so you need to know how to operate them properly and, most importantly, safely. An ambulance comes under Cat 1 because modern ambulances are around 5 tonnes, and the Cat 1 allows you to drive vehicles up to7.5 tonnes.

And before you say it, no, you can’t skip out on this bit. Every paramedic is expected to take their turn behind the wheel, which means you need to have the right license. While it might not be something you have to do every shift, it’s an essential skill, and you won’t be able to find a job as a paramedic without one. The best way to do this? Sign up with a reputable HGV training school, who will guide you through the process and get you ready to drive an ambulance in no time.

Who Will I Work With?

Like any other job, ambulance drivers don’t work in a vacuum. Instead, you’ll get the opportunity to work alongside a wide variety of people, all playing their own important role in patient care. You will work alongside, or potentially be:

• Ambulance care assistant and patient transport driver
• Call handler/ emergency medical dispatcher
• Emergency care assistant
• Emergency medical technician
• Patient Transport Service call handler
• Paramedic
• Experienced paramedic

All of these roles have one thing in common. They require you to be caring and compassionate, have good organisational skills and the ability to keep a cool head in a crisis.  If that sounds like you, then a career in the ambulance service might be for you.

At The LGV Training Service, we are incredibly proud to be able to support aspiring ambulance drivers in getting their foot on the ladder with a HGV license. We regularly run courses for ambulance drivers, as well as intensive programmes to help you achieve your goals on your timeline. And with online CPC lessons and qualifications available, you can get your first steps done without even leaving the house. To find out more, just get in touch with us today.