What is the salary of an ambulance driver? Job description | 🚕 Taxi Light 🚕

The ambulance driver is the first link in the chain of care. Their role is essential: they ensure that the patient is transported from their home to the care center, but that’s not all! In this article, discover everything you need to know: job description, status, career prospects, salary, training, diploma, and more. Table of […]

• TaxiLight
• 26 July 2024

What is the salary of an ambulance driver? Job description

The ambulance driver is the first link in the chain of care. Their role is essential: they ensure that the patient is transported from their home to the care center, but that’s not all! In this article, discover everything you need to know: job description, status, career prospects, salary, training, diploma, and more.

Table of Contents

1. Becoming an Ambulance Driver: Everything You Need to Know About the Profession
2. The Qualities Required to Become an Ambulance Driver
3. Becoming an Ambulance Driver: What is the Status?
4. Becoming an Ambulance Driver: What Training is Needed?

Becoming an Ambulance Driver: Everything You Need to Know About the Profession

Job Description

What is their role?

First and foremost, their role is to handle the transport of injured, ill, elderly, or disabled individuals to a hospital, a care facility, or a nursing home. Whether in emergency situations or as part of a medical prescription, becoming an ambulance driver involves ensuring the safety and comfort of patients aboard a specialized vehicle (equipped with medical devices, bedding, etc.). Moreover, they are not alone in the ambulance; they are accompanied by an ambulance assistant.

In addition to this essential mission, the ambulance driver must be able to perform the following functions:

• Transport the patient to the vehicle, using a stretcher if necessary;
• Monitor the condition of the patient or injured person throughout the transport;
• Operate medical assistance devices;
• Ensure the proper functioning and maintenance of the ambulance and medical equipment;
• Administer first aid in emergencies;
• Communicate information to medical personnel;
• Handle administrative tasks;
• Reassure the patient and their family.

The Qualities Required to Become an Ambulance Driver

Quelles sont les qualités ?

It’s important to know that this is a demanding profession: you will need to have an exceptional composure! Additionally, you must be flexible and have good physical endurance, as your hours will be irregular and you will likely need to work nights. On the road, you must drive impeccably while remaining cautious. Furthermore, you need to be methodical to always adhere strictly to procedures, and also demonstrate great responsiveness to handle unforeseen circumstances! Finally, becoming an ambulance driver also involves reassuring the injured and the sick, as well as their families: you must have excellent interpersonal skills.

Becoming an Ambulance Driver: What is the Status?

What are the different statuses?

• Public Sector: Civil servant in public hospital establishments;
• Private Sector: Employee of a medical transport company, often small businesses;
• Organizations: Working for an organization like the French Red Cross;
• Self-employed or Micro-entrepreneur: Freelance artisan.

The Salary of an Ambulance Driver

How much does an ambulance driver earn? The salary depends on their experience as well as their status:

• Public Sector: A civil servant working in the public sector will earn approximately €1,500 at the start of their career. However, with experience, they can reach a salary of €1,950, excluding bonuses;
• Private Sector: The salary of an ambulance driver in the private sector depends on the company they work for. Generally, it ranges from €1,600 to €1,800. With bonuses, it can reach up to €2,200;
• Freelance: In urban areas, a freelance ambulance driver typically earns between €3,000 and €4,000 per month. In rural areas, their salary is usually closer to €2,000 per month.

Career Progressions

What are the career advancement prospects?

Indeed, an ambulance driver can choose to specialize to handle emergencies or address the specific needs of certain groups (pediatric or psychiatric medical transport). Additionally, they can join a Mobile Emergency and Resuscitation Service (SMUR). How to become a SMUR ambulance driver? The selection is tough: you need to be among the best! However, after a few years, they can become a dispatcher in a care facility, managing the team’s movements, receiving calls and intervention requests. In short, they will be responsible for scheduling trips. Finally, an ambulance driver may choose to work independently as a freelance ambulance driver. As a result, they become the owner of their own business. They will earn more but will need to invest in one or more ambulances (ranging from €50,000 to €100,000 per vehicle). To become a freelance ambulance driver, they must obtain approval from the Regional Health Agency and a circulation authorization for each vehicle.

Becoming an Ambulance Driver: What Training is Needed?

State Diploma for Ambulance Drivers

How to Become an Ambulance Driver?

First, you need to obtain the State Diploma for Ambulance Drivers (DEA), which has replaced the CCA (Certificate of Ambulance Capability) and the ambulance driver diploma since 2007. It is equivalent to a CAP level qualification. Each year, nearly 2,000 ambulance drivers graduate!

To obtain the Diploma for Ambulance Drivers, you must pass:

• A written exam (French and mathematics) / holders of a high school diploma (BAC) or graduates in the healthcare or social sector, such as CAP, are exempt;
• An oral exam / those who have worked as an ambulance assistant for at least 1 year are exempt.

Training to Become an Ambulance Driver: Content, Process, Cost

Training to Become an Ambulance Driver: Content, Process, Cost

The training can be covered by various organizations: the French Red Cross, specialized institutes, university hospitals (CHU), and schools within the Aftral group. The training includes approximately 600 hours of theoretical instruction and can be taken either full-time or part-time (2 to 4 months of training). Through eight modules, you will learn to:

• Perform actions suited to the patient’s condition and assess their clinical state;
• Adhere to basic safety and hygiene rules;
• Adopt appropriate behavior with the patient and their family, as well as with the work team and healthcare personnel;
• Effectively communicate information to ensure continuity of care;
• Organize your professional activities and gain independence.

The training also includes an orientation internship at an ambulance company (140 hours). Note that assistants who have worked for at least 1 month and firefighters who have worked in Paris or Marseille for more than 3 years are exempt.

What is the cost of the training to become an ambulance driver? The cost ranges between €3,000 and €5,000, but the training may be covered by state organizations: Pôle emploi, regional funding, etc. Be sure to inquire!

What are the prerequisites to become an ambulance driver?

To become an ambulance driver and therefore enroll in the training, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have obtained the middle school diploma (Brevet des Collèges) or equivalent (9th grade level);
• Hold a category B driving license for more than 3 years (or 2 years if accompanied driving);
• Have a prefectural certificate of fitness to drive an ambulance (request this from the prefecture, along with a medical certificate);
• Have a medical vaccination certificate;
• Have a certification in emergency first aid (AFGSU) Level 1.

Who are we?

Caree is the first digital solution enabling medical transport providers to manage their appointments, their patients, delegate rides to available drivers, and handle electronic submissions to Social Security funds with a single click.

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