When an accident or an incident occurs, the paramedics are usually the first to arrive to provide medical attention and urgent care.
It is a fast-paced job that requires physical stamina and the ability to work under pressure, and in order to secure a paramedic position – you need a well-written resume.
We have put together a comprehensive guide for how to write an impressive paramedic resume, with what to include and what to leave out, and you will find a full sample resume at the bottom for further guidance.
Resume objective for paramedics
Some resumes can benefit greatly from including a resume objective or a professional summary, and as a paramedic, it could offer the chance to show your future employer why you are the best candidate for the job.
Credentials and work experience will most likely play the biggest part when someone decides whether to hire you, but the resume objective could be written like a summary of everything you have to offer.
It is a known fact that hiring managers only tend to look through a resume for a few seconds before deciding if it’s worth their time reading on, and while a resume objective is not a requirement, it could be a way to stand out among other applicants with similar work experience and academic background.
ParamedicEDU says it best – a paramedic is someone trained in first-aid, beyond just your regular first-aid course, and most people find themselves calling paramedics at least once in life.
With this in mind, a paramedic also needs to be an empathic people-person, so when you write your resume objective, make sure you include a couple of personal attributes that show you off as someone responsible, reliable, warm, and caring.
Sample Objective
Hard-working professional with an associate in Advanced Paramedics and 4+ years of work experience. Experience monitoring pulse and ECG, excellent teamwork abilities, ability to work under pressure, and a desire to make a real difference.
Resume skills for paramedic
When you write a parametric resume, you want to focus on hard skills and experiences, that show what you can do as a first responder.
Yes, it is important to possess skills like a passion for the job, detail-orientation, be empathic, and an overall calm and composed person, but if you are an EMT, it is possible an employer will assume you are the right kind of person for the job, and be more interested in hard skills.
Of the job posts surveyed for this article, surprisingly few mentioned soft skills or personality traits at all! The ability to lift up to 40-50lbs was often desired, and for the person in question to be physically fit.
Websites like Monster – a popular job platform, also list skills like medical terminology and patient assessment.
So, with this in mind, we recommend you focus on useful skills for the job as a parametric, and hold back on soft skills like personality traits.
Sample Skills
Medical terminology | Patient assessment | Intubation techniques | Patient care | IV administration | CPR and first-aid | Splinting | Interpersonal skills | Emergency vehicle transport
Paramedic work experience
Work experience speaks volumes when applying for a job as important as that of a paramedic, so if you have worked as an EMT in the past – that is the number one thing you will want to list.
Among the sampled job posts, most asked for 1-2 years of EMT/CNA/CMA experience, which is something worth keeping in mind. If you don’t have the experience, try to list any work experience that would be considered relevant, such as jobs in the medical field or patient care.
Don’t go back further than 7-10 years when listing paramedic work experience, as hiring managers might not be interested in what you did back in the ’80s. Why? Because processes change, and the more relevant and recent work experience you have, the better it is.
According to UCAS, there are multiple ways to become a paramedic, including through an apprenticeship. What this means is that there are ways to boost your resume also if you lack EMT work experience.
Sample Work Experience
Town of Manchester, Manchester, CT
Firefighter/Paramedic, 2016 – 2020
Responded to 911 calls both as a first-responder paramedic and as a firefighter; bandaged wounds performed CPR, transported patients, and handled relevant paperwork.
- Successfully followed complex safety protocols to guarantee the comfort and safety of patients.
- Saved the lives of four children by extracting them from a burning building at the verge of collapse.
- Was given the “Key to the City” by the city mayor, for outstanding courage in a dire situation.
- Volunteered first-responder services at local charity events.
County of Marin, Woodacre, CA
Paramedic, 2014 – 2016
Staffed and drove emergency vehicles, responded to emergency reports, assessed risk situations, provided patients with basic care and pre-diagnoses and worked together with a large medical team.
- Received excellent feedback for offering to take on night- and evening shifts.
- Developed a calming strategy for children, to help young patients relax and sit/lie still.
- Drove the emergency ambulance in heavy traffic without a single incident during employment.
- Volunteered in a neighboring state in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane.
Waukesha County, WI
911 Telecommunicator, 2011 – 2014
Received calls and handled emergency dispatching, kept callers calm over the phone, delegated work tasks, kept strict call logs, filed reports and made sure every call was handled with discretion and respect.
- Handled over 100 phone calls per shift.
- Trained 9 new telecommunicators/dispatchers.
- Prevented a potentially fatal situation by guiding the caller to safety over the phone.
- Participated in the introduction of a more efficient way to log calls and keep records.
Paramedic education
Despite common belief, becoming an EMS or EMT does not necessarily require extensive education. There are two-year paramedic degrees offered at many colleges, and these sometimes require previous college-level courses in for example Math, English and Biology.
Due to this, you will often see an Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree listed on a paramedic resume, followed by a completed two-year paramedic degree.
These degrees provide necessary knowledge, training and experience.
We sampled real job posts to verify what employers tended to require in terms of education, and most job posts did mention this specific degree, along with work experience.
If you have additional college- or university level degrees, these can also be included if you feel they are relevant, but do not list your High School diploma or GED as this would be considered redundant.
Sample Education
UCLA Center for Prehospital Care, Los Angeles, CA
Paramedic Program Degree, 2015 – 2017
Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Science, 2010 – 2014
- GPA: 4.0
- English
Certifications
Before you can get your EMT license, you will need to obtain EMT-B (EMT-Basic) certification. 120-150 hours of training over the course of approximately 6 months, which will then (hopefully) lead to your license.
While it is expected that a paramedic should already have their EMT-B license, it is smart to list it on your resume just to make sure there are no doubts as to your qualifications.
You also need a state license, which is obtained by passing the NREMT exam, and some states may also require additional paperwork such as having a clean criminal record and passing certain health tests.
It is important to remember that EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) and paramedics are not exactly the same, but paramedics always start their training as EMTs.
Sample Certifications
- EMT-B Certification
- Nevada State License
- First-Aid and CPR
Complete paramedic resume sample
One thing to remember whenever applying for a job, is to adapt your resume to the specific job post, and not just the career. A job post will often contain certain requirements and requests, along with specific language, and this can help identify key features to include in your resume.
In order to demonstrate, we have picked out a job post for a paramedic, and we are going to provide a complete resume sample to show you how a resume would look if one was to apply.
For this job, you need a High School diploma, EMT certification (or be enrolled in paramedic school), a clean Ohio driver’s license and a passed NREMT test and be able to pass multiple physical tests and requirements.
No work experience is mentioned, but this doesn’t mean your resume couldn’t benefit greatly from listing relevant work experience.
Firefighter/Paramedic
Objective
Passionate paramedic with the ability to assist with first-response medical care in fast-paced environments. Efficient, detail-oriented and compassionate, driven by the opportunity to help others and with a desire to save lives and provide comfort and help in difficult situations.
Skills
Compassionate | Interpersonal Skills | Communicative | Clean Driving Record | Ability to Work Under Pressure | Physically Fit | Ohio EMT License | Medical Terminology | Patient Assessment | Emergency Transport
Work Experience
City of Oxford, Oxford, OH
Firefighter/Paramedic, 2018 – 2020
Responded to emergency calls where fast dispatching was essential, participated in rescue missions, fire management, first-responder efforts and drove ambulances and firetrucks.
- Led a team of 7 first-responding paramedics with excellent results.
- Held training courses for new team integrants.
- Successfully completed a training course in emergency vehicle operation.
- Assisted in public outreach attempts by assisting at local high schools to talk about personal safety.
The Beach Waterpark, Mason, OH
First Aid/EMT, 2017 – 2018
Worked on-site to provide first-aid to visitors and staff as needed, supervised activities, carried out daily security checks, communicated with local hospitals and kept visitors safe.
- Saved a young child’s life after an allergy related incident.
- Allerted to a potential fire hazard before it caused an accident.
- Became the youngest EMT on the job to ever be offered a team leader promotion.
- Identified flaws in the safety routines that could easily be corrected to improve overall security and save money.
Kettering Health Network, Kettering, OH
Medical Office Assistant, 2014 – 2017
Greeted customers, answered phones, scheduled appointments, provided basic appointment-related consultation, collaborated with medical staff and oversaw the training of new staff.
- Introduced a better system for organizing patient files digitally, which provided easier and quicker access.
- Redecorated the office with the purpose to make patients feel more comfortable and at ease.
- Successfully handled all office responsibilities single-handedly.
- Given the responsibility to train new office staff.
Certifications
- CPR & First-Aid
- Valid Ohio State Driver’s License
- Ohio State EMT License
Education
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Paramedic Program Degree, 2016 – 2018
The State University of New York College, Cortland, NY
Bachelor in Biomedical Science, 2012 – 2016
- GPA: 3.5
Key Takeaways
Applying for a job as a parametric requires you to tick certain boxes, such as having relevant training and education, but unless you can make your best attributes come across in a resume – you could easily get overlooked.
These are some of the most important aspects to keep in mind when sitting down to craft a paramedic resume for your next job application.
- Training, education and work experience are three of the key features that should be highlighted in a Paramedic resume.
- As a paramedic, you often need to transport patients from point A to point B, so remember to mention a valid (and preferably clean) driver’s license.
- One skill that is easily forgotten on a paramedic resume, but that is highly essential, is physical stamina, the ability to work for hours on your feet and the ability to lift heavy objects.
Tips from Experts
“All paramedics must complete a post-secondary educational program. All states require paramedics to be licensed and requirements vary by state.” – Brian Mahoney, Best Selling Author
“It is important to gain some experience before you go to paramedic schools. You need to know the building blocks of an EMS professional, before you move on to paramedic school.” – The Paramedic Coach
“This is the most rewarding job in the world. There is nothing more rewarding than helping somebody. Me, every single day I go to bed, knowing I helped somebody.” – Lindsay Schauer, EMT
Conclusion
Paramedics are essential workers no matter how you look at it, and it is a profession that is likely always going to be in-demand. It is the paramedic who arrives first on the scene of an accident, and who is there to provide support and help when needed.
When you apply for a job as a paramedic, you need a strong resume that highlights your skills and empathic personality, and preferably also some EMT experience or similar.
We hope that these tips will help you craft your perfect paramedic resume so that you can get your foot in the door the next time you send an application.
