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QAS Home > Recruitment > Can I get my Australian or overseas paramedic qualifications recognised?

Can I get my Australian or overseas paramedic qualifications recognised?

I am an ambulance professional with qualifications from another Australian State or overseas.  Will my qualifications be recognised by Queensland Ambulance Service?

What if I already have qualification and experience in one or more of the following fields?

If you have worked in any of the following fields (in Australia or overseas) and wish to seek employment with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), you may apply to have your qualifications and experience recognised under the Equivalence of Qualification (EOQ) process.  These will be assessed at the same time as you apply for a position.

What is the Equivalence of Qualification process?

This process assesses an individual’s experience, time in the pre-hospital care and emergency services environment and educational qualifications against QAS requirements.

A Qualifications Matrix for Interstate, New Zealand and certain International Qualifications is available.  Please refer to the EOQ Qualifications Matrix (PDF / 28 KB) which is also provided as a guideline for fast tracking the assessment process.

After you have submitted your completed application and attached supporting documentation an EOQ moderation panel will assess your qualifications and experience, based on the evidence that you have submitted. Subsequently the EOQ moderation panel will make recommendations as to the most appropriate entry level (where applicable) into the service.

What is the QAS standard?

The following information provides a guide to the minimum standard which is acceptable for each skill level within QAS.


Emergency Medical Dispatchers

Definition

Minimum standard

Qualified Emergency Medical Dispatcher
  • Certificate III in Ambulance Communications (Call Taking) or equivalent; and
  • Certificate IV in Ambulance Communications (Despatch) or equivalent; and
  • A minimum of twelve months as a Emergency Medical Dispatcher, working in a Communications Centre environment, emergency services.  If you are a part-time, casual or volunteer officer you will be required to demonstrate a minimum of 1800 hours experience in a suitable Communications Centre.  Please note: 1800 hours is equivalent to 12 months full time; and
  • Hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate; and
  • Experience with Computer Aided Dispatching; and
  • Keyboard skills equivalent or greater than 40 words per minute with 95% accuracy; and
  • Able to provide evidence of recent currency of experience within this field.

For full details on QAS requirements please click here.

Patient Transport Officers

Definition

Minimum standard

An officer providing non-emergency patient transport services. Not authorised to undertake regular patient care, only advanced first aid in an emergency.
  • Certificate III (Non-Emergency Patient Transport) or equivalent; and
  • A minimum of twelve months working full-time as a Patient Transport Officer.  If you are a part-time, casual or volunteer officer you will be required to demonstrate a minimum of 1800 hours experience in a suitable emergency services environment.  Please note: 1800 hours is equivalent to 12 months full time; and
  • Can demonstrate basic life support skills, oxygen therapy and early access defibrillation.  (Patient Transport Officers are not authorised to undertake regular care but only advanced first aid in an emergency.); and
  • Can provide evidence of recent currency of experience within this field.

For full details on QAS requirements please click here.

Advanced Care Paramedic Level 3 (P3)

Definition

Minimum standard

Advanced Care Paramedic
  • Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) or equivalent; and
  • 3 years experience as a paramedic in a pre-hospital care, emergency environment.  For casual and volunteer officers you will need to demonstrate 5500 hours or greater in patient care.  (Station standby is not considered as appropriate experience – actual patient care experience needs to be demonstrated); and
  • Competent in Advanced Care procedures.  Applicants should also be able to demonstrate their ability as a clinical mentor; and
  • Able to provide evidence of recent currency of experience within this field.

For full details on QAS requirements please click here.

 

Intensive Care Paramedic Level 4 (P4)

Definition

Minimum standard

Intensive Care Paramedic
  • Advanced Diploma of Health Science or Graduate Diploma in Intensive Care Paramedical Practice or equivalent; and
  • Demonstrate a minimum of 5 years experience as a paramedic in the prehospital care, emergency environment with a minimum of 2 years full time as a qualified Intensive Care Paramedic or equivalent; and
  • Competent in Intensive Care procedures.  Apart from demonstrating your abilities as a clinical mentor, applicants need to demonstrate their ability to support and maintain a high level of clinical governance; and
  • Able to provide evidence of recent currency of experience within this field.

For full details on QAS requirements please click here.

A quick reference and an overview of the process is provided below:

For further information on the EOQ process please refer to the EOQ Application Package (Interstate and International) (PDF / 230 KB) and the relevant EOQ Evidence Package for the following fields:

Note: These documents are in PDF format. The Adobe Reader, which is required to read these documents, can be downloaded for free. Figures in brackets after the links show the file size, number of pages and the estimated time to download using a 56.6k modem.


What if my qualifications are not deemed to be equivalent to the relevant QAS requirements?

If your current qualifications are not deemed to be equivalent, you may still apply through our Student Paramedic recruitment process. QAS may recognise your prior learning and effectively lessen the length of study required.

Further advice on the next Student Paramedic Recruitment Campaign (including Communication and Patient Transport Officers) is available on the Recruitment general information page.


What happens after I am employed by QAS?

If you have been successful with the EOQ process, have met all the requirements of the selection process and have been employed by the QAS, you will be required to complete the QAS Induction Program. The induction program includes all medico-legal and clinical practice assessments that authorise you to practice on the job in the Queensland Ambulance Service. Due to the varying locations throughout Queensland you may be required to complete additional programs specific to a region. If this is the case the relevant Regional Staff Development Unit will notify you.

The School of Ambulance and Paramedic Studies, Lutwyche Campus is responsible for the provision of a range of Certificate and Tertiary level courses. For more information about courses that are coordinated and delivered by the QAS refer to:

For more information please contact:

QAS Recruitment
Email: ambulancerecruitment@emergency.qld.gov.au
Telephone: 07 3109 9288


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Last updated 23 June 2006