Ambulance Drivers

Career summary

#No comparable wois occupations

#4/10/19 lh

Ambulance drivers transport patients to facilities such as:

• Hospitals
• Homes
• Rehabilitation facilities

Ambulance drivers respond to calls from dispatchers who send them to the scene of an emergency. They may help emergency medical technicians (EMTs) put patients on stretchers and into ambulances. Sometimes they help to administer first aid. They may report information about an accident or an emergency to police or hospital staff.

Ambulance drivers deal with varying traffic conditions. They goal is to keep patients and EMTs safe while getting to an emergency site or hospital as quickly as possible. They must drive carefully in order to avoid sudden motions that might be harmful to patients.

After patients are delivered to a hospital, ambulance drivers clean and decontaminate their ambulance. They keep an inventory and replace medical and other supplies as needed.

Drivers take classes to keep their driving and first aid skills up to date.

Related careers

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Animal Control Workers
• Bus Drivers
• Couriers and Messengers
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Home Health Aides
• Life Guards and Ski Patrollers
• Nursing Assistants
• Orderlies
• Personal and Home Care Aides
• Physical Therapist Aides
• School Bus Drivers
• Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to ambulance drivers.

• Drive ambulance to transport sick, injured, or recovering patients.
• Assist in lifting patients onto stretchers and into ambulances.
• Administer first aid as needed.
• Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to police or hospital staff.
• Keep ambulance and ambulance equipment clean and in good working order.
• Restock ambulance supplies as needed.
• Stay current with driver safety and first aid practices.
• Maintain certifications.

Common work activities

Ambulance drivers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Assist and care for others
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Get information needed to do the job
• Document and record information
• Perform for or work with the public
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Process information
• Handle and move objects
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Think creatively
• Evaluate information against standards
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Repair and maintain mechanical equipment
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Teach others
• Use computers
• Monitor and control resources
• Repair and maintain electronic equipment
• Control machines and processes

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, ambulance drivers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Almost always work as part of a team of emergency response professionals.
• Have a medium level of social interaction. Ambulance drivers work with emergency medical technicians (EMTs), hospital workers, and dispatchers.
• Are extremely responsible for patients' health and safety.
• Communicate often with others by phone and in person.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other workers.
• Sometimes deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals.

Physical work conditions

• Often wear a special uniform.
• Often are exposed to diseases and infections.
• Work both indoors and outdoors.
• Occasionally are exposed to contaminants.
• Sometimes wear protective or safety attire such as latex gloves.
• Occasionally are exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
• Are occasionally exposed to very hot or cold temperatures.
• Work in and drive an ambulance.
• Work physically close to patients.
• Sometimes must deal with individuals who may be aggressive or physically violent.

Work performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their work. Errors could have serious effects on patients' health.
• Make decisions that affect patients and coworkers on a regular basis. They may have to make snap decisions when driving without talking to a supervisor first.
• Usually consult a supervisor before determining daily tasks and goals.
• Must meet strict weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• May work full time or part time.
• May work days, evenings, nights, or weekends.
• May work 24-hour shifts.

Physical demands

Ambulance drivers frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for ambulance drivers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for ambulance drivers to be able to:

• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• See objects in very low light.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.

Skills and abilities

Ambulance drivers need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Teach others how to do something.

Work with things

• Operate and control equipment.

Perceive and visualize

• Know one's location in a physical setting and recognize where other objects are located in relation to oneself.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Emergency Medical Care

Training

To work as an ambulance driver, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a driver's license; and
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

In some states, you must be certified as an emergency medical technician (EMT) to drive an ambulance. There are several levels of EMT certification:

• First Responders - About 40 hours of training
• EMT-Basic - 110 hours of training
• EMT-Intermediate - 200 to 400 hours of training
• Paramedics - 1,000 or more hours of training

The level of training required varies by state and ambulance company.

Work experience

Experience as a delivery or taxi driver is good background for this occupation. These jobs can provide you with a good knowledge of the area streets.

On-the-job training

Drivers usually learn their skills through on-the-job training. Depending on the duties, training can take up to a year. Training may include completing an emergency vehicle operator's course.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Driver Education
• Introduction to Health Care
• Introduction to Mechanics
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Ambulance drivers must have a valid driver's license and a good driving record. Some employers require emergency medical technician (EMT) certification.

Licensing/certification

Ambulance drivers must have a valid driver's license. In some states, ambulance drivers must be certified as emergency medical technicians.

#added this section 3/3/09 lh

All EMTs and paramedics must be certified by the State of Washington. Ambulance drivers must have advanced first aid training unless they are working with at least two EMTs.

Certification requirements include:

• being age 18 before training;
• a high school diploma or equivalent;
• completion of approved curriculum, including infectious disease training and certification exams;
• background check;
• recommendation by an approved county medical program director;
• completion of seven hours of HIV/AIDS training; and
• completion of 30 hours of continuing education every three years.

Intermediate EMTs and paramedics must have basic certification and pass an approved curriculum exam. Paramedics must complete 150 hours of continuing education every three years. All EMTs must be affiliated with an approved emergency medical service agency. Some agencies may have an Ongoing Training and Evaluation (OTEP) program in place. This program fulfills the continuing education requirement for EMTs at that agency.

For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Health
Emergency Medical and Trauma Prevention
Licensing and Certification Section 
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7853
360.236.4700

#Verified licensing information/ website 3/3/09 lh & 2/9/10, cj. Checked licensing info & updated url 2/7/12 cj. Updated url again 6/11/12 cj. Checked licensing info 2/4/14; updated licensing address to main cust serv PO & ph since that is what was listed in the initial certification appliation package, cj. Added HIV/AIDS training; rest of licensing info ok, 2/2/16 cj. Licensing section ok, 1/31/18 cj.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Ambulance drivers who work full time usually receive benefits. Common benefits include paid vacation, health insurance, and sick leave.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Ambulance companies
• Patient transport companies
• Hospitals

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will be very strong. However, it is a small occupation and not many jobs will be created. Much of the demand for ambulance drivers will be the result of a population that is both growing and aging. As the population grows, the number of health care emergencies will increase. In addition, elderly people are more likely than younger people to need emergency medical care. Ambulance drivers will also be needed to transport elderly patients from hospitals to long-term care facilities.

Other resources

American Ambulance Association 
1420 New York Avenue NW
5th Fl
Washington DC 20005
703.610.9018

References

Career cluster

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (53-3011.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Ambulance Attendant (355.374-010) 
• Ambulance Driver (913.683-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Social/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Service Skilled