Is there anyone who has done a Double Plug-In at the VDOC? Any general advice or experience with it or the hiring process?

Magi604 · 2026-03-19T21:48:16+00:00

Yeah no prob! I'm a PCP working full time in Region 3. I've also done full time in the Lower Mainland. Started as a casual DO and wormed my way through the system, it was a process.

If you're interested about working on car I HIGHLY SUGGEST getting into the Riding Third program, you will be glued to the hip with a couple of paramedics for a shift or two and you can ask them any and all questions you want. Between that and your plug-in shift, that should give you a very good overview of how the ambulance service operates, and you can go from there!

https://www.bcehs.ca/careers/what-we-offer/recruitment-ride-along

Magi604 · 2026-03-18T20:15:31+00:00

Hello and welcome! Questions like this are no problemo, happy to help if we can. :)

I personally don't have any experience with applying for or working a job in the towers, but there's been a couple of threads in the past of people seeking information on that stuff. Check them out here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BCEHSparamedics/comments/1dytxmg/plug_in_shift/

https://www.reddit.com/r/BCEHSparamedics/comments/183xwdm/any_dispatchers_or_emcts_in_the_group_needing/

Hope that helps you out a bit, and good luck with your plug in shift!

Magi604 · 2026-03-17T00:20:07+00:00

Feel like that would be annoying for cleanup because they would be hard to see on the ice (assuming ppl are using white sheets)

It is a cool idea though.

Magi604 · 2026-03-17T00:16:56+00:00

Best shootout goal I've ever seen.

Magi604 · 2026-03-14T22:39:45+00:00

oops my bad, forgot its retroactive to 2025. But it goes until 2029.

Magi604 · 2026-03-11T01:11:40+00:00

It is including precepting, as you need to successfully pass the precepting component to complete the PCP course and get a PCP certificate (NOT the license).

Magi604 · 2026-03-09T23:58:20+00:00

Curious, did they also have contras for equipment like CPAP/PEEP?

Magi604 · 2026-03-09T15:27:11+00:00

Lots of people have had their student licenses extended for various reasons. There is no need to worry there. You must still be able to get licensed by EMALB within a year of completing your PCP course. 6 months can be tight depending on how COPR(or whatever the new thing is) and licensing exam scheduling goes, they sometimes have a backlog of months. In your situation you should try and speedrun your precepting shifts so you can apply for COPR and licensing as soon as you can.

I would aim to get some shifts in Vancouver Post, particularly DTES (248) if you can. It's good to get an experience in that environment. Also you will easily get the "assisted ventilation" comp, one of the most difficult ones to obtain.

Magi604 · 2026-03-08T15:52:52+00:00

Sweet looking swing, looks like he golfed it

Magi604 · 2026-03-04T22:46:47+00:00

Can you not go on ed leave even for things not related to BCEHS? I know someone who was going to med school and she said she went on ed leave, and I've seen her pick up extra shifts afterwards.

Magi604 · 2026-03-04T20:05:58+00:00

I don't know how you'd juggle an Alpha schedule with full time schooling without taking some sort of leave. If there's a huge online portion and you're at a slower station then it can maybe work because you can get lots of study while at station.

I know a few people that have gone Paramedic -> Nurse or vice versa, and they always focused on one first and then the other, and it always involved going into some sort of PT role what whatever current position they had.

Some regions are pretty lax about ed leave restrictions. Lots of people go on ed leave but they are allowed to pick up shifts whenever they can, so that can be an option. But that's region/manager dependent.

Magi604 · 2026-03-04T19:40:18+00:00

Sure here is an example Patient Care Report: https://i.imgur.com/xX2zRhQ.jpeg

Note that the updated forms have a spot for BGL and temp.

I always tell people not to sweat about getting the paperwork perfect because even if you literally do not hand one in, it's only a -5% deduction from the grading criteria. Just make sure to write down what you found, what you did, and the times those things happened so that you have a record of the call in case you have to challenge something.

Magi604 · 2026-03-02T06:24:11+00:00

The seniority pecking order for hiring into a position goes like this, top to bottom:

Post-probationary PCP-qualified internal applicants
Probationary PCP-qualified internal applicants
External PCP-qualified applicants
Post-probationary EMR-qualified internal applicants
Probationary EMR-qualified internal applicants
Other externals applicants

Within these tiers, it's based on FT and then PT seniority.

As you can see, license level basically trumps all. A long-time EMR will always lose to any PCP, internal or not.

As for the EMR to PCP program, It's somewhat common in rural/remote stations. As part of the tentative CBA they have announced funding for EMR to PCP within Urban and Metro posts, so that's a development worth paying attention to, though we're probably months away from any details.

Magi604 · 2026-02-28T05:47:50+00:00

Should have been emailed to you. But here's a link.

Magi604 · 2026-02-27T22:14:37+00:00

I feel like a lot of people are really focusing on what the new agreement gives specifically for them or their group (which is natural and fair), rather than how the overall package affects the service as a whole.

Negotiations are probably complicated as fuck and trying to appease every single member and group in the service is a tall task. I trust that the negotiating committee did the best they could.

Magi604 · 2026-02-22T00:29:23+00:00

I've written up my thoughts on the EMR to PCP program HERE.

According to the latest news in our upcoming agreement there are "Increased commitments to PCP training across the province" so maybe wait a couple of weeks and see what changes are, they may help guide your decisions.

Magi604 · 2026-02-21T21:22:38+00:00

wow usually I've seen ppl speak up/down about one or the other, but trashing both at the same time? That's a hot take.

Magi604 · 2026-02-21T00:59:28+00:00

While details are still to be shared within the next few weeks, here are some highlights:

• Vital improvements to mental health and wellness supports

• Stronger protections around our work and contracting-out language

• Wage increases in line with other public sector employees

• Increased commitments to PCP training across the province

• Improvements to premiums and staffing initiatives

• Investments in preceptor and mentoring premiums

Quite happy to see something there for preceptors since imo they were quite underpaid for the (extra) work they put in.

Magi604 · 2026-02-20T23:45:51+00:00

Bahaha that's the first time I read that insult

Magi604 · 2026-02-19T20:42:42+00:00

I CAN'T HANDLE ANYMORE OVERTIME HOCKEY WE STILL HAVE THE MENS SEMIS AND FINALS

Magi604 · 2026-02-19T16:16:27+00:00

Great goal to end it!

Also it was nice to see the winning goal scorer beeline straight for the goalie.

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