Authorisation, Legislation and Certificates in the Ambulance Service
The rules and documentation that must be in order
You work with people in critical situations, and therefore the trade is closely regulated. There are rules for what you may do, certificates you must have, and an authorisation that ties it all together. Knowing the framework is not bureaucracy – it is part of being a safe practitioner.
§An education established in a decree
The education in ambulance work itself is described in an official education regulation that sets aims structure and content. The professional committee in the field Transporterhvervets Uddannelser (TUR) helps set the framework. The regulation is why the education looks roughly the same regardless of which of the approved schools you attend.
§Authorisation as a Healthcare Professional
When you are fully trained you receive authorization as an ambulance officer from the responsible authority in the health sector. The authorization is your official recognition that you may perform the trade's tasks – and it also entails responsibility for acting professionally and keeping your knowledge up to date.
§Certificates you must have in place
Beyond authorisation, the trade requires a number of concrete proofs. A heavy and practical requirement is a driving licence – beyond a regular car driving licence you must be able to drive an emergency vehicle, which typically involves a licence for larger vehicles. In addition come proofs within first aid and basic fire fighting.
- 01Driving license to drive the ambulance, in addition to a regular Category B license.
- 02First aid certificate at vocational level.
- 03Proof of elementary fire fighting.
- 04A clean criminal record is often required by the employer.
§Confidentiality obligation and documentation
As a healthcare professional you have confidentiality obligations regarding your patients and you must document what you do correctly. The journal you fill in along the way follows the patient further through the system and is crucial for the hospital to take over. Mistakes in documentation can have consequences for both patient and yourself.
§Keep up to date with the rules
Legislation, treatment guidelines and requirements change. What applies today is not necessarily the same in a few years. Always check the current rules with the authorities and your employer's guidelines, rather than relying on what was once common practice.