Career change as an emergency medical technician

Career change paths

• First aid instructor

  Also: Instructor in the medical service

  With on-the-job training

  As an instructor, you train companies, driving license applicants and clubs in first aid and resuscitation.

  What you bring:

  You know first aid and emergency care from real operations and can explain procedures vividly.

  How to get there:

  You take a course to become a first aid instructor at an aid organization or training provider, usually a few weeks. You give courses for company first responders at a body that is approved for it by the statutory accident insurance. You can work in a permanent full-time position, part-time or as a supplement to the ambulance service.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Medical device consultant

  Also: Product specialist for emergency medicine

  With on-the-job training

  For manufacturers, you introduce ambulance services and clinics to devices, advise on purchases and hold training.

  What you bring:

  You know defibrillators, ventilators, monitors and carrying systems from daily use under operational conditions.

  How to get there:

  The manufacturer or dealer trains you on the job with product training, usually a few weeks. Under § 83 MPDG, your completed training as a paramedic together with this training counts as expertise. A class B driving license and a lot of travel are usually part of it.*Regulated by law (Medical Devices Law Implementation Act (MPDG) § 83).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann)

  Also: Nurse in the emergency department or intensive care unit

  With vocational training

  In nursing, especially in the emergency department and intensive care unit, you look after patients over a longer time and plan their care.

  What you bring:

  You recognize life-threatening conditions quickly, monitor vital signs and act calmly and in a structured way even under pressure.

  How to get there:

  You train to become a registered nurse, 3 years full-time or up to 5 years part-time, with a training allowance. On request, the responsible authority can credit completed paramedic training as far as it is equivalent, and it decides the extent case by case.*Regulated by law (Nursing Professions Act (PflBG)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,421gross per monthMedian salary

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• Anesthesia technical assistant (Anästhesietechnische/r Assistent/in, ATA)

  With vocational training

  In anesthesia, you prepare anesthesia, assist with induction and monitor patients in the operating room and the recovery room.

  What you bring:

  You know airway management, access lines, monitoring and emergency medication from operations.

  How to get there:

  You complete 3 years of training at school and hospital, with a training allowance. Admission is with an intermediate school certificate, or with a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) and at least two years of vocational training. With completed paramedic training, you meet this.*Regulated by law (Anesthesia Technical and Surgical Technical Assistants Act (ATA-OTA-G) § 11).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,666gross per monthMedian salary

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• Professional firefighter (Brandmeister)

  Also: Works firefighter (Werkfeuerwehr)

  With vocational training

  In the professional fire department, firefighting and technical assistance come on top, and depending on the city, the stations also staff ambulances with their own personnel.

  What you bring:

  You know operations under time pressure, teamwork on the vehicle and working together with the fire service at the scene.

  How to get there:

  You complete the preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) for the mid-level technical fire service, usually 18 to 24 months depending on the state, with pay. Depending on the city, professional fire departments require completed, often craft-technical vocational training. Some also recognize paramedic training or look for it specifically, and the state and city set the fitness test and age limits.*Regulated by law (Career and training ordinances of the federal states for the technical fire service).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,118gross per monthMedian salary

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• Emergency dispatcher (Leitstellendisponent/in)

  Also: Dispatcher in an ambulance control center

  With further training

  In the control center, you take emergency calls, guide callers through first aid and alert and coordinate ambulances, emergency doctors and the fire service.

  What you bring:

  You know from your own experience what is needed at the scene and which questions matter on the emergency call.

  How to get there:

  The states and providers set the requirements: a paramedic with several years of operational experience is usually required, and in integrated control centers often also fire service training. In addition, you take a course to become an emergency dispatcher, which takes a few weeks to several months depending on the state, followed by on-the-job training in shift work (Schichtdienst).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €4,175gross per monthMedian salary

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• Hygiene inspector at the public health office (Gesundheitsamt)

  With further training

  As a hygiene inspector, you check clinics, nursing homes, practices and communal facilities for the public health office and trace chains of infection.

  What you bring:

  You work every day according to hygiene and disinfection plans and know infectious patient transports and protective measures from practice.

  How to get there:

  Training in the public health service under state law, with theory at an academy or technical college and practice at the public health office, usually about 2 years depending on the federal state. Public health offices usually select applicants with completed training in a health profession for this.*Regulated by law (State law: training and examination regulations of the states for hygiene inspectors).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €4,905gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of an ambulance station

  Also: Team lead in the ambulance service

  With further trainingPromotion

  As station or team lead, you plan staff and shifts, hold conversations and ensure readiness for operations and quality.

  What you bring:

  You know rota planning, vehicles, material and documentation of a station and are an experienced point of contact for colleagues.

  How to get there:

  You usually reach this role after several years as a paramedic, often with experience as a practical instructor (Praxisanleiter/in). Providers expect leadership courses. The upgrading course for certified senior specialist in health and social services (Geprüfter Fachwirt im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen, IHK) prepares you for it alongside work. It usually takes 1.5 to 2 years and is eligible for funding through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift work

  €5,350gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.