Gaining Offshore medic experience

B

bravomedic

Longterm Registered User
Hi guys,
I'm looking at completing my HSE Offshore Medic course after christmas. I have noticed quite a few companies looking for Rig Medics require them to have rig medic experience. What's the best way of gaining rig medic experience if companies are only going to hire people with experience?
 
The only way you'll get the experience is registering with medic agencies. It's a catch 22 situation as normal.No experience no job no job no experience i'm afraid. Try rig-medics.co.uk that'll give you a full run down on what to expect and what you need ie: survival, medical, MIST and offshore med ticket.Surival is about 800 depending on which one you do.MIST (Minimum Industry Safety Standards)400 pound. Without it no one will even touch you it came in to effect April last year for all Oil and Gas personnel to go offshore even office workers who only visit once a blue moon have to do it.Plenty of agencies on that site. Have fun
 
sign on with EVERY OFFSHORE RIG MEDIC agency going .... check out Great Yarmouth , Hull , Aberdeen and Glasgow. Well worth spending several days in Aberdeen putting a CV to a face .... without putting a damper on it the market has been flooded with offshsore medics so expect to be sat by the phone ... Look at Oilfield medic , frontier medical and abermed to name a few

good luck

BZ
 
Hi Bravo,

Kev and remote are right, however it depends what medical experience you have already..The fact that you’re getting on your offshore course means you should already have some.

if you are a ex force medic then I would say Frontier Medical is one of your best bets...I know of at least 3 guys in the past few months that have left the MOD as medics, got there offshore medic ticket and got picked up by FM. you will start at the bottom of the pile so they will offer you adhoc / fill jobs for the first few...but too be honest it’s a good way to get maximum exposure with minimal time. They don't pay the best at all but I know they give guys the start. I know the other companies like ISOS, oilfield medics and abermed do a similar thing but as they pay more there are more guys going for them...and they can pick the ones with the experience!!

As kev said it’s not just the medics ticket you need, as well as his list you are going to want in date ALS or PHEC (I know that what FM like as a minimum) getting a IOSH course under your belt never hurts either as some roles ask for safety / medic...I would like to say you get double the pay for doing 2 roles but fat chance!!

Xmas is normally the slow time for offshore ...but it’s good to pick up 2 week stand in jobs when the regular guys suddenly go "sick" over xmas...but it means just waiting by the phone and taking a hit in anything. Once you get more time under your belt you start looking for contracts and better jobs.

Good luck mate


booty
 
Awesome, cheers for the response. I'm currently a TA CMT 1. I submitted my CPD to a training provider and found out a few days ago that I have the green light to do the course.

Like I said, I'm looking to do the offshore course after xmas. I also found out that my TA battalion are sending approx 90 guys for herrick 15. They are looking at taking as many CMT 1's as possible which is myself and another lass at my unit. This will also look good on my CV once i've completed my tour. Once i've done my tour, I will be in line of quitting my civvie job and starting a new medical career of offshore medic while trying to get back to university to do my Foundation degree in paramedic practice.
 
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good luck with Herrick bravo...i don't know what the TA is like for training, but as a reg i know that i managed to get my medics on PHEC, PEPP, and ALS as part of deployment training a few years back...all falls under herrick training money. great for the tour and recognized in civvie street!!

I am taking it that you will be paying for the course yourself...in which case make sure you pick a good provider...i have heard good things about the center at Nottingham, they run good well structured courses and you get your PHTLS and ALS which is a excellent deal if you don't have them. A few places in Scotland do the course...they have the plus side of networking up there which is always good.

good luck

booty
 
Hi all, and Bravomedic. I did my offshore course early this year at Nottingham, excellent course. As booty mentioned you get ALS, PHTLS and also Food Hygiene level 2 all in one course. Eight people on my course were renewing the qual, they had all done this course at different training providers previously, they all said this was far the best course they had ever been on, I would strongly recommend this course, fantastic tutors.
 
Hi there Bravo

I would also suggest you look at the offshore companies who not only train but also hire medics such as Abermed and Capita, whilst your doing your course you are also be getting your foot in the door with someone who will probably hire you once you have picked up the qualifications required to work offshore.

Also see what courses you can get from the military prior to your tour, ALS, BATLS, MIMS, this way you won't spend your hard earned money as it does cost a small fortune to get out here, after your HSE medic course, offshore survival, and now there is MIST (minimum industry safety training) which you have to cough up for as well.

Courses, experience or anything that will make you stand out from the rest and therefore more employable get it on the CV.

All the best with your tour!
 
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