Onboarding plan

Paramedic Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new paramedic from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Paramedic onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: National Registry Paramedic (NRP), State paramedic license (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: cardiac monitor-defibrillators; advanced airway devices and video laryngoscopes; IV and IO kits; medication kits
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Paramedic training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Assess scene safety before approaching any patient
  • Wear PPE and follow infection control on every call
  • Use proper lifting techniques and lifting equipment
  • Wear seat belts in the patient compartment whenever possible
  • Shadow an experienced paramedic through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: acquire and transmit a 12-lead ECG
  • Supervised practice: start an IV line in the field
  • Supervised practice: give a radio report to the receiving hospital
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Respond to emergency calls and assess patients on scene: independently
  • Provide advanced airway management: independently
  • Interpret cardiac rhythms and 12-lead ECGs: independently
  • Start IV and IO lines and give medications: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, National Registry Paramedic (NRP))
  • Discuss the career path: EMT → Paramedic → Critical Care, Flight or Tactical Paramedic
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Acquire and Transmit a 12-Lead ECG
Start an IV Line in the Field
Give a Radio Report to the Receiving Hospital
Advanced airway management
12-lead ECG interpretation
IV/IO access
Emergency pharmacology

How to measure onboarding success

  • Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
  • Competency sign-offs completed on time
  • Documentation or charting error rate
  • 90-day retention

How Paramedic training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Paramedic Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Paramedic Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Paramedic Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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