There are a lot of new EMT’s graduating each semester in San Diego and they’re always eager to start applying for jobs. Popular questions on EMT forums are what ambulance companies are in San Diego and who is the best to work for. As you can imagine, there’s a wide range of responses and you typically have to dig through multiple threads to find all the information. To make things easier, we’ve created a comprehensive list of ambulance companies in San Diego and the services they provide. The majority of these companies are well established and have been around for quite some time. In terms of experience you’ll gain in the field, we strongly recommend working for Rural/Metro, American Medical Response (AMR) or Mercy Ambulance. These companies have the main 911 contracts within the County of San Diego and great reputations overall.
Rural/Metro Ambulance
- Service(s): ALS, BLS, CCT, Special Events
- 911 Contract(s): San Diego
- Crew: EMT/Paramedic (ALS)
- Website: View
American Medical Response (AMR)
- Service(s): ALS, BLS, CCT, Special Events
- 911 Contract(s): Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Protection District, La Mesa, San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District, Lemon Grove, Alpine Fire Protection District, San Diego Rural Fire Protection District, and Pine Valley Fire Protection District
- Crew: Paramedic/Paramedic (ALS)
- Website: View
Mercy Ambulance
- Service(s): ALS
- 911 Contract(s): Valley Center Fire Protection District and Deer Springs Fire Protection District
- Crew: EMT/Paramedic (ALS)
AmeriCare Ambulance
- Service(s): BLS, CCT
- 911 Contract(s): Camp Pendleton I-5 corridor and backup 911 services for Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, Escondido, San Marcos, Valley Center Fire Protection District, Deer Springs Fire Protection District, Elfin Forest, and National City.
- Crew: EMT/EMT
- Website: View
Other Ambulance Companies
| Company | Service(s) | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Ambulance (a Rural/Metro company) | BLS, CCT | View |
| Falck | BLS, CCT | View |
| Care Medical Transportation | BLS, CCT | |
| Schaefer Ambulance | BLS, CCT | View |
| AirCare International | BLS, CCT | View |
| Xtreme Care Ambulance | BLS, CCT | View |
| Express Ambulance | BLS, CCT, LDT, Special Events | View |
| ER Ambulance | BLS | |
| First Choice Ambulance | BLS | |
| Balboa Ambulance | BLS, CCT | View |
| MaxCare Ambulance | BLS, CCT | View |
| Premier Medical Transport, Inc. | BLS, CCT | |
| TLC Medical Transport | BLS | View |
| RileyCare Ambulance | BLS, CCT, LDT, Special Events | View |
| A.R.T. Ambulance | BLS | View |
Nice how does one apply for those positions EMTB
Hi Joanne,
If you click the “View” link it will take you to the ambulance company’s website and you can see if they are currently hiring. For companies without websites listed, they typically advertise open positions on craigslist.org. You can also visit our EMT Jobs page to see any open positions in your area. I hope this helps!
Rileycare Ambulance is missing from that list.
Thanks, Eitan — We’ve updated the post to include RileyCare Ambulance.
Working for Rural/Metro, American Medical Response or Mercy will certainly give you experiences in running 911 calls. However, with all private ambulance agencies in San Diego with the exception of Mercy Ambulance as a new EMT, you will primarily be providing care and transportation of BLS level patients. A majority of this will in the form of interfaculty transports, doctors’ appointments, and dialysis calls. These types’ calls are an opportunity for new EMT’s to learn how to talk to people, see various disease processes that you learned about in school and ask questions about it from the patients, nurses and doctors. In addition, it is an opportunity to learn skills that you will need as you advanced in your EMS career such as being able to accurately take a blood pressure in a moving ambulance.
Every ambulance company has its pros and cons, some things to keep in mind when deciding who to work for are.
• What type of training do you receive as new EMT?
• Do they offer in house continuing education?
• Do they offer in house recertification (EMT, CPR, etc.)?
• Are they compliant Federal, State and San Diego County EMS requirements?
• Are they complaint with OHSA requirements?
• What is the background and experience level of management?
• Do they have a safety program?
• Do they have a wellness program?
• What type of schedule/shifts do they have?
• Payroll and is it reliable?
• Agency Reputation?
No matter what company you work for or the patch on your shoulder always remember working in the Emergency Medical Services makes you brothers and sisters in EMS. Watch out for each other, take care of each other, and never disparage another EMT or agency. Get to know each other because when a large scale or multiple agency event happens you will be able to better work with each other in providing the safest and best patient care possible.
Well said, L. Fickas.
Thank you for the detailed response and that is truly helpful information for everyone pursuing a career in EMS.
Does anybody know how to get into contact with Mercy Ambulance? I am an experienced EMT moving here from LA County and am interested in working with them. But cannot find any contact information.
Thank you. It would be nice to see the “Other Ambulance Companies” given the same introduction as Rural/Metro, American Medical Response, Mercy and AmeriCare Ambulance.
A.R.T. Ambulance?
Thanks, Jennifer — This company has been added to the list.
Xtremecare, despite their brilliant and professional marketing, have gone under.
Xtreme Care was not a good company when I was there, very unorganized and poor work ethic from everyone. It’s not a surprise it’s now closed.