BC city-boy to oilfields

[Hoju_ca]

Hey Everyone,

I am just finishing up my PCP here in BC (school is done, ER & preceptorship remaining) and I am looking for some information on the oilsands.

A quick background on myself since this is my first post. Married, 2 kids (boy will be 3 in April, girl turned 1 Feb 1st!). Worked at a car dealership the last 10 years and was finally able to make the career change into pre-hospital care. If you do the math my wife has been on mat leave a good chunk of the last 3 years and of course we have had some debts build up. While waiting to get on with BCAS and get my BC-PCP license we have talked seriously about me taking a job up north to help get ahead. We are pretty lucky that we also have lots of family support so as much as it will suck being away from the family it will be one of those short term pain, long term gains type of things.

Right now my highest level of official training would be OFA 3 alongside of being an first aid instructor for St John Ambulance and Red Cross.

Realistically what is the ball park on wages for my admittedly low level of certification (for now).

Any companies I should stay away from (besides the one my forum search turned up), any I should work hard at getting in with? (PM is fine if we don't want names named )

We are planning for me to do this over the next 1-2 years so at the point of receiving my BC-PCP I will also look at trying to register with the ACP at a comparable level (I know some upgrading is required).

What else should I be asking?

Thanks for the time, I'll be around.

Mike

[mobey]

Search screename Tnuiqs.

He can hook you up with some good info.