Rig Medics - Frequently Asked Questions

A typical summers day in the North Sea

Check out the Rig Medics' Bookstore
in association with

Remember to
check our FAQ Page

Although we are going to be producing a batch of in depth articles looking at various aspects of being an offshore medic, I decided to put together a Frequently asked Questions page to cover the basics until the articles are ready.

The questions below are those that we seem to get asked all the time – if there is something not included in the list, please feel free to send our question using the form on the Contact page.

So, in no particular order…

Is Rig Medics and employment agency? Can I send you my CV?
What qualifications do you need to be an Offshore Medic?
What are the pre-requisites for doing the HSE Approved Offshore Medics’ Course?
Where can I do the Medics Course?
How long does the Course take?
How much is the Course?
Where can I do the Offshore Survival Course?
How long does the Survival Course take?
How much is the Survival Course
What are my chances of getting a job?

*********************************************************************************************************

Is Rig Medics and employment agency? Can I send you my CV?(back to top)
The answer to both these questions is no. Rig Medics is only a resource for offshore medics. We do not epmploy anyone or offer employments on behalf of anyone else. You can find a list of Agencies that do offer work on the Links Page
What qualifications do you need to be an Offshore Medic?(back to top)
To work as a medic in the UKCS (UK Continental Shelf) you will need the following

A valid UKOOA Medical
An Offshore Survival Certificate
An HSE Offshore Medic Certificate

What are the pre-requisites for doing the HSE Approved Offshore Medics’ Course? (back to top)
There are two main routes to the Offshore Medics' Course . One is as a fully qualified RGN. The other is as a Medic from the forces.

Regular Service in either:

Army: Combat Medical Technician Class 1 (RAMC CMT Class 1)
Royal Navy: Leading Medical Assistant (LMA) or above
RAF: Corporal or above in the RAF Medical Branch
RMA 1 or equivalent with proof of continuous professional experience and currency

A Registered General Nurse who’s details appear in the UKCC Register in those sections relating to General Nursing (1,2,7 or 12) with at least 3 years post registration experience
(source: Ex-Med Medic UK Ltd )

Where can I do the Medics Course?(back to top)
There are training companies all over the country. If you have a look at the Links Page you will see a section relating to training establishments. If you know of a training establishment we haven't included please let us know.
How long does the Course take?(back to top)
The full Medic's Course usually takes 4 weeks (2 weeks in the class, 1 week in an Accident and Emergency Dept and 1 week with a GP).

Every 3 years thereafter you have to do a 2 week refresher course.
How much is the Course?(back to top)
The price course itself varies from provider to provider. You will be looking at somewhere between £1000 and £2000. Remember you may have extra living/transport costs on top of this if you do not live near the training venue.
Where can I do the Offshore Survival Course?(back to top)
As with the Medic's Course there are training venues all over the country. Check the same section of the Links page. If you know of a training establishment we haven't included please let us know.
How long does the Survival Course take?(back to top)
The Full Survival Course takes 3 days to complete. Once you have done it you have to attend a refresher every 4 years .
How much is the Survival Course?(back to top)
The Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) course is usually around £500. And as with the Medic course you may have additional living/transport costs on top of this if you do not live near the training venue.
What are my chances of getting a job?(back to top)
This is a popular one and also very difficult to answer.It's partly luck, partly being available and partly your own efforts. Italso depends if you are willing to travel. Remember that the Medic's Certificate lets you work all over the world - from Brazil to West Africa, the Caucasus and Australasia, there are lots of places you might end up.

A lot will depend on how well put together your CV is. Ensuring good spelling and grammar may seem obvious, but there are a suprising number of CVs that have glaring errors. This kind of simple thing can have a disproportionate effect .
If you are doing your Training Course in Aberdeen, it is a great idea to actually visit the agencies and hand deliver your CV. It gets you known and remembered. If you are doing the course somewhere else, make sure you phone them before you send your CV. Have a chat and make sure they know you are sending them your CV and that you are available.
Get in touch with them before AND after you get your Medic's ticket. Before you get the Certificate they will be very coy about the amount of work going. Just let them know that you will soon be ready. Once you have the ticket call them again to let them know you are fully qualified.
GET OFFSHORE! When starting out, the most important thing to get is your first trip offshore. I cannot stress that enough. Even if it's only a 5 day ad hoc relief job, take it. The first question an employers asks an agency is "Have they been offshore before?". So don't turn down jobs because you don't think it's worth the travel and the hassle for just a couple of days - the little jobs can and do lead to better jobs. It also lets you get some experience without too much pressure. Short ad hoc jobs usually involve keeping the seat warm until the regular medic gets back. As such you can see what offshore life is like and get used to it without having too much to learn.
Finally a lot of it is down to pure simple luck. If you qulaify uring a busy period, your chances are obviously much better. Havng said that , Medics are usually in short supply. On the occaisions my rig has needed medics to provide extra cover, we have had trouble finding them.