Ambulance Drivers in Southern California
 In a time of medical crisis, California residents will often rely upon the training and skill of an ambulance driver to deliver them swiftly and safely to emergency medical care. In a medical emergency, victims are among the most vulnerable of transported passengers and so the trust that we put in ambulance drivers is critical.
Because so much rests on the shoulders of these professional drivers, the People of the State of California and the California Department of Motor Vehicles must ensure that this select group of drivers abide by a stringent standard of training and certification. Therefore, an ambulance driver is required to possess a valid California Driver License AND an Ambulance Drivers Certificate.
California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 2511, reads:
“Licenses/Certificates for the operation of ambulances may be issued only to those persons or entities which operate ambulances designed and operated exclusively as such and which are used to respond to emergency calls.”
Requirements for Ambulance Drivers Certificate
A person wishing to operate an emergency ambulance must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Possess a valid California Driver license that is not currently on probation.
- Pay an application.
- Challenge and pass the Ambulance Driver written exam at any DMV Office. *Submit a completed application for Live Scan. Live Scan is fingerprint identification process run through the Department of Justice to determine a person’s past and current criminal history. A list of Live Scan locations is available from the California Department of Justice/Office of the Attorney General website.
- Submit a Medical Examination Report (Form DL 51).
Losing your Ambulance Drivers Certificate
Many EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency medical professionals have spent many years and thousands of dollars preparing to operate emergency ambulances. Rendering aid to the sick and injured is all they have cared about for years. The DMV is not interested in a driver’s personal investment in their chosen field and will refuse, suspend, or revoke the Ambulance Drivers Certificate if they believe they have cause.
The loss of your Ambulance Drivers Certificate immediately renders you unable to operate an emergency ambulance. This can mean an immediate suspension, demotion, or termination of employment, regardless of how hard you have worked to get there.
Protecting your Ambulance Drivers Certificate
If you receive notice from the Department of Motor Vehicles that they intend to refuse, suspend or revoke your Ambulance Drivers Certificate, you must act quickly. To protect your certificate, contact must be made with the Office of Driver Safety (DSO) within the first 10 days following the notice of suspension. Failure to contact the DMV within that time period forfeits your right to a hearing and the suspension or revocation is automatic.
You are entitled to fight for yourself and you cannot make the suspension/revocation any worse by doing so. All you can do is make the situation better. Don’t give up your dream and your career without a fight. Call CDA today. We can help.
Also See: Special Certificate Hearing
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