British Columbia Ambulance Service - Training

Training

Paramedics in BC obtain their initial training before employment by pursuing either their EMR or PCP License at their own cost.

EMR training is available through a variety of instructional agencies throughout the province. EMR courses that are approved by the EMA Licensing Board include those offered by the College of the Rockies (http://www.cotr.bc.ca),Paramedic Academy of the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC), the Academy of Emergency Training, EMP Canada, Life Support British Columbia, First Aid Certified Training Systems, Malaspina University College Centre for Continuing Studies and Okanagan College Continuing Studies.

Primary Care Paramedic training is offered by College of the Rockies http://www.cotr.bc.ca, the Paramedic Academy of the Justice Institute of BC and the Academy of Emergency Training. Advanced Care Paramedic training is only available through the Paramedic Academy. All ITT and CCP training is conducted 'in-house' by BCAS Clinical Education Division in conjunction with BC Women's, Children's, Vancouver general, St. Paul's hospitals and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

The EMA Licensing Board maintains a list of approved training agencies available to potential students. Those students who do not complete one of the approved courses will not be permitted to apply for a licensing examination.

Clinical Education is the Division of BC Ambulance Service that provides Paramedic development once a Paramedic has been hired. The main goal of the Clinical Education Division is to support the delivery of quality patient care through curriculum development and course presentation. A new employee can expect to be offered about 11 courses of paid training in their first six months of service. These courses may include: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) 1-5, CPR/AED Update, PEPP, Trauma 1, Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting, Driving Level 1, Introduction to Treatment Guidelines and Safety Awareness for Emergency Responders (SAFER). In addition, new employees must pass a driving preceptorship prior to being allowed to drive Code 3 (lights & sirens). BCAS fosters an environment of lifelong learning and offers a combination of face-to-face and online educational opportunities for Paramedic development.