Paramedic Programs in Ontario

[WaitingForGodot]

Hello Everyone,

I am currently a Grade 12 Student (In Ontario) who will be graduating this June, but I plan on returning for a 5th year just to bring up my marks. I plan on applying to school next winter to become a paramedic and I was just wondering a few things from those that have either gone to school and graduated or who have recently been accepted into a paramedic program.

1. Is there a program that you specifically recommend?
2. What program will allow me the most flexibility to work in other provinces?
3. For those who have been recently accepted, what were your Gr.11/Gr.12 marks that your were granted successful application with, and for which school?

I'm not trying to find the easiest school to get into, I'm just trying to come up with a ballpark figure so that I can set some goals for myself next fall.

Thank you everyone for your help in advance,

DI

[CFire]

Only one type of program offered if you want to be a Paramedic. Its the Primary Care Paramedic Program, offered at most of the colleges in the province. Cant really recommend one or the other, best suggestion would be to talk to the medics in your area and see what they have to say.
As for being able to work in the other provinces, the programs train you to work in Ontario. You will be only certified to work in Ontario, that is after you pass a 250 question 6 hour provincal exam called the AEMCA, which has been described as one of the hardest medical exams in Ontario.
As for you High school grades, hmm well the easiest thing to say is the higher the better. There is alot of competation to get into the schools and limited seats, many schools even have pre-entry exams. Then to get hired as Paramedic there will be strict difficult testing that will be different for each area you apply to.
I would suggest going to your local Ambulance Base and see if you cant have chat with some of the guys and girls around, they will be able to give you lots of good information. What part of the province are you in?
Also check out, www.ontarioparamedic.ca .. It is the site of the Ontario Paramedic Association and will be able to provide you with some good information and colleges.

Good Luck

[WaitingForGodot]

Thanks for your reply!

I actually live in Southern Ontario, in the Niagara Region. I have a few friends of the family who are Paramedics so I'll look them up for sure and ask what they think!

Thanks!

DI

[poprivet]

Hi CFIRE,

You specify that the PCP programs offered at community college qualify you to only work in Ontario. Do you know how the other Paramedic programs/systems work in the other provinces within Canada?? Do the other programs in the rest of Canada line-up with U.S. Paramedic Training & Certifcations??

Rob

[WolfmanHarris]

Transiting from province to province varies depending on which province you want to work in. While provinces such as Ontario and BC have registration at the provincial level, while Alberta and NB have colleges of Paramedics that handle registration. Each has their own process for testing and it would be best to look at each individually. Thanks to the Paramedic Association of Canada's National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) and the Internal Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (IATT), the education from province to province is comparable, even if the titles are different (i.e. Alberta).

In terms of Canada vs the US. There is no comparison. The education for EMS in the United States is one of the worst in the developed world. BLS education is 120hrs and more akin to EMR. ALS education is usually less than a year, if not much much less thanks to a plethora of "medic mills" churning out the worst sort of cook book providers. There are some exceptions and some excellent providers throughout the USA, but they are the exceptions.

As a PCP you would find moving to the states problematic. As the levels don't compare well, you'd be an EMT-B there making minimum wage or slightly better, working IFT mostly. Basics are a dime a dozen. A far cry from the ~$30/hr we enjoy here in Ontario.