EMT school - SAIT or Portage?

[AB_EMS_Guy]

I have been accepted into both SAIT and Portage for the fall EMT program. I just re-wrote my ACP EMR exam a couple days ago after getting 74% the first time. I'm confident I passed this one though. I have very little EMS experience other than doing a couple volunteer shifts covering EMS with no calls and a couple patient transfers to Calgary. I woild be interested to hear which school people would recommend and why? I need to decide by April 8th and give SAIT a deposit if that is where I am going or they will give my spot to someone else. Thanks for any info/advice.

[Inspir]

Portage is a 'dry' campus

[deville]

My advice is to go to portage. From what Im told the pass mark for SAIT is 50%. Do I want you working on my mother when you know only 50% of your job. That like every second step you fall on your face. I dont know much about SAIT but what I do know is that you'll have a hard time with ACP and in the real world if you go there. Portage is a much better school. Just my two cents.



Cheers.

[AB_EMS_Guy]

Portage is a 'dry' campus

I'm not much of a drinker and thats not what I am going to school to do so in my case that won't be much of a concern.

[AB_EMS_Guy]

My advice is to go to portage. From what Im told the pass mark for SAIT is 50%. Do I want you working on my mother when you know only 50% of your job. That like every second step you fall on your face. I dont know much about SAIT but what I do know is that you'll have a hard time with ACP and in the real world if you go there. Portage is a much better school. Just my two cents.



Cheers.


Thanks for offering your opinion. I have spoken to a good number of EMS practitioners, both EMT's and Paramedics and they all agree with your assessment. I just wanted to see if I could get some outside opinions in case there was a local bias for some reason. I had to go through a "selection" process for SAIT but for Portage basically just had to meet the requirements for the program. I assume thats because SAIT gets alot more people applying because it is in Calgary. I'm just weighing everything out right now but I am definately leaning towards Portage.

[deville]

Good for you my friend. If your interested in a part time program, Lacombe Municipal Ambulance Service offers a great program. I and a buddy took the program and both are satisfied. Its not yet CMA approved but at the "level of". They are in the process of getting word back from CMA for the approval, soon to happen I hope. Hope it helps.



Cheers.

[MMAINC]

My advice is to go to portage. From what Im told the pass mark for SAIT is 50%. Do I want you working on my mother when you know only 50% of your job. That like every second step you fall on your face. I dont know much about SAIT but what I do know is that you'll have a hard time with ACP and in the real world if you go there. Portage is a much better school. Just my two cents.



Cheers.

I took my EMT-A in 2001 at SAIT. The pass mark for all unit exams was 90% with the exception of med term which was 80% and Human Relations which was also 80%. Where did you get your info? I think your comment was harsh many Paramedics and EMT's from SAIT are on this site! So am I one of the 50% er Paramedics you do not want looking after your mother?

[deville]

Just relaying facts from people who are now EMT's. These people I know personally, they wouldn't have lied about the school pass mark, why would they?! This info regarding pass mark is recent criteria for SAIT. I don't know about when you were there and wouldn't speak for you or anyone else for that matter. If you really care, ask a recent graduate or go to SAIT's website. I by no means am slammin you or anyone who came from SAIT, just voicing some real facts and my opinions.

We all know we are always right in our own opinion.


Cheers.

[xlq771]

SAIT's EMT program only requires a CGPA of 2.0 to graduate from the program. This is a "C" student.

Here is the link for the SAIT EMT program.

http://sait.ca/cometosait/academic/certificates/aemta.shtml

Here is the link for the SAIT Academic regulations.

http://sait.ca/pages/cometosait/academic/additionalinfo/academicregulations/academicregulations.shtml#Grading-System

[MMAINC]

Well I stand corrected they have obviously dropped the standards big time.