AET (Academy of Emergency Training) PCP Program

[Frozenstein]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience or has heard anything about this school. I am trying to decide between AET and the JIBC. Any input would be great!

Thanks for reading.

[fire_cracka]

is AET CMA accredited yet? if not then dont go there.
the jibc has a bad wrap and they have earned it but they have great instructors and your certificate will mean more if its cma accredited.

[Frozenstein]

GENERAL INFORMATION
Welcome to the AET Paramedic Academy Inc.
The AET Paramedic Academy Inc. and partners offer training in many different areas of pre-hospital care and is pleased to offer this latest training program. The Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) Program meets or exceeds the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) requirements of the Paramedic Association of Canada and the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board of British Columbia.

I am not sure what CMA certified means...can you please explain.

Also, what reputation does JIBC have?

Thanks!

[Paraone]

I took my PCP training with the JI and I did not have a bad experience what so ever. I had great instructors, my books and uniform arrived on time, I was able to access the preread for the CS200 online portion you do before the first day of class. I was able to get my precepting done. Sure it took alot longer than it should have due to our strike. One thing I must say about the JI tests is that they need to be rewritten, as some of the questions on the tests where not very well worded.
I know a few Paramedics that took their PCP training with AET and they had positive things to say about that institution and yes they are recognized by EMA licensing. Yes, the JI name is recognized by more people, but that does not mean that AET is not a good school.

My opinion is that it does not matter what school you decide to go to and take your PCP training, but what does matter is how hard you study, how good are the instructors and what is their knowledge base, and most important is how much work you put in to the course.

The PCP course is a great course, difficult when it comes to the pathophysiology and Anatomy portion of the course and maybe the hands on stuff as well depending on your experience.

Good luck with choosing a school.

Brian

[fire_cracka]

http://www.cma.ca/index.php?ci_id=50602&la_id=1#PARA-ON

if you look here it says it is registered but not accredited. this may only mean anything if you plan on leaving the province (or it may mean nothing) but its worth looking into.

I didnt mean to try to turn you off of any schools so i apologize. I loved my training, and my job even more, so good luck and hurry up and do it. dont give yourself an excuse to put it off :)

[Paraone]

Hey fire cracka, what station are you attached to? I have been at the Port Alberni station now for two months, and before that I was in Gold River for two and half years or more. I got cought up in the strike so I could finish my PCP training and I did not have myEMR license so I could not lateral out. I was only able to drive for that period of time. So happy that I finally got my PCP license and now working at a busy station!

Have a great weekend!

[northernmedic]

The owner of AET was terminated from the BCAS. Take that for what you will.

[Paraone]

That is the first I have heard of that! He must have done something pretty bad, because it takes a lot to get fired by BCAS.

[FRtrainer]

http://www.cma.ca/index.php?ci_id=50602&la_id=1#PARA-ON

if you look here it says it is registered but not accredited. this may only mean anything if you plan on leaving the province (or it may mean nothing) but its worth looking into.

I didnt mean to try to turn you off of any schools so i apologize. I loved my training, and my job even more, so good luck and hurry up and do it. dont give yourself an excuse to put it off :)

I hope you have gotten into the program you wanted!

As for CMA accreditation, it has no effect on working out of province. TILMA ensures that. If you are licenced in BC thats all that matters. You will have to take some upgrade courses, as other provinces use medications not licenced in BC. The same goes for EMR.

AET and JIBC are both recognized by EMA licencing. You can get you licence by successfully completing a PCP course at either. And yes, both have negative and positive reputations.

Major difference in my mind, JIBC is 9 weeks straight and AET is 9 weeks in a one week on one week off format. Depends what structure works better for you. Where you do your program doesn't matter to EMA or to people once you have your licence.

[HeyYouYeahYou]

PCP is only 9 weeks!?! I thought it was a 5/6 month program? after the 9 weeks is there in field training?

[HeyYouYeahYou]

I hope you have gotten into the program you wanted!

As for CMA accreditation, it has no effect on working out of province. TILMA ensures that. If you are licenced in BC thats all that matters. You will have to take some upgrade courses, as other provinces use medications not licenced in BC. The same goes for EMR.

AET and JIBC are both recognized by EMA licencing. You can get you licence by successfully completing a PCP course at either. And yes, both have negative and positive reputations.

Major difference in my mind, JIBC is 9 weeks straight and AET is 9 weeks in a one week on one week off format. Depends what structure works better for you. Where you do your program doesn't matter to EMA or to people once you have your licence.

So if I go to JIBC or AET they will license me? so I wouldn't have to do another licensing test at some BC licensing board? I would have my PCP ticket?.

[cprted]

So if I go to JIBC or AET they will license me? so I wouldn't have to do another licensing test at some BC licensing board? I would have my PCP ticket?.
No. Once you finish the program and have your PCP certificate in hand, you apply to EMALB to be licensed. The process involves 2 written exams and a practical evaluation day. You can't work (provide patient care) until you are licensed.

Regarding JI vs AET: The JI's PCP program is also subsidized by the provincial government whereas AET's is not. There will likely be a substantial difference in tuition rates between the two. Food for thought.

[crew]

I just finished the JI course and I really did my research before committing to spending all that cash. The JI course is 15 weeks I was May 2nd to August 15th 2011. Then there is the 240 hrs of precepting and 4 clinical days in the hospital. The course is tough, but very rewarding! I really felt great when, after a call, the patient thanked me and said that I really helped her. I actually didn't feel good about the call because I didn't really do anything other than hold her hand and calm her down on the way to the hospital. I won't get into what her condition was due to confidentiality, but suffice it to say, she was bad enough off to warrant a Code 3 ride to the ER. On our next call to the same hospital, I saw the pt after she had had some treatment for her illness and she looked a heck of a lot better. She waved me over and thanked me. I told her that I didn't feel like I did much, but she was insistent that I did exactly what she needed, kept her calm and focused on her breathing.

I go for my written test for EMA licensing tomorrow (so this post is during a study break, of course!). My practical is scheduled for the beginning of Feb.

Hope this helps.....I have some other feelings that are probably best shared via PM. Feel free to send me a message and I can fill you in on what that might be, or even if you have some specific questions.

Cheers,

Chris

[cprted]

Sometimes being a calming presence is the most valuable patient care we can provide. With all the protocols and drug monographs we study it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that our job, when you boil it down, is to be nice to people and take them to the hospital.

[crew]

Sometimes being a calming presence is the most valuable patient care we can provide. With all the protocols and drug monographs we study it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that our job, when you boil it down, is to be nice to people and take them to the hospital.

Yep...well said! Maybe give them a blanket too! lol

[HAC2]

I just finished my PCP at AET and thought there should be a voice from the other side on here. AET is 1 week on, 1 off, but crams the same amount of information into it as JI or COTR. This does mean you have to be more disciplined on your time off, and work harder at self-study, but you also have more time to absorb the material.

Clinicals and precepting are more about what skills you practice and experience (and check off) than time on car or in the hospital, but all programs offer the same as far as I can tell.

No one is going to go through their school complaint free, but I was pretty impressed with the owner/instructor's breadth of knowledge and experience. The school is run by him (former ACP) and a retired licensing examiner.

The program is difficult, and for a variety of reasons 2-3 out of every 12 don't make it through, though sometimes this is family/financial. That being said, AET does have a much higher licensing pass rate than other institutions. You are welcome to doubt this, but this is from the mouth of licensing. You will understand why when you see the scenario's you go through as a student.

The tuition is very similar to JI, but as he is not accredited you cannot get provincial funding for the program. On all other fronts it is the same. And he knows his website is shit.

But like I said, if you are not an adept student who is willing to spend their off time studying, then you be in for a rough time. Look elsewhere for spoon feeding. If you do your pre-course, keep up with your readings, come in on days off and are a vigilant student, you will greatly benefit from this course and AET's style of teaching.

Our goal here is to be the best paramedic's and offer the best patient care we can, not to have the easiest ride. I had the most fun in my class of any I have ever taken, and feel that I could not be better prepared for the road.