moving

[scooter_13]

i am in the middle of my emr training through nait, and i have recently found out that i am going to be moving to ontario. i was wondering if anyone could tell me why each province is different and why i have to retake my course again??? can i just challenge their prov. exam??
thanks

scooter

you can email me
scooter_13@firehall.com

[weeman13]

hey
It is going to depend on the province you want to work in. and if the school is CMA aproved. I took my trainning in PEI but wanted to work in Alberta so I just made sure that my school was accredited with ACP and it was so all I had to do was take the provincial exam. so just talk to the school you want to attend and see if the course is accredited in Ontario. I think nait is so you will probally only have to write provincial exams.

weeman13

[FireEMTGuy]

Ontario has PCP, primary care paramedics, which replaces the term EMT-A. Their training in Ontario for a PCP is 1 year and includes some basic drugs.


Alberta is moving to PCP with the new scope but it is not slated till 2005. CMA may help, but Ontario is the most difficult province aside BC to transfer to.

Canada desperately needs a system like the USA has with their NREMT system.

[Newb on Fire]

The Primary Care Paramedic program is 2 years in length at the colleges here in ontario. Advanced Care is 1 additional year. New next year will be the only privately run PCP program located near Barrie which will run you around $12000 but will shorten it to one year. Unfortunately, your EMR is not recognized here in Ontario.

[FireEMTGuy]

Thanks for the correction newb!

[Newb on Fire]

No problem. Just wanted to help. I can help with any other questions about college in Ontario if anybody has any.

[wannabe]

So, how beneficial do you guys think it would be to have your EMT-B? I know they don't recognize that level here in Ontario but I wonder how a recruiting fire department would view it?

Worth it or not?

[colin911]

I'm certainly no expert on what departments are looking for when they hire. But I do know that at least in Ontario, being a paramedic is not a free ticket to being hired.

I was hired just two years ago with almost no medical experience (St. John Advanced EMR) and a two day course with Toronto Ambulance called BTLS.
That's it.
Only 2 guys out of 16 that were hired with me were going through the paramedic course and neither of them finished it.

Having said that, certainly being a paramedic or graduate of a paramedic college will give you many needed points, but keep in mind that A) medicals aren't the only thing we do and B) even if you are a paramedic and you get hired by a fire department, you won't be allowed to do anything outside the department's protocols.

In my opinion, 2 years and how ever many thousands of dollars spent on becoming a paramedic just to become a firefighter doesn't seem like time and money well spent.

Anybody agree or disagree?

[Newb on Fire]

I would have to agree. Unless you plan on doing something medical part-time, why bother? The departments would not allow you to use any of your advance knowledge for liability reasons. On the other hand, if Ontario departments decide to go the way of the American departments, you might see a dual role Fire/Paramedic job such as they are doing in Alberta from what I gather. If this is the case, you're already trained. I guess it all depends on the amount of money and time you are willing to spend. I would finnish all my firefighter qualifications first. 2 years is a long time to wait for no guaranties.

[wannabe]

I was more thinking of the EMT-B as in Basic level. I believe you can pick it up in about 3 months or so.

Although, at this point I'm thinking even that is to much after paying for all these other courses.

I'm glad to hear that you were successful with the EMR...I have the Red Cross equivalent.

[Michael13]

This college stuff is crazy and hard to understand. I have applyed to college but because I was stupid in High school and played it like a big joke i couldnt apply directly to any paramedic courses. So I went and applyed for Pre-Health courses. Some schools wont even consider me there, except for two, so now I have applyed for a course called Fire Alarm Systems Engineering tech. I think I will take this if excepted over pre health. What do you think of the prehealth course. i have heard it is geare more towards nursing. By the way this is all in Ontario.

[scooter_13]

i think firefighters should have basic paramedic skills because they sometimes come on scene before ambulances do. and i agree that we should follow the americans in the way they run their firehalls. i think it would save alot of resourses.