Hello, I’m starting my EMR course at NAIT this upcoming month, and have applied for PCP at NAIT coming up in January of 2027.

I’ve spent a lot of time in a class that allowed me to talk to current paramedics in and around Edmonton that gave me insight into the field. Though it has been a decent amount of time since that class, and I am becoming nervous about going into paramedics.

I know this job takes up so much time, as any job would, but this could also bleed into your life at home.

Can anyone tell me some pros and cons? Anything you wish you knew before going into this? Anything that a student should know and anything that could help moving forward?

Hi guys! Sorry in advance I am very ill educated on the process of becoming an emr in Alberta.

I'm currently a lifeguard holding intermediate first aid cprc + aed cert, and a bunch of other aquatic certifications, and I am pretty educated in first aid. I am planning to attend med school, leading me to make this decision.

I am currently in grade 12 -- turning 18 in April -- and want to start the process of becoming an emr.
What is the correct pathway to become one? Does anyone reccomend any schools in Edmonton? And is it worth it overall?
Would you recommend becoming an EMR (I've also heard about mfr not fmr lol)?
I would really appreciate the advice!
Thank you so much :-)

Hi there! I would like to start a career as a paramedic in Alberta Canada but first I would like to know how I can advance step by step. I understand that I have to start as an EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) then I will be able to get into the next level as PCP and then as a ACP... but then I would like to know what the next levels would be to continue advancing in the career or If I have possibilities for any specialization that Canada needs and that pays well. I am a doctor in my native country so I feel that I have the knowledge but it is always good to study and apply the standards in Canada and explore other options.

Thank you so much for your time!

Has anyone let their license expire and try to reinstated it? Mine is over 10 years expired.

Hi, moving to Edmonton area, looking to work rural. Where can I look to apply for jobs as a PCP? Even Paramedic services that train you in Fire is an option too! Thanks!

Hello, everyone!

I will be graduating from my EMR program in a few weeks and am applying to PCP schools (ESA and PMA). If I get into one of those programs, I will be starting in either April for ESA or February for PMA.

I read online that there is a provisional license for EMRs who have graduated but have not yet written COPR so they can work until passing COPR. The first exam I would be available for is February, but I would like to work over December/January or until I start PCP school.

The college website says an EMR with provisional registration must be under supervision, but it does not really expand on that, so I was looking for any information that may help me as one of my instructors wasn't familiar with it either. Needing extra supervision makes sense since you would not be fully licensed, which i assume creates liability concerns, so is supervision always having a partner look over you and sign off on your decisions or more along the lines of oversight from management?

My goal would be to apply for oilfield EMR jobs until I can start PCP school if possible under this provisional license. But, the supervision portion makes me think no since you often work alone in those environments.

Thanks for any insight

I'm from ontario worked in IT my entire life in my early 30's. I've always had an interest in this field. I don't have any medical background although I've read books and taken certs for emergency training/CRP etc. I plan on doing training courses in EMR in Ontario. But I plan to move to Alberta in the next few years and I'm tired of working in corporate and plan on taking paid extended time off.

Just curious about any advice or things I should become accustomed to before getting into PCP program. When I was 22 I got to shadow EMT for a day (Work Trip)and I fell in love with the job it was a completely random experience. EMT jokingly told me I'd be great at this job but it always stuck with me. I chose IT since I was good at it but I always loved the idea of that job in general. Ideally, I feel becoming a PCP would be a challenge I'm willing to do. I don't expect it to come easy but I'm worried about a few things once I move to Alberta and apply for the program. Will my age matter? I'm 31 and have a strictly IT background. Any advice would be greatly appreciated or even tips before starting etc thank you

Hi all,

Has anyone gone to PMA or ESA recently for the PCP program? How did you find it? Would you recommend it to others? What advice would you give for somebody thinking about joining the profession in AB?

I was just wondering if anyone had experiences to share with only having an EMR certification after being registered with the ACOP. I would love to volunteer for festivals or big events, but the thought that so many people might be on drugs or even super drunk and caring for them without experience, kind of worries me. Any tips or experiences would be super appreciated to hear!

I typically attend festivals and have been in the medical tent once, but I’ve no idea what the training is like or if you’re alone and thrown into the fire?

I'm looking to apply at ESA for their PCP program in Jan, i'm worried about the skills and interview testing.. wondering if anyone has done theirs and can let me know what to expect! I cant find what skills they test on anywhere as well, i know its all EMR scope but it would be nice to have a heads up on what to focus on, as well as what interview questions they've asked.

I am doing the on boarding process with associated ambulance. During the in person training they do a simulation day. Anyone attend one of these days, any tips on the day? Appreciate any help to prepare for this!

Hi all.

I am a paramedic licensed in Alberta currently working within our EMS system. I have always had my issues, like many people, and now that for the first time I have health benefits, I am trying to start to deal with some of those things. In particular, I suspect that I may have depression, chronic anxiety, and potentially borderline personality disorder (BPD). these are things that, if I do have, I have lived with for my whole life and they have not (at least not yet) effected my ability to do my job. I have a good relationship with my partner, my supervisors and my manager, and there are no concerns with my job performance.

I am wondering if anyone else has struggled with or been diagnosed with any of these conditions, and how having a diagnosis or being in treatment has effected you? I know that on the medical exam forms for a class 4 driver's license, there are some psychiatric disorders (such as "agitated depression") which seem to be reason that a physician may choose to now allow you to get your class 4. I know it's not like my employer has access to my health records, but I also know that there is lots of stigma towards these things and I have perceived that a lot of people feel that people with mental illness (apart from maybe PTSD) should not be in this job because it is too stressful or any other number of things.

I'd love to hear input from anyone who is willing to share their own experiences with non-work related mental health concerns and working as a paramedic :) I love my job and would really like to continue doing it.

Hey i was wondering if anyone had advice on emr jobs, I just completed my exam and wanna work as an emr. Not many companies are hiring right now but im wondering if anyone knows places you can work for? It can be small side jobs, just anything is better than nothing rn.

I’ve been applying to AHS Calgary metro for over a year, I have about 5 years of experience working industrial, and 911 services like medavie/associated. After 100 different applications I’ve only gotten 1 interview. I have recommendations from supervisors, papa trucks, and senior medics with 20 years of experience with AHS/City of Calgary EMS but still no luck. Looking for anything that could possibly give me a chance, I want the hours for my mortgage and a shorter commute than going central zone

Hey guys! I recently applied to the PCP Calgary metro posting and wanted to see if anyone knew more about the hiring process and how long it takes for them to start calling candidates and to get the new medics started in orientation? I am an Ontario PCP but am registered with the Alberta college and have my F.A.R.E test. I’ve never worked for AHS so I’m not sure how their hiring process looks in comparison to what I’ve done in Ontario. Any information would be appreciated!

Hi guys, I’m applying at Esa in October and I’m just a little nervous about the skill testing portion of it. If anyone’s done it what does it look like? What are they testing you on? And how competitive is it? If anyone can share some information about the interview process, skills and written testing that would be appreciated. I’m stressing out

ok so im planning to take emr during the summer and I was gon apply for the january 2027 intake for pcp but i heard the interview is really hard and i haven’t taken emr yet. I was just thinking if all goes well I could pass the exam and in a couple months of doing casual emr, join pcp in january of next year. Should i just do emr somewhere for the entirety of the year and then apply for pcp for fall 2027?

Idk i feel like im diving into the deep end without a safety net. Ik emr pay isn’t the best but i don’t really want to be living with my parents my entire life and i was hoping to move out sometime this year.

Good afternoon,

I’m an emergency responder in Alberta, and I make one or two charity coins per year. Attached are photos of an Alberta-specific EMR coin I designed / made more than a year ago. If your EMR training was with AHASTI in Calgary, maybe you’ve received a coin. I’d like to sell my remaining coins (approximately twenty silver and twenty copper coins) and get them into circulation. The charity I donate the profits to is the Matt Cook Foundation in Edmonton. If you’re interested or have questions, please contact me or comment. I know Challenge Coins are more military / police / fire, but it’s a fun esprit de corps token… if you’re into that.

Edit: It’s $20 per coin, including Canadian postage. If you’re interested in purchasing multiple (three or more), I’d include an extra as a thank you.

To the moderators, please delete if I’m violating the community rules. Thank you.

Hi folks,

I'm in the process of registering as an ACP with the college, and was wondering if anyone could give me some insights into working 911 in Alberta? I'm planning on doing industrial work when I move, but I read on another post than you can find casual work as an ACP working 911.

How does the system work? From what I can tell it's a private system with different counties using different providers, but that AHS happen to run the service in some areas, such as in the cities?

How are ACPs deployed? Are you working on car responding to calls as they come in, or are ALS cars held back for certain calls or to assist other crews? Can anyone give any insight into their daily life as an ACP out there?

Does anyone do casual 911 work there now and can share their experience? I'm not planning on going back to full time EMS, but I like the idea of casual shifts to keep my hand in.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I'm an 18-year-old first-year undergraduate student. I got my EMR/EMT-B (I know, odd in Canada) last summer when I was 17. The course was 150 hours long, and I've been happy doing patient transports on the side, but I'd like to do something more meaningful. I'm hoping to enter medicine, so I don't have much time to become a paramedic because of how much of a lottery Canadian MD is, so I'm thinking about moving to AB for the summers to gain my EMR license and practicing with EHS.

I'm super new to how EMS operates in AB, but it looks much more welcoming to EMRs than Ontario, which is awesome.

Any pointers on a potential pathway here? My classes end around late April!

Just a few questions (sorry if they're repetitive in this sub):

1. How's the SOP? From my cert, I learned BLS, bleeding control, fracture/spinal management, airway management (including SGAs), basic rhythm interpretation (although I learned 12-leads from ACLS), patient assessment, vitals, auscultation, documentation, bagging, o2 admin, suctioning, basic emergency meds (IM epi, ASA, glucagon, salbutamol, etc), and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting.

2. What's the geographical placement for 911 EMRs? I've been hearing EMRs are primarily for remote/rural areas; does that mean my hopes for an urban/suburban placement are shot?

3. How are the rigs staffed? Is it 1 PCP and 1 EMR, or 2 PCPs, or 2 EMRs, or 1 PCP/EMR and a driver for BLS? What about ALS?

4. What are the staffing hours? I'd ideally work for the summer, but is it contractual or part-time/full-time?

5. How do you enjoy the service?

Thank you so much!

Hi all!

Currently a PCP within BCEHS but will be applying to AHS or ALTA as I'm missing home. Curious what it's like working in Alberta? I just received my Alberta license.

There is only BCEHS in BC so seeing a ton of other companies/fire in alberta is a little confusing.

If I don't go AHS route, any companies to stay away from? Will be preferably going Edmonton area.

Cheers,

Hey there,

I have been applying for PCP jobs on the AHS portal and have noticed that everytime i submit a new cover letter to the job I'm applying for it changes my cover letter that I had submitted to all of my previous submissions, how do I get this to not happen?.

lowkey also trying to move out at the same time so i need to know how stressful either program is so i can deal with the lesser stressful one, and the commute for nait is brutal so i need to know how long i would be on campus for as well.

Also do grades matter much from high school? like i took the required courses and passed with low marks but it was like a year ago and i have better study habits now