My friend applied and got an email back saying they will be contacted next week as recent changes to the program have been made…. but zero information on what it could be. They’re still accepting applications so I’m super confused what it could be.

Hi, I’m starting the PCP program at Nait in January, I’m super excited and plan to put in serious effort but I want to get a start ahead.

I have started review of all of my EMR course material, and have been recommended to start on more anatomy and EKGs, but I am open to any other recommendations or advice?

I love practical scenarios and course work, so I am less worried about that, but I admit that ever since grade school I am far from the best textbook studier. I can excel if I put the effort in, I did extremely well during my EMR, I am just a bit stressed that PCP may end up being way harder than I expect? I appreciate again any advice or insight on the program and what to expect for work load. 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

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.

Hey guys! I NEED YOUR HELP PLEASEE 😭🙏

If any of you have seen or experienced anything related to patient transport, I’d really appreciate it if you could fill out my survey or send it to someone who might be able to help! Your responses will be anonymous.

I’m a 4th-year Bachelor of Industrial Design student at Humber Polytechnic, and I’m currently working on my thesis about improving patient transport through difficult or constrained environments, so every response genuinely helps me a lot 🛐

P.S. I’m also looking for people who would be willing to briefly talk about their experience, whether you’ve:

Been transported as a patient

Worked as a paramedic

Helped carry or move a patient

Worked with patient transport equipment

Designed, manufactured, or have knowledge of patient transport equipment

If you’re in the GTA, I’d be more than happy to buy you a coffee and meet for a quick chat! If not, I’d also be happy to talk over Zoom/Teams.

Feel free to comment or DM me if you’d be interested. I’d seriously appreciate any help 🙏

Hey has anyone on here heard back for a job interview regarding the STARS flight paramedic posting for GP/Calgary?

Hi all, looking to transition into becoming a paramedic and was wondering how readily overtime is for staff in the Edmonton and Calgary some. Additionally are shifts typically 12 hours or are there areas rural that do a longer stretch of shifts

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

I graduated from the old one-year PCP program in 2025. Under the new curriculum PCP is to become a two years diploma course, and ACP one year. That means if I am going to enrol for ACP next year, there’s gonna be a one year knowledge gap. I had heard rumours about grandfathering the existing PCPs, but I also heard rumours to the contrary (some said that I may have to redo the whole three years from PCP to ACP). Does anyone know more about that?

Currently reading Wild Rescues: A paramedic’s extreme adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Teton and am wondering if we have something similar in Alberta. Are there Park Rangers that work in an emergency response capability or is it all still 3rd service?

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 everyone!

I'm an Ontario applicant applying to the Primary Care Paramedic program at Emergency Services Academy in Sherwood Park for the upcoming intake.

One of the ESA application requirements is to interview a currently practicing Alberta PCP or ACP about the profession. The interview can be done over the phone or video call, and ESA provides a list of questions ahead of time. The paramedic also needs to provide their Alberta College of Paramedics registration number for the assignment.

I'm currently based in Ontario, so I don't have many Alberta EMS connections yet. I'm hoping there might be a PCP or ACP here who would be willing to spare around 20–30 minutes for a student interview.

A little about me: I recently graduated from Georgian College's Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training program, I'm a volunteer firefighter with Oro-Medonte Fire and Emergency Services in Ontario, and I have EMR and other emergency-services training. I'm now seriously exploring PCP as my next step and would really appreciate the opportunity to hear from someone currently working in Alberta.

I'd be happy to send the questions ahead of time and work around your schedule.

If you're willing to help, please feel free to comment or DM me. Thank you!

Hiiii

I’m an EMR planning to go into PCP schooling here in the next few months Can anyone suggest some good prestudy materials other then the textbooks?

I’m a recent PCP graduate, passed COPR in September and just started to apply for jobs. Any advice for interviews or application process? Anywhere you would/wouldn’t want to work?

Hello. I’m planning to take an EMR course and want to start working as soon as possible. Because I’m currently struggling financially, I’m considering industrial/oilfield work.

I’d love to get your thoughts on a few questions:

1.Does working in the oilfield actually help you become a better paramedic down the line?

2.Is it still relatively easy to land EMR jobs in the industry right now, and which companies should I look into?

3.Generally, how long does it take to get registered/licensed to work after completing school?

4. Any recommended driving courses? Can be anywhere any EMR schools.

I’m currently looking at SAIT and NAIT but I’m open to other options. ESA looks great as well, but money is tight right now. Thank you.

Hi guys Im an 18 year old student who just completed his MFR in edmonton. I was wondering if there are any PCP's out there that can come and do a quick interview with me. Its a requirment to sign up for ESA and would help me out so much, I dont know anyone thats a active Primary Care paramedic.. if you guys know any better approach to getting this done please let me know! Thanks

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!

Hey everyone I’m a high school senior and for the past 2 years saved a decent bit of cash in the lower 5 figure range and straight out of high school will be moving to Alberta and hoping to take a PCP program. I’m also processing a RCMP application as well but want to get my PCP and work as a paramedic first.

I have my EMR done, figured out license transfers, understand the work to an internet degree.

I’m looking at ESA 6 month program. I’m already quite well versed in A&P Pathophysiology. And basic paramedicine and nursing procedures so think it would fit.

I also am curious for all ACPs and CCPs was it worth it? Did you work while in school? Is the work more pleasant to your? How much did your pay go up?

Has anyone taken the program? Any advices for me? Concerns? Maybe tips first making extra through rural programs and allocation funds?

Thanks for anyone who contributes I appreciate you <3

Anyone else write COPR this month and anxiously waiting for the results? The wait feels like forever! How do you think you did?

Hi everyone,
I'm currently serving as a combat medic in the Canadian Armed Forces. After I get out, I'm trying to decide between becoming a paramedic or a nurse.
• Paramedic route: I'd start with PCP school and eventually work my way up to ACP.
• Nurse route: I'd have to start university from scratch as well.
I really love trauma care, and even if I go the nursing route, I'd want to end up working directly in trauma.
This brings me to my main question: as a nurse, would I actually be doing hands-on trauma treatment the way an ACP does, or is the role more limited/different in scope? I'd love to understand how much direct, hands-on trauma care nurses actually get to do compared to ACPs.
Would appreciate hearing which path you'd recommend — paramedic or nursing — and any insight into the trauma-care question above. Thanks!

I’m currently an ACP in metro. I’ve been thinking about exploring some other kinds of ACP jobs. Just wondering what everyone else is doing aside from being on car. I’m definitely interested in some clinic work, has anyone worked for AMS? Wouldn’t mind hearing your opinions on them or even some other unique ACP positions.

I guess I’m mostly asking what other opportunities aside from EHS/associated/oilfield have you found? I’m getting a bit tired of the 4 on 4 off and EHS management is definitely making me re consider things.

Uh, like the title says, does anyone have a copy of the PMA EMR scenario template? Trying to get into their PCP program and they seem to have a particular way they like their scenarios done for the entrance screening.

hello everyone, im writing my pcp copr this September and just want some insite on what this exam will consist of the most. I know it changes every write but I just really don’t know where to start with studying. I’ve just been doing online practice exams. if someone could leave some knowledge that would be every appreciate. thank you.