How to Become a Paramedic in Saskatchewan
Become a paramedic in Saskatchewan: the SCoP licence levels, the Saskatchewan Polytechnic PCP program, the COPR exam, and the restricted licence for new graduates.
How to Become a Paramedic in British Columbia — EMR, PCP, and ACP Licensing Through EMALB
The British Columbia route to working as a paramedic: Emergency Medical Responder training, the Justice Institute of British Columbia Primary Care Paramedic program, Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board examinations and licensing, and hiring by BC Emergency Health Services. BC licensing classes and the EMR to PCP to ACP ladder only as EMALB states them.
Applies in: British Columbia
This guide covers one route only: becoming a licensed Primary Care Paramedic in British Columbia, starting from Emergency Medical Responder training, through the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) Primary Care Paramedic program, through Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) examinations and licensing, to employment with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS). It is not the Ontario paramedic route, which uses a different college system, a different examination, and a different regulator, and no Ontario content is carried into this guide. It is not a guide to the Advanced Care Paramedic, Critical Care Paramedic, or Infant Transport Team routes beyond the ladder structure and the licensing steps that apply to them, and it is not a guide to first responder licensing for firefighters.
Three bodies divide the work, and confusing them is the expensive mistake. A training provider such as JIBC trains you. The Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board licenses you: under the Emergency Health Services Act, emergency medical assistants working in British Columbia must be licensed by the Board, and the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Branch provides the Board's administrative support, reviewing training programs, administering examinations, and issuing and renewing licences. BCEHS, part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, employs most paramedics in the province and sets its own hiring requirements on top of the licence. This guide follows that order: training, Board examinations and licence, then employment.
Step 1: Understand the six licence categories before you choose a rung
The Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation, made under the Emergency Health Services Act, lists six licence categories in section 8(1): Emergency Medical Assistant First Responder (EMA FR), Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Primary Care Paramedic (PCP), Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP), Critical Care Paramedic (CCP), and Infant Transport Team (ITT). The Regulation provides that an emergency medical assistant practising the profession may perform only the services specified in Schedule 1 for the category in which they are licensed, or a service their licence is endorsed to permit under section 10. The schedules build on each other: the services listed for PCP include all services specified for EMR, and the services listed for ACP include all services specified for PCP, with additional advanced services such as electrocardiogram rhythm interpretation, cardioversion, external pacing, and manual defibrillation at the ACP level.
The Province's licensing pages describe the categories in plain terms. EMR provides basic emergency services, typically in rural and remote areas. PCP provides intermediate-level emergency services in all areas of the province. ACP provides advanced life support, including advanced cardiac care. CCP provides critical care services and transport, including air transport. ITT provides critical care of high-risk maternity, neonatal, and pediatric patients, including air transport. The Branch's statistics page, as of April 1, 2026, records 18,578 licensed emergency medical assistants in the province: 7,400 First Responders, 5,191 EMRs, 4,958 PCPs, 878 ACPs, 133 CCPs, and 18 Infant Transport Team members. Those counts are stated only to show the shape of the workforce: the PCP level is the main career rung, the EMR level is the entry rung, and the higher categories are small and specialized.
Choose the rung before you choose a program. If your goal is a BCEHS paramedic career, the PCP licence is the rung to aim for: BCEHS paramedic positions require a PCP licence, and the EMR licence is the prerequisite step that gets you into PCP training. If your goal is rural or remote first response, industrial first aid, or fire rescue work, the EMR or First Responder licence may be the right endpoint. Do not enrol in ACP training before holding the PCP foundation it builds on, and do not assume a CCP or ITT role follows automatically from ACP: those categories have their own training and examination requirements, stated on the Board's pages.
Step 2: Complete a Board-recognized Emergency Medical Responder program
The EMR licence is the usual entry point and the prerequisite for PCP training. The Board's licensing framework requires a certificate of completion from a Board-recognized EMR program and successful completion of Board-approved examinations, consisting of two online examinations and one practical examination, for EMR evaluation. Confirm that the EMR program you choose is Board-recognized before you pay for it: training from a provider the Board does not recognize does not count toward a licence, whatever the provider's marketing claims. The Branch reviews training programs as part of its administrative support to the Board, and the Board's training program information is the place to check recognition status.
The EMR course is offered by JIBC in full-time and part-time formats, including a three-week full-time delivery and a seven-weekend part-time delivery, and an accelerated version for students with previous first aid or emergency health background, as the Institute's application materials describe. Other Board-recognized providers also offer EMR courses across the province. The EMR course includes CPR certification: JIBC's materials describe the EMR course as including CPR Level C for Healthcare Providers certification. Complete the EMR program, pass the Board-approved EMR examinations, and hold the EMR certificate or licence before applying for PCP training. An EMR licence is also a working credential in its own right: BCEHS gives preference to EMR- or PCP-licensed applicants for driver and responder roles in some rural and remote communities, and EMR-licensed applicants working toward a PCP licence may apply to BCEHS at the EMR level for communities that hire EMRs.
Step 3: Complete the JIBC Primary Care Paramedic program
The Primary Care Paramedic program is the entry-level paramedic training program, providing the skills and knowledge required to practise as a Primary Care Paramedic. The Justice Institute of British Columbia is the province's main provider, offering the program at campuses including New Westminster, Kelowna, Victoria, and Chilliwack, with selection taking place in advance of each intake and programs filling early. The program is accredited through Accreditation Canada and exceeds the National Occupational Competency Profile requirements of the Paramedic Association of Canada, as the Institute's application materials state. Confirm the current campus locations, intake dates, and application deadlines on the Institute's PCP program page in the cycle you intend to apply, since intakes are scheduled months in advance and application windows close well before start dates.
Admission to the PCP program has mandatory prerequisites. The Institute's application materials list: minimum 17 years of age; a current JIBC Emergency Medical Responder certificate or Occupational First Aid Level 3, or equivalent; a current CPR for Healthcare Providers certificate; current immunization records; Grade 12 graduation or equivalent; Grade 12 English with a minimum grade of C or equivalent; and physical ability to perform the required tasks of a paramedic. Final admission requirements include a criminal record check for children and vulnerable adults from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, for which an RCMP check is not acceptable. Bonus points in the selective entry process may be granted for a Grade 12 science course in biology, chemistry, or physics with a minimum grade of C, volunteer experience supported by a letter of reference, and completion of the JIBC EMR course. Shortlisted applicants attend a panel interview, and Grade 12 science and verified volunteer experience earn bonus points in selection. Acceptable EMR credentials are a valid EMR licence or EMR certification within three years, or current Occupational First Aid Level 3 certification, with other courses reviewed for EMR equivalency by the Institute.
After acceptance, complete the program's practice education requirements, including hospital and ambulance shifts, some of which must be completed before program admission as eligibility requirements for those placements. The Institute directs applicants to its free "Becoming a Paramedic in BC" eLearning site to prepare for applying. No program duration, tuition figure, or intake date is stated in this guide: published materials describe the full-time program variously as eight months and as twelve months, and intake dates change by cycle, so confirm the current duration, cost, and dates on the Institute's PCP program page. Do not budget or plan a leave from work around a duration carried from a secondary summary.
Step 4: Pass the Board-approved examinations for the PCP category
The Board may issue a licence in a category to a person who applies in the form and manner approved by the Board and provides evidence satisfactory to the Board that the person has successfully completed the training program or programs recognized by the Board for the category, has passed the examinations approved by the Board for the category no later than 12 months after completing the training program, and is of good character and fit to work as an emergency medical assistant. That 12-month rule is the deadline that governs the whole post-graduation period: complete the Board's formal evaluation within one year of finishing the program, or the training completion no longer supports the licence application on the same basis. Confirm the current examination format, scheduling process, and any jurisprudence examination requirement for the PCP category on the Board's scheduling page before you finish training, and schedule the examinations promptly after graduation.
The Province's licence applications page directs applicants who have not already scheduled examinations to the Scheduling your Licensing Examination page. Access to the online examination system requires a BCeID and a request for access that the examination coordinator reviews, which can take up to two weeks to approve, so request access well before the examination window you intend to use. Complete the written and practical examinations the Board approves for the PCP category, and keep the examination results and training certificate together: both are needed for the licence application. No examination fee beyond the licence fee table in the frequently asked questions section is stated here, and no examination date is stated: confirm both on the Board's pages for the administration you intend to write.
Step 5: Apply for the EMALB licence
Once all examinations for the licence level are successfully completed, apply for the licence through the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Branch. The Province's licence applications page states the three steps for an Emergency Medical Responder, Primary Care Paramedic, or Advanced Care Paramedic licence: complete and electronically submit an Application for Licence form; undergo a criminal record check; and submit the EMA Licence Payment form to pay the applicable fees. The same three steps apply to Critical Care Paramedic and Infant Transport Team licences, through the same forms. Licence fees may be paid at any time throughout the application process, and a written refund request is available if the evaluation process is unsuccessful.
EMR, PCP, and ACP licences are valid for five years and require yearly continuing competence submissions. CCP and ITT licences are also valid for five years with yearly continuing competence submissions. The First Responder licence is valid for three years. If a licence expires, the holder is no longer licensed to practise in British Columbia, and reinstatement follows the Board's licence reinstatement policy, available only where reinstatement would not be an undue risk to public health or safety. A licence revoked by the Board follows a separate revoked-licence reapplication policy. Keep the licence, the continuing competence submissions, and the criminal record check current, and do not practise, or hold yourself out as licensed, after expiry or revocation.
Applicants transferring from another province follow the Board's transfer route, with no licence fee for initial licensing unless a written or practical examination is required. Confirm the current transfer requirements, including any examination the Board requires for the category, with the Branch before moving, and do not assume a licence from another province converts automatically to a British Columbia licence at the same category.
Step 6: Apply to BC Emergency Health Services, and the ACP ladder above PCP
BCEHS is the main employer of paramedics in British Columbia, operating the provincial ambulance service. Its PCP application process accepts applications for casual paramedic positions year-round, with regular part-time and full-time roles applied for directly through the health authority's job postings. To apply for a casual position, complete the Application for Employment form. The requirements stated on BCEHS's PCP application process page are: a Primary Care Paramedic licence from EMALB; a copy of the current driver's licence, with a Class 4 licence or equivalent obtained within six months of hire if not already held; a driver's abstract from ICBC or the provincial provider; proof of Grade 12 graduation or post-secondary education; a Canadian work permit if applicable; availability for at least eight day or night shifts per month; the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and to communicate clearly with patients, paramedic partners, and other health professionals; and a criminal record check at the applicant's cost through the Ministry of Justice. Most new BCEHS paramedics start as on-call, part-time employees, most shifts are 12 hours long, and a six-month probation period applies at the first work location. EMR-licensed applicants working toward a PCP licence through JIBC may apply for EMR positions with BCEHS and, once the PCP licence is obtained, are classified as PCPs at their current station.
The ACP ladder sits above PCP. Advanced Care Paramedic training is offered by JIBC as a diploma program with limited intakes, and the ACP licence requires completion of a Board-recognized ACP training program and the Board-approved ACP examinations, followed by the same three-step licence application, with the higher practical examination fee stated in the licence fee table. This guide states no ACP program prerequisite list, duration, or admission detail, because it could not be verified on an official page. If ACP is your goal, complete the PCP licence first, confirm the ACP admission requirements on JIBC's ACP program page, including any diploma or experience prerequisites, and confirm the Board's ACP examination requirements on the Branch's pages before applying. Do not enrol in ACP training on the assumption that PCP program completion alone satisfies admission: the ACP program sets its own entrance requirements.
Figures this guide does not state
This guide states no JIBC program tuition figure, program duration, seat count, or intake date, because published materials conflict on duration and intake dates change by cycle. It states no EMR program fee or schedule, because those sit on each provider's pages. It states no BCEHS wage or salary figure, because it could not be verified on an official page. It states no ACP program prerequisite list, duration, or fee, because it could not be verified on an official page. It states no CCP or ITT training route beyond the licence categories and licence application steps, because those routes sit outside the entry-level ladder. It states no examination pass rate for any EMALB examination. Where no figure is stated here, the guide points to the page that owns it instead of carrying a secondary source's number. Confirm every fee, deadline, and requirement on the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Branch, JIBC, and BCEHS pages linked above, on the day you apply or pay.
Related guides:
- How to Become a Paramedic in Ontario — the Ontario paramedic route, a different college system, examination, and regulator; do not carry its content into a British Columbia application.
- How to Become a Health Care Assistant in British Columbia — a neighbouring British Columbia health care role with its own registry and training route.
- How to Become a Registered Nurse in Ontario — a regulated health profession with a different education route, for readers comparing health care careers.
From first responder training to a licensed Primary Care Paramedic in British Columbia, in five moves
- Complete a Board-recognized EMR programEmergency Medical Responder training is the usual entry point and the prerequisite for Primary Care Paramedic training. Confirm the program is recognized by the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board before you enrol.
- Complete the JIBC Primary Care Paramedic programThe Justice Institute of British Columbia program requires a current EMR certificate or licence, Grade 12 graduation, and a CPR for Healthcare Providers certificate, plus immunization records.
- Pass the Board-approved examinations for the PCP categoryThe Board may issue a licence to a person who completed a recognized training program and passed the approved examinations for the category within 12 months of completing training.
- Apply for the EMALB licenceSubmit the Application for Licence form, undergo a criminal record check, and submit the EMA Licence Payment form. EMR, PCP, and ACP licences are valid for five years with yearly continuing competence submissions.
- Apply to BC Emergency Health ServicesBCEHS hires most paramedics in the province. Casual paramedic applicants need an EMALB licence, a Class 4 driver's licence within six months of hire, a driver's abstract, and availability for at least eight shifts per month.
Questions people ask
What are the EMALB licence categories, and which one is 'paramedic'?
British Columbia licenses emergency medical assistants, not a single 'paramedic' licence. The Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation lists six categories: Emergency Medical Assistant First Responder, Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Primary Care Paramedic (PCP), Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP), Critical Care Paramedic (CCP), and Infant Transport Team (ITT). The Regulation provides that an emergency medical assistant may perform only the services specified in Schedule 1 for the category in which they are licensed, or a service their licence is endorsed for under the endorsement provisions, and the schedules are cumulative: the PCP schedule includes the EMR services, and the ACP schedule includes the PCP services. Most paramedic careers in the province are built on EMR, PCP, and ACP. The First Responder category is typically held by firefighters and fire rescue personnel, and the Critical Care Paramedic and Infant Transport Team categories are specialized transport roles above the PCP and ACP levels. You hold a licence in one category at a time. This guide covers the EMR to PCP route and the ACP step above it; it does not describe the CCP or ITT training routes, which sit outside the entry-level ladder.
Do I need the A-EMCA examination in British Columbia?
No. The A-EMCA, the Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant examination, is Ontario's paramedic examination, and it has no role in British Columbia licensing. British Columbia licensing runs through the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB), which approves examinations for each licence category under the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation. Do not carry Ontario examination content, dates, or preparation material into a British Columbia application: the examination provider, the examination format, and the scheduling process are all different. If you trained as a paramedic in Ontario or another province and want to work in British Columbia, contact the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Branch about the transfer and examination requirements that apply to out-of-province applicants, rather than assuming an Ontario examination result satisfies a British Columbia requirement.
Can I go straight into the Primary Care Paramedic program without EMR training?
No, on the Justice Institute of British Columbia's admission requirements. The PCP program requires a current Emergency Medical Responder certificate or licence as a mandatory prerequisite, together with a current CPR for Healthcare Providers certificate, Grade 12 graduation or equivalent, Grade 12 English with a minimum grade of C or equivalent, and current immunization records. Acceptable EMR credentials are a valid EMR licence or EMR certification within three years, or current Occupational First Aid Level 3 certification, with other courses reviewed for EMR equivalency by the Institute. The EMR course itself is offered by the Institute in full-time and part-time formats and can be included in the program of study. Confirm the current prerequisite list on the Institute's PCP program page before you apply, since admission requirements change, and complete the EMR step first rather than applying for the PCP program hoping the requirement will be waived.
How long is the PCP licence valid, and what do I have to do to keep it?
Emergency Medical Responder, Primary Care Paramedic, and Advanced Care Paramedic licences are valid for five years and require yearly continuing competence submissions, as the Province's licence applications page states. The Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation states the same term: a licence in the EMR, PCP, ACP, CCP, or ITT category expires five years after the date it was issued, while a First Responder licence expires three years after issue. If a licence expires, the holder is no longer licensed to practise as an emergency medical assistant in British Columbia, and reinstatement is possible only if it would not be an undue risk to public health or safety, under the Board's licence reinstatement policy. Keep the continuing competence submissions current every year, track the expiry date from the date of issue rather than from a calendar year, and start any renewal well before expiry: an expired licence cannot be used while a reinstatement application is pending.
What does a licence cost in British Columbia?
The licence fees are set out in the Emergency Health Services Regulations and published on the Province's licence applications page. For Emergency Medical Responder and Primary Care Paramedic licences, the fee is $50 where a written examination is required, $400 where a practical examination is required, $450 where both are required, and the renewal fee is $50. For Advanced Care Paramedic licences, the fee is $50 for a written examination, $500 for a practical examination, $550 for both, and the renewal fee is $50. Critical Care Paramedic and Infant Transport Team licences carry no licence fee, with a $50 renewal fee. There are no licence fees for First Responder licensing, student licensing, or initial licensing for applicants transferring from another province, unless a written or practical examination is required. Licence fees are payable when all examinations are successfully completed but may be paid at any time during the application process, and a written refund request is available if the evaluation process is unsuccessful. These figures are stated as published on the Province's page: recheck the fee table on the day you pay, since the regulation's fee schedule can change.
Does a JIBC program place guarantee me a job with BC Emergency Health Services?
No. Training and hiring are separate decisions by separate bodies. The Justice Institute of British Columbia provides the educational component, the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board licenses you, and BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) hires paramedics under its own requirements. BCEHS states that it accepts applications for casual paramedic positions year-round, and its PCP application process requires a Primary Care Paramedic licence from EMALB, a copy of the current driver's licence with a Class 4 licence or equivalent obtained within six months of hire, a driver's abstract, proof of Grade 12 graduation or post-secondary education, a Canadian work permit if applicable, availability for at least eight day or night shifts per month, and a criminal record check at the applicant's cost. Most new BCEHS paramedics start as on-call, part-time employees, and station availability changes monthly, so not all locations hire at the same time. Complete the licence first, then apply through BCEHS's process, and do not treat program admission as a hiring commitment.
Sources
- Province of British Columbia, "Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Branch" — the Branch's administrative support role, the licence category counts as of April 1, 2026, and the Emergency Health Services Act and Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation as the governing legislation.
- Province of British Columbia, "Licence Applications" — the requirement to hold a valid licence, the five-year licence term with yearly continuing competence submissions, the three-step licence application, the reinstatement policies, and the full licence fee table.
- Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation, B.C. Reg. 562/2004 — the six licence categories, the Schedule 1 scope rule and cumulative schedules, and the five-year and three-year licence terms.
- Emergency Health Services Act, point-in-time version — the licence issue rule: recognized training, Board-approved examinations passed within 12 months of completing training, and good character and fitness.
- Justice Institute of British Columbia, "Primary Care Paramedic Program — Application Guide (International Students)" — the PCP program prerequisites including the EMR certificate, CPR for Healthcare Providers certificate, Grade 12 graduation and English, immunization records, and the criminal record check requirement.
- Justice Institute of British Columbia, "Primary Care Paramedic Program — Document Submission Form (International Students)" — the EMR certificate or equivalent, CPR certificate, Grade 12 transcripts, English requirements, immunization checklist with hepatitis B serology, and the "Becoming a Paramedic in BC" preparation site.
- BC Emergency Health Services, "PCP Application Process" — year-round casual applications, the EMALB PCP licence requirement, the Class 4 licence within six months, the driver's abstract, Grade 12 proof, eight-shift availability, and the criminal record check.
- BC Emergency Health Services, "Primary Care Paramedic" — part-time on-call starts, eight shifts per month, 12-hour shifts, EMALB as the separate licensing body, and career paths within BCEHS.
- BC Emergency Health Services, "Emergency Medical Responder" — EMR-licensed applicants working toward PCP through JIBC, the six-month probation period, and reclassification as PCP on obtaining the licence.
Figures not stated in this guide: all JIBC program tuition figures, durations, seat counts, and intake dates; all EMR program fees and schedules; all BCEHS wage and salary figures; all ACP program prerequisites, durations, and fees; all CCP and ITT training details beyond the licence categories and application steps; and examination pass rates for any EMALB examination. Check the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Branch, JIBC, and BCEHS pages linked above for current figures and steps before you apply or pay.