Primary Care Paramedic

Program Description

The Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program provides education and training for pre-hospital care professionals and prepares them to work within a multi-discipline healthcare team. This program is taught by experienced practitioners and covers all aspects of pre-hospital emergency care including Advanced Life Support (ALS) and International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) assistance, patient assessment, diagnostics, treatment and critical interventions.

The Primary Care Paramedic program is a competency-based, blended-delivery program which includes face-to-face and on-line learning components. Students must be motivated and organized as this program is fast-paced and requires a significant contribution of time to be successful.

Students will be required to:

Attend an orientation session.
Complete all work as assigned.
Attend mandatory class days for theory and psychomotor skill acquisition practice.
Attend full-time, one clinical (hospital and/or urgent care based) practicum and one ambulance-specific practicum to apply the theory and skills learned under the direct supervision of a preceptor.

Note: Students may have to travel anywhere in Alberta to complete their practica based on practicum spot availability.

This program is offered in Calgary at SAIT.

The completion of a Primary Care Paramedic or an Emergency Medical Technician program is one of the admission requirements for the Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) program.

Abbreviated Program Description

Train in basic life support and emergency care with a focus on patient assessment and critical intervention. The program includes both theory and hands-on learning in skills and high fidelity human patient simulation education in the Centre for Advanced Patient Care Simulation, as well as practical clinical and ambulance training. Accredited by Accreditation Canada at the Primary Care Paramedic Level. Graduates are eligible to register with the Alberta College of Paramedics as a Primary Care Paramedic. Recognized by the Canadian Forces as aligning with military occupational training requirements. For more information, visit forces.ca.

Program Overview

Your Career

Graduates are prepared for careers in emergency medical services or on industrial sites in rural and urban settings throughout Canada, as well as internationally.

Graduates of the Primary Care Paramedic program have a 86% employment rate

Student Sucess

Students with higher secondary or post-secondary marks usually experience greater success in SAIT’s programs.
Students who experience success in this program have effective communication skills in English.
Health care practitioners are detail oriented in the care they provide and enjoy working in a team environment.

Students are strongly encouraged to refer to the Paramedicine National Competency Profile and Alberta Health Service’s F.A.R.E.- Paramedic requirements to ensure that they are able to successfully demonstrate the functional ability skills required to achieve all the competency-based objectives and bona fide occupational requirements for the program and profession. Some examples include:

Lift a stretcher with a 95.5 kg (210 lbs) patient with a partner from a lower level to the load position and back down
Lift and carry a long spine board with 95.5 kg (210 lbs) and ascend and descend 10 stairs with a partner
Push a stair chair 10 m with 95.5 kg (210 lbs) and ascend and descend 20 stairs with a partner
Lift a bilateral side carry of 9 kg (20 lbs) of weight in each hand
Front carry 18 kg (40 lbs)
Repetitively kneel, crouch, bend, reach, carry, push and pull
Perform CPR for 2 min

Credential

After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) certificate. All graduates are eligible and required to register with the Alberta College of Paramedics to work in Alberta as a primary care paramedic.

Accreditation

The Primary Care Paramedic program delivered by SAIT is accredited by Accreditation Canada at the Primary Care Paramedic level and meets the Alberta College of Paramedics core competency requirements.

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Admission Requirements

At least 50% in each of the following courses or their equivalents:

Math 20-1 or Math 20-2 or Pure Math 20 or Applied Math 20,
English Language Arts 30-1 or English Language Arts 30-2,
Biology 30 or Science 30*
All applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
Students must be 18 years old by January 1 (second semester of the PCP program).
Proof of completion of an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certificate or a medical sciences-related diploma or degree or equivalent.

SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don’t meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.

SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you’ve applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada.

* ANPH 209 (Anatomy and Physiology) can be used in place of the Biology 30 or Science 30 requirement. This course is available through continuing education.

Program Outline