Advance your career in emergency medical services in the Primary Care Paramedic program. Offered in partnership with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), the Primary Care Paramedic program is an entry-level medical program that gives you the hands-on training you need to provide emergency medical services to the sick and injured.
Utilizing a combination of simulation training, practicum placements in active treatment hospitals and training in advanced life support ambulance services, the Primary Care Paramedic program can get you started on the path to becoming an advanced care paramedic. Not for the faint of heart, a career in emergency medical services is challenging yet rewarding.
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Upon successful completion of these rewarding programs, you will be ready to save lives in any corner of the province in settings such as:
- provincial, private and industrial ambulance services
- emergency service departments
- large industrial job sites
- other health care related environments
Visit ALIS website for more career information.
145+
number of students, instructors and volunteers involved in the annual simulated emergency that teaches crisis response in real time
NAIT collaborative
partnership with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
240 hours
of work-integrated learning
At-a-Glance
Starts-in
January 2024
Application Deadlines
January 2024 application deadline - July 14, 2023
Program Availability
Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.
Academic Centre
Admissions
This program is not available for International Students.
Accredited by Accreditation Canada, the Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program will provide you with the training to be eligible to write the Alberta College of Paramedics Provincial certification exam.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please email: ems@lethbridgecollege.ca or call: 403 320-3311.
Entrance requirements
- Successful completion of Emergency Medical Responder or NAIT Medical First Responder program. Students who are enrolled in the Emergency Medical Responder or NAIT Medical First Responder program by the application deadline but have not yet completed the program must submit proof of enrollment by the application deadline. Final proof of completion must be submitted by Oct 15, 2023.
- 18 Years of Age – Student must turn 18 years of age prior to the program start date. A copy of government-issued ID must be submitted.
- CPR-C (Basic Life Support - BLS) - Students must provide evidence of current BLS certification for entry into the program, and remain current throughout clinical training.
One of the following courses or certifications can be used to meet this requirement:- NAIT CPRS100 - Basic Life Support
- NAIT CPRS500 - Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C
- Canadian Ski Patrol (CPR-C)
- Heart & Stroke Foundation (BLS for HCP (C), BLS, CPR C)
- Lifesaving Society (CPR-C)
- Red Cross (CPR-C or HCP)
- St. John Ambulance (CPR-C or HCP)
- Proof of English Language Proficiency (If English is not your first language)
- Must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent resident
Competitive Entrance Requirements
- English 30-1 or 30-2
- Math 20-1 or 20-2 or Pure Math 20 or Applied Math 20
- Biology 30 or Science 30
Applicants are shortlisted for the interview based on their overall academic average in the required competitive entrance requirement courses. We anticipate an overall average of 70% in these high school courses will be required to be competitive based on previous years applicant pool. Final Selection is based strictly on the interview scores.
If you are missing any of the academic requirements check out our check out our Academic Upgrading program offerings.
Online Interview
- Interviews for eligible applicants are scheduled following the application deadline.
- Due to the high volume of interviews, the program does not provide applicants with feedback on their interview submissions.
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Delivery Formats
The Primary Care Paramedic Program is delivered in collaboration with NAIT, this program will be delivered Face to Face on the Lethbridge College Campus.
On Campus
This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge College campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.
Courses
The Primary Care Paramedic program is a basic-care level certificate program accredited by Accreditation Canada. In addition to classroom instruction, you can expect hands-on training at a number of off-campus locations that will involve weekend and shift work.
Classes are typically held in the evenings and on weekends, and cover human anatomy, physiology and procedures in emergency care and emergency equipment. The program can be broken down into four parts:
Theory (392 Hours)
All provincial and national competencies are taught through lecture, self-study and extensive labs.
Practicum Placement
Placement will start at varying times following the successful completion of the theory component. Students must be prepared to travel to any location in Alberta.
Hospital Practicum (40 Hours)
Following the successful completion of the Primary Care Paramedic theory component, you will be eligible to begin the Hospital Practicum, where you will follow a preceptor.
Ambulance Practicum (Minimum 192 hours)
You will be assigned a location in Alberta where you’ll follow a preceptor during on call hours.
Tuition and Fees
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$8,905.00
|
$668.00
|
$2,107.00
|
Tuition and fees under review.
Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.
Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.
Fees subject to GST.
All tuition and fees are non-refundable.
Our Budget Wizard is a free self-service tool that can help you make sense of your finances and the cost of your education. Give it a try!