need advice please

[Angela101]

Hello, im 18 graded from highschool last year and moved out to edmonton to ultimatley go back to school once i found what i wanted to do. '
I want to be a paramedic and am working full time to save for school but i don't really know where to start .
i didnt get the best grades in highschool so im worried i will have to upgrade so that would be my first question what do i need from highschool to get started.
second, id like to know what schools out here i can go to , what is the best i want the best education possible.
third , do i have to do first aid courses before i start, i have done one but i doubt it means anything it was just a basic first aid course.

any information id be greatful to have, like i said i have no idea where to start thank you to all who reply

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

Hello, im 18 graded from highschool last year and moved out to edmonton to ultimatley go back to school once i found what i wanted to do. '
I want to be a paramedic and am working full time to save for school but i don't really know where to start .
i didnt get the best grades in highschool so im worried i will have to upgrade so that would be my first question what do i need from highschool to get started.
second, id like to know what schools out here i can go to , what is the best i want the best education possible.
third , do i have to do first aid courses before i start, i have done one but i doubt it means anything it was just a basic first aid course.

any information id be greatful to have, like i said i have no idea where to start thank you to all who reply


So we know you moved out of edmonton for school. So where are you located now?

Before you jump to paramedic you will need to become an EMT.
You will also need a CPR card before you can take an EMT class.
As for being the best school, you make the most out of it.
Instructors can only take you so far, but the rest you have to depend on yourself for self study and on-going studies.

Also medic school is expensive, so unless there are community colleges around your area that has a medic program you better start saving or take a loan like i'm doing now.

[Angela101]

thank you, actually i moved from bc to edmonton in sept .
how do i get my cpr card , just a course or is there more to it.

[ctemt513]

CPR is just a course you can take. A lot of community organizations, as well your local emergency medical service (volunteer or otherwise) can probably help you find a course or offer one.

I would also suggest some time as an EMT before moving on to paramedic school. I've been an EMT for 6 years before I let my cert. lapse, and I still want to have another year or two before I take the leap to medic school.

[Angela101]

thanks , yeah i definitly plan on starting small before i jump in way over my head .
anything else i should do to help me get started , volunteering and such id like to do something in the summer to get some sort of experiance before i go to school

[Angela101]

also i just checked out NAITS website this is what it says for requirments.

Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic

Entrance RequirementsPrehospital care training in Alberta is a three-step process. Each program is a prerequisite to the subsequent level of training. NAIT offers the following training opportunities:
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic (EMT- P)
Students must have successfully completed::

Chemistry 30
Math 10-1 (Pure) or 10-2 (Applied)
English 30-1 (English 30) or English 30-2 (English 33)
Biology 30

is this really neccesary or is it just NAITS requirments , otherwise i guess i upgrade

[Mountain Res-Q]

thanks , yeah i definitly plan on starting small before i jump in way over my head .
anything else i should do to help me get started , volunteering and such id like to do something in the summer to get some sort of experiance before i go to school

If you were in my neck of the woods, there would be several ways to volunteer and get some experience, but a lot on places might not be so interested unless you planned on spending more than 3 months with them; we for instance have you commit to a minimum of 2 years. I recommend to people who personally ask me in my county to try either join to the volunter firefighters or the Search & Resuce Team (also volunteer). You can also try to talk to your local ambulance company and see if they do ride alongs. Those can be a real eye opener on what you are thinking of getting into. They can also assist you in dirrecting you towards local programs that will alow you to meet your goals.

[studmints]

Hello, im 18 graded from highschool last year and moved out to edmonton to ultimatley go back to school once i found what i wanted to do. '
I want to be a paramedic and am working full time to save for school but i don't really know where to start .
i didnt get the best grades in highschool so im worried i will have to upgrade so that would be my first question what do i need from highschool to get started.
second, id like to know what schools out here i can go to , what is the best i want the best education possible.
third , do i have to do first aid courses before i start, i have done one but i doubt it means anything it was just a basic first aid course.

any information id be greatful to have, like i said i have no idea where to start thank you to all who reply

In Alberta, you have to have a valid Standard first Aid with CPR level C and AED that is within the last 12 months before you are able to take your EMR course and within that same 12 months you will need to persue your EMT. This is because you need to have that same First aid/CPR certification as being valid and it has to have been taken within the past 12 months to be eligible. After that you will be able to take your EMT-P where the Highschool grades come more into effect.

Thats at least whats happening to me right now hahah....

Thanks

EMt Studd

[Angela101]

thanks emt stud, i was looking at the st johns ambulance website and they have courses i can take, so does red cross which of the two is more reconized?
and can these courses i need "Standard first Aid with CPR level C and AED" be taken through these organizations ?

[VFFforpeople]

In cali, you need CPR-Pro Rescuer, and then you can take EMT-B, First Responder is not a prerequist to EMT-B in cali. Also Doesnt matter on your CPR. Our red cross gave the wrong information out when we had some EMT students in our class..was kinda funny lol. As for volunteering, it is also good to do, since you can gain more experiance, along with free CEUc or CECs however you want to call it. Plus help you community. Anyway thats my thought. I wish you luck, I am gonna advance MICN or CCRN still picking.

[studmints]

I would look at Red Cross over Sja just because I havent had a great experiance with them in the past, and I also know that Red Cross has more offerings of different courses and more often. I know that G. Mcewan offers some first and and emergency medicine courses through their LSI program.

Im in calgary and so im not too sure of all of the edmonton area traiing facilities.

I do know that SFA(standard first aid) is the only accepted first aid beside HCP(health care provider) and that, that certification has CPR level 'C' and AED training included in most cases.

EMT Studd

[Wee-EMT]

You can take your CPR and AED over a weekend course. Red cross is good, and they offer it through most City facilities (Pools, Gyms, YMCA, ect)

Your EMR course will take any where from 1-4 months depending where you go. Your EMT course will take 6-10 months including all the practicum work.
And then the paramedic program will take 2 years. But before you can get though any of those, you need to write and be registered with the Alberta college of paramedics (ACP)http://www.collegeofparamedics.org/pages/home/default.aspx


Also, Work in between. There's so much work here in Alberta. Get some experience before you go into the paramedic program

[volparamedic]

I know here in TN we have EMT-IV class that is 2 semesters starting in the fall and goes until spring. You get healthcard provider CPR (through AHA) in the class. This is only provided by community colleges.

Several years ago they use to require 2 years in a busy service to go to medic school but now it's available the next the semester. Which I don't advise until you feel comfortable. Besides you can't be good at ALS if you can't cover the basic's.

Then you have to work 2 years as a Paramedic to apply and go to CCP (critical care paramedic) and get your state license upgraded.:)

[marineman]

Angela, just so you know the U.S. and Canada have very different levels and requirements in EMS. So far in this thread studmints and Wee-emt are the only ones from Canada that have posted. The other advice is good for the U.S. but probably won't apply for you in Canada.

I wouldn't make a double post of this but there's an international EMS subforum on this board, if you look through you might find a little more information about training requirements for Canada or if you look under peoples names it lists their location, if you find someone that is in your area you could send them a personal message asking about the local requirements because I believe Canada varies by province.

[mycrofft]

so take some fatherly advice. Take CPR and first aid, maybe even lifesaving for a summer job in the field; get to know your instructors. Next/simultaneously, see if you know any local firefighters or EMT's and talk to them.

There is nothing keeping you from reading the EMT materials on your own while this is all going on, using second hand (cheaper) texts, just do not try anything until you are certified and hired somewhere. If you have questions, read more to figure it out, or ask a pro.

You may find that it is not for you, or decide to go into nursing, medicine, pharmacy etc., but welcome to the chase!!

[Sapphyre]

In cali, you need CPR-Pro Rescuer, and then you can take EMT-B, First Responder is not a prerequist to EMT-B in cali. Also Doesnt matter on your CPR.

Actually, VFF, in most of Cali, you need AHA HCP, not ARC CPRO. Some schools include it as part of school, and others want you to get it first. And good luck volunteering as an EMT in Cali, unless you're in North California.

[Angela101]

First of all thank you all for your responses i really appreciate it.

Im going in mid may to take my 2 day course doing my standard first aid and CPR so that i can start volunteering in the summer, i hope to meet some people there that can help me through this and give me some advice.
i hope i can get my emt by late next year and go to fort mac and work the 10 days on 4 days off i know a firefighter up there and hope he can give me some advice as well .

[Ridryder911]

First of all thank you all for your responses i really appreciate it.

Im going in mid may to take my 2 day course doing my standard first aid and CPR so that i can start volunteering in the summer, i hope to meet some people there that can help me through this and give me some advice.
i hope i can get my emt by late next year and go to fort mac and work the 10 days on 4 days off i know a firefighter up there and hope he can give me some advice as well .

Oh my, you have not even had a First Aid course? Such courses as that was discussed is far too ahead of your current level. ACLS is for advanced health care provider level.

Good luck,

R/r 911

[Angela101]

well i have taken those courses before but they are now expired as for the rest tho no i have alot to do before i get where i want to be i understand that, but im very motivated .i know i will get there.

[Angela101]

well ive done lots of research and ive decided to do this.
I discovered canadian college of EMS from another thrread and they offer every course i need from standard to advanced, but i dont know if this is correct on the website it has a list of videos and from what i think they are in order.

First aid
EMR
EMT-A
Paramedic

BUT

Under Prerequisites it says none (for the EMR course)
so im wondering if i need any courses before the EMR course or if i can just go straight to it .

so if any one knows anything about CCOFEMS and the courses please let me know!!

[VFFforpeople]

Here in Cali you can jump into EMR without having to do CPR it is covered in the class. I am not sure about Canada but I would figure same Idea, call your local instructor and see, never hurts to ask.

[Wee-EMT]

well ive done lots of research and ive decided to do this.
I discovered canadian college of EMS from another thrread and they offer every course i need from standard to advanced, but i dont know if this is correct on the website it has a list of videos and from what i think they are in order.

First aid
EMR
EMT-A
Paramedic

BUT

Under Prerequisites it says none (for the EMR course)
so im wondering if i need any courses before the EMR course or if i can just go straight to it .

so if any one knows anything about CCOFEMS and the courses please let me know!!

You need to be a registered EMR with ACP to be in the EMT program. With out it, you are unable to go on practicum. You have to be a registered EMT to go into the Paramedic program.

So Basically, Go get your CPR/First aid, then your EMR, Write your provincial exam for ACP and become registered, Apply to the EMT program (You can't just register, you have to go through a long process which some times involves a fitness test to get into the program), get registered as and EMT, then apply to the paramedic program.
You also have to have your class 5, a police background check, and all your immunizations up to date.

With out your EMR you can't go any where.
After you get all of that, You might be a registered EMT by 2010 depending on your ACP marks.

[Wee-EMT]

You need to be a registered EMR with ACP to be in the EMT program. With out it, you are unable to go on practicum. You have to be a registered EMT to go into the Paramedic program.

So Basically, Go get your CPR/First aid, then your EMR, Write your provincial exam for ACP and become registered, Apply to the EMT program (You can't just register, you have to go through a long process which some times involves a fitness test to get into the program), get registered as and EMT, then apply to the paramedic program.
You also have to have your class 5, a police background check, and all your immunizations up to date.

With out your EMR you can't go any where.
After you get all of that, You might be a registered EMT by 2010 depending on your ACP marks.

Sorry, I ment 2011

[Outbac1]

Here is a link to the Canadian Medical Association's website. You can find out which programs are accrediated and can choose one in your area. The school/college you pick can give you all the info you need regarding prerequisites. http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/50602/la_id/1.htm

You can also check out the Paramedic Association of Canada's site to see the national standards,(NOCP). http://www.paramedic.ca/Content.aspx?ContentID=4&ContentTypeID=2