Advanced Care Paramedic

ACP graduates will be able to:

• Meet the ACP competencies and the entry-to-practice requirements as an Advanced Care Paramedic
• Demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes in areas such as use of advanced technology, pre-hospital care clinical decision-making, current treatment methodologies and pharmacology
• Work collaboratively in interprofessional environments
• Function as leaders by utilizing effective problem-solving and critical thinking skills,
• Act as patient advocates while maintaining the highest possible standards in patient care

Location
New Westminster, BC, Canada

Program Length
18 months / 3 terms

Teaching and Learning Methodologies
The blended delivery approach includes:

• guided online learning activities
• facilitated discussions
• guided independent study
• classroom sessions
• labs
• practical workshops
• High-fidelity simulations

Practicum

Students will have practicum placements each term which includes  a combination of clinics, hospitals, community-care based centers and on-ambulance rotations.  The majority of practicum activities take place in the lower mainland (Vancouver & area) as well as some regional centres around the province

Faculty

The Advanced Care Paramedic courses are taught by senior practitioners who combine academic theory with current experience in the field. Most of these instructors have graduate degrees or equivalent credentials in a related field (e.g. ACP, RN or MD), while others have completed an Emergency Services Instructor Training (ESIT) program. Many have completed additional certification in adult education, such as the Provincial Instructor Diploma.

Program evaluation includes:

• Ongoing feedback from instructors, clinicians and preceptors
• Completion of a personal journal
• Essays
• Assignments
• Individual and team-based projects
• Written, oral and practical examinations.

Students must also successfully complete clinical and ambulance practicums and preceptorship.

Certification

Upon successful completion candidates will receive an advanced diploma in Advanced Care Paramedicine (ACP), and will be eligible to apply for licensure by the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) in British Columbia.

Tuition is $14,046.42 plus $247.50 Learner Services Fee.

This amount is payable in instalments over the three terms as follows:

Financial Assistance

StudentAid BC may be available to supplement your own financial resources to help you reach your educational goals.

Students may also be eligible for other forms of assistance, such as the Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA) Education Fund Award and the JIBC General Student Bursary, and we encourage all students to apply.

For more information please visit Student Services or contact the Financial Aid & Student Awards Advisor at financialaid@jibc.ca or 604.528.5762 (toll free 1.877.528.5591).

Tuition fees do not cover the costs of course material, textbooks and ER scrubs. These may be purchased through the JIBC Store.

Admission to the Advanced Care Paramedic Program is contingent on availability of seats, completion of all admission criteria, and applicant ranking as determined by a process of selective admission evaluation.

The following mandatory requirements must be met:

• PCP Certificate
  
  General Requirements:
  • IV Insertion Training Certificate
  • BLS for Healthcare Provider (CPR C) certification within the last year
  • Criminal record check
  • Completion of a Physical Fitness Assessment
  • Current immunizations
  • Three written professional references
  • Legal entitlement to study in Canada
    
    
• JIBC Diploma in Health Sciences (EMS) or
  Equivalent academic and health sciences foundation courses
  • ENG 100 - Academic Writing (3 credits)
  • STATS 100 - Introduction to Statistics (3 credits)
  • RESM 200 - Research Methods (3 credits)
  • ETHS 100 - Applied Ethics (3 credits)
  • CMNS 101 - Communications and Conflict Resolution in EMS (1.5 credits)
  • PPC 214 - Professional Practice (1.5 credits)
  • PHARM 215 - Pharmacology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 203 - Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 credits)
  • PATH214 - Pathophysiology (3 credits)
  • PSYC 201 - Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)

As we transition to the JIBC Diploma in Health Sciences (EMS) as prerequisite to the ACP Program, we will accept applications from candidates who meet the following minimum requirements:

• ENG100 Academic Writing (3 credits) or equivalent

• PHARM 215 Principles of Pharmacology (3 credits) or equivalent

• BIOL 203 Human Anatomy & Physiology (3 credits) or equivalent

• PATH214 Pathophysiology (3 credits) or equivalent

PCP Certification and all other General Requirments must be met

Preference will be given to candidates who have completed all (or most) of the Diploma in Health Sciences (EMS) course work requirements.

Completion of the Diploma in Health Sciences (EMS) will be required by students wishing to proceed to the proposed JIBC EMS Degree.

Students wishing to obtain credit transfer for the ACP Advanced Diploma should check requirements with the receiving institution.

Applicants who have successfully completed other equivalent liberal studies or health sciences courses at the college or university level may apply for a review of those courses to meet the prerequisite requirements for entry into the ACP program. Please provide details on the application form and attach transcripts.

The following courses from TRU-Open Learning meet some of the prerequisites and provide a benchmark for equivalency.

• BIOL 1693 (formerly HLSC169) Anatomy and Physiology II (3 credits)
• HLTH 2501 (formerly CEHS202) General Pathophysiology  (4 credits)
• HLTH 2511 (formerly CEHS204) Pharmacology  (3 credits)
• ENGL 1101 (formerly ENGL108) Composition (3 credits)
• PSYC2101 (formerly PSYC220) Statistics in the Social Sciences (3 credits)
• PSYC 2111 (formerly PSYC210) Intro to Research in Experimental Psychology (3 credits)
• PSYC1111 (formerly PSYC101) Introductory Psychology I (3 credits)

Selection Process

Candidates who have met all mandatory requirements will be required to attend a Candidate Assessment Day and complete three assessment elements:

• Medical Knowledge Test
• Critical Thinking Ability Test
• Panel Interview

Assessment Days will be held at JIBC New Westminster campus location.  Participants should expect to spend a full day at the campus.

The final step in the selection process is reference checking.

The results from each component will be integrated to produce an overall candidate score. All candidates' scores are then compiled into a rank ordering of candidates. Candidates will be offered a seat based on their ranking.

1. Download an Advanced Care Paramedic Program Information and Application Package.
2. Complete all prerequisites and photocopy all required documentation.
3. Submit your application package including payment using one of the following methods:
   
   In Person:
   Drop your completed application package off at the Justice Institute of British Columbia located in New Westminster.
   
   Justice Institute of British Columbia
   Registration Office
   715 McBride Boulevard
   New Westminster, B.C.V3L 5T4
   
   Phone
   604.528.5590 or Toll free: 1.877.528.5591
   
   Email
   register@jibc.ca
   
   By Mail
   Please send application package to the above address.
   
   By Fax
   604.528.5653