Advanced Care Paramedicine (ACP)

The ACP program is designed for paramedics who are interested in advanced training to think critically, solve problems and function as leaders while providing the highest possible standards of patient care.

The aim of the program is not just to prepare our students for licencing but to provide our graduates with the knowledge and skills required to be successful when they enter clinical practice and as they progress with continuing professional development.

If you are passionate about pursuing a career as an advanced care paramedic and want a program that works hard to provide the best possible work/life balance without compromising the quality of your education, the JIBC ACP program is the program for you!

Program Strengths

Accredited by Accreditation Canada and meets or exceeds the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) as established by the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC).

Program graduates continue to exceed the national average in pass rates, standard scores and most individual testing categories in the Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators (COPR) entry to practice examination. View the report for 2022 here.

Delivered in a blended online and face-to-face model to improve students work life balance.

Only respond to ACP level calls. All ambulance practice education shifts take place on BCEHS Advanced Life Support units with ACP Preceptors. This provides a valuable opportunity to learn and work within the BCEHS targeted response model.

Faculty are experienced and current in their field consisting of practicing ACP and CCP paramedics, emergency room physicians, registered nurses and health science educators.

Full time Lead Instructors at each campus ensure consistency of content delivery and provide ongoing support for our students throughout the program.

Prepares graduates to take advantage of the growing demand for Advanced Care Paramedics in BC.

Pathway to Bachelor of Health Science Degree at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). ACP graduates can block transfer 60 credits. ACP graduates who have also completed the Diploma in Health Sciences (EMS) can block transfer 90 credits toward the 120 credit BHS degree.

Funding is available.  Candidates for this program may be eligible for awards and bursaries including the Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA) Education Fund Award. All students are encouraged to apply. For more information, contact Student Services or the Financial Aid & Student Awards Advisor at financialaid@jibc.ca.

Program Themes

• Evidence-based practice - learn critical thinking skills to enable you to make effective patient centred care decisions.
• Inter-professional collaboration - working collaboratively with other health professionals in the patient’s best interest.
• Leadership - gain the knowledge and confidence to learn how to take on a leadership role in paramedicine.
• Life-long learning - continuously seeking and embracing knowledge.
• Community-based emergency health - learn how to respond to differing health care environments and handle critical medical situations effectively.
• Science & delivery of EMS - research methodology.

New Improved Program Structure and Schedule

Courses are a blend of instructor-led online theory components, and face-to-face hands-on labs. The online and face-to-face components have been grouped into blocks. This new format reduces the amount of time students need to be on campus, helps students maintain an improved school/life balance and increases access for students who need to commute.

Program Format 

The Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) Program is a 20 month full-time program comprised of 70 credits split over three terms. Students will complete ten courses and three practice education placements as they progress through the program.

Program Delivery

The classroom component is split into blocks of online and face-to-face study and is delivered using a blended delivery approach of:

• Guided online learning activities
• Facilitated discussions
• Supervised independent study
• Classroom sessions
• Labs
• Practical workshops
• High-fidelity simulations

Each term students will be scheduled for practice education placements at hospitals and on ambulance rotations in major centres around the province. Students need to provide open availability (24/7) during this period to allow for scheduling of these practicum shifts.

All ambulance practice education shifts take place on BCEHS Advanced Life Support units with ACP Preceptors. This provides a valuable opportunity to learn and work within the BCEHS targeted response model.

There may be times when students will need to travel outside their region for practice education shifts. Students must be prepared to accept the financial cost of travel and living expenses associated with attendance at these shifts.

Upcoming Intakes

JIBC offers one ACP Program per year starting each fall at the New Westminster campus. In addition, regional cohorts may be offered in Victoria and Kelowna. 

Program Schedule - 2024 Intake

Regional Cohorts

The regional cohort runs parallel to the New Westminster program with combined online components. Over the course of the program, students will be required to attend the New Westminster campus for practical exams and some face-to-face sessions with specialist faculty.

Regional cohorts are dependent on having sufficient students to run and may be cancelled due to low enrolment. If students have already been offered a seat in a regional cohort, they will have the opportunity to transfer to the New Westminster cohort. If during the course of the program regional enrolments fall to a level where educational requirements cannot be sustained students may be required to complete the remainder of classroom sessions at the New Westminster campus. Students will still have the opportunity to complete online and practice education sessions in their region.

Students must be prepared to accept the financial cost of travel and living expenses associated with attendance at any required face-to-face sessions at the New Westminster campus.

Policy and Procedures

JIBC recognizes that some programs require exceptions to JIBC policy. Program-specific requirements are detailed in the ACP and PCP Program Guidelines and Procedures document.

Tuition

Total tuition for the program is approximately $18,000 payable in instalments over three terms.

• Term 1 Tuition - $7,916.82
• Term 2 Tuition - $5,938.89
• Term 3 Tuition - $3,958.37

Additional Fees

• Application fee $75 
• Deposit $500.00
• Term 1 Learner Services Fee - $163.20
• Term 2 Learner Services Fee - $121.60
• Term 3 Learner Services Fee - $76.80
• Student Union Fees (each term) - $66.25
• Student Union Extended Health & Dental Plan - $275 (opt out option available - see JISU website for more details) 
• Uniform and Textbooks (approx.) - $1,500

Note 

Tuition fees are effective April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025. All fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Application fees & program deposit ($500) are non-refundable and non-transferable.

If a student withdraws before the start of an ACP Program term, they receive a 100% refund less deposit of that term's tuition.

If a student withdraws within the first two weeks of an ACP Program term, they will be eligible for 80% refund less deposit of that term's tuition.

Financial Aid & Awards

Candidates for this program may be eligible for JIBC awards and bursaries including the Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA) Education Fund Award. All students are encouraged to apply. For more information, contact Student Services or the Financial Aid & Student Awards Advisor at financialaid@jibc.ca.

Textbooks & Supplies

Textbooks & Uniform

After acceptance into the program, students are given information about purchasing uniforms and textbooks. The cost of textbooks & uniforms is approximately $1,500.

Tablet

Throughout the ACP Program, students will be documenting skills, simulations and patient contacts on electronic Patient Care Records in both the classroom and practice education environments. The program will be evaluating student competency and performance through the use of CompTracker, our competency management system. Students are required to have either an Apple iPad or Android tablet during the program to support the use of this system.

Travel

Practice Education

There may be times when students will need to travel outside their region for practice education shifts. Students must be prepared to accept the financial cost of travel and living expenses associated with attendance at these shifts.

Regional Cohorts

Over the course of the program, students will be required to attend the New Westminster campus for practical exams and some face-to-face sessions with specialist faculty. Students must be prepared to accept the financial cost of travel and living expenses associated with attendance at face-to-face sessions at the New Westminster campus.

STEP ONE - Apply to the Program

Check the program application deadline date.

Complete and submit the Online Program Application Form using Education Planner BC.

STEP TWO - Submit Supporting Documents

Prepare your ACP Program Document Submission Form and submit this form along with your supporting documents by mail or email to be received by the application deadline.

Admission Requirements 

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

General Requirements

• High school graduation diploma (or equivalent) or mature student as defined in JIBC's Admissions Policy
• Grade 12 English / grade 12 First Peoples English with a minimum grade of C (or equivalent)

ACP Program Specific Requirements

• Completed ACP Applicant Information Form
• PCP Certification and License
• IV Insertion License Endorsement or Training Certificate (IV training is included in the JIBC PCP program. Students who have completed other PCP programs will need to provide documentation.)
• Two years PCP work experience at time of application deadline (record details on ACP Applicant Information Form)
• The Diploma in Health Sciences (EMS) OR the equivalent of the following courses with a minimum grade of C:
  • ENGL-1100 Academic Writing
  • BIOL-2203 Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • HLSC-2214 Pathophysiology
  • HLSC-2215 Principles of Pharmacology
  • HLSC-2216 Professional Practice: Evidence-based Practice
  • CRES-1150 Theoretical Foundations of Dispute Resolution
  • STAT-1100 Statistics
  • PSYC-1100 Introduction to Psychology
  • RESM-2100 Research Methods
  • ETHS-1100 Applied Ethics
  • HLSC-2299 Capstone Project

Upcoming course dates can be found at www.jibc.ca/emsdiploma under the Program Details tab.

Applicants who have successfully completed equivalent courses may apply for a review of those courses to meet the admission requirements for entry into the ACP Program. Please email your request to acp@jibc.ca and include a copy of your transcript. A useful reference is the BC Transfer Guide.

Students may apply prior to completing all requirements but must include a plan for completing them prior to the start of the program.

POST-ADMISSION Requirements 

Upon acceptance to the program you will be required to provide the following:

• Criminal Record Check (CRC) from the Criminal Records Review Program (RCMP check is NOT acceptable). You will be provided with full instructions as well as the required access code.
• Completed Immunization Checklist - The BC Health Authority immunization requirements are different from the BCEHS employee immunization requirements. Click here for Immunization FAQs.
• Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination is required. You will be provided with instructions on how to submit this information.

Selection Process 

Candidates who have met admission requirements will be invited to complete two assessment elements:

• Medical Knowledge Test
• Panel Interview

Medical Knowledge Test

This online test will assess a candidate's level of knowledge relative to the Primary Care Paramedic knowledge needed for entering the ACP Program. You will be provided with access to the Candidate Assessment Online Campus which also contains some practice quizzes to help you prepare.

Panel Interview

Some of the job dimensions for an Advanced Care Paramedic include:

• Critical Thinking and Learning Motivation
• Maturity and Self-awareness
• Work Standards and Initiative
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Planning and Organizing Skills, and
• Stress Tolerance

Short-listed candidates will be invited to attend a 20-30 minute interview where we will discuss your application, interest, and suitability for the ACP Program.

Extra consideration will be given to those students for the following:

• Completion of all courses required for admission
• PCP experience/patient contacts
• Volunteer experience within the last 2 years (must be supported by a reference letter from the organization)

Financial Aid & Awards

Candidates for this program may be eligible for JIBC awards and bursaries including the Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA) Education Fund Award. All students are encouraged to apply. For more information, contact Student Services or the Financial Aid & Student Awards Advisor at financialaid@jibc.ca.

International Applicants

This program does not accept international applicants at this time.