Paramedicine & Health Sciences
Help save lives in a rewarding, high-pressure career. Gain the skills and credentials to respond to life-threatening emergencies, or advance your career in emergency medicine and health services.
The Paramedic Academy trains first responders, emergency medical responders and paramedics to treat patients in the community, at the workplace or in their homes.
The Centre for Professional Health Education provides professional development and continuing education to health and emergency caregivers with a focus on life support practices.
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What are the License Scope of Practice Change (LSOP) courses and why do I need to take them?
These courses cover content related to LSOP changes in Ministerial Order 292. They include new knowledge and skills at each paramedic license level.
JIBC is working with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, Emergency Medical Assistance Licensing Branch (EMALB), and British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to develop courses and communications plans around the scope of practice change.
You can read the media release from the Ministry of Health that was issued on December 1, 2023.
Will I be able to apply for a job with BCEHS without the new scope of practice?
At some point in the future, it is likely that BCEHS and other employers of PCP level paramedics will require training at the full scope of practice for all entry-level paramedics.
Is the LSOP course included in the programs?
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) program now includes the EMR Scope of Practice (PARA-1055) course.
Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) program does not yet include the LSOP courses. The LSOP courses will not be added for in-progress PCP cohorts. Students will have the option to take the LSOP courses after completing the full program including the final practice education course.
When will the LSOP course be scheduled?
JIBC’s PCP LSOP courses are not yet approved by EMALB. Once approved we will provide a schedule of course offerings. JIBC is looking at how we can provide priority registration in LSOP courses to JIBC students who recently completed a program, our paramedic instructors, and preceptors once courses are available.
How much will it cost?
Once the courses are fully developed, tuition costs and fees will be updated on our website.
How long is the course?
Once the courses are fully developed, we will share the course hours and dates on our website.
Will it be tested on my licensing exam?
It will likely be brought into the provincial paramedic licensing exam at some point in the future – the timeline for this change is up to the licensing body (EMALB).
The Emergency Medical Assistant License Board has developed a set of frequently asked questions for current BC licensees.