Primary Care Paramedic

Being a paramedic is all about teamwork. There’s a sense of camaraderie you won’t find in many other jobs. But it takes a special kind of person. You have to want to help people because you’ll be attending to people of all ages in all kinds of crises. You have to work well under pressure because you’ll be delivering pre-hospital emergency care in people’s homes, in the middle of busy streets, and/or at industrial sites.

Apply Now

1-866-467-4278

It’s a rewarding career with an expanding range of job opportunities—and Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program will get you started.

Primary Care Paramedic is a one-year certificate program offered through Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon campus and Saskatchewan Polytechnic Regina campus, and in partnership with regional colleges. Our program emphasizes authentic hands-on training in prehospital emergency care, with both hospital and ambulance practicums. You’ll focus on:

medical and trauma injuries
mental health issues
obstetrical emergencies
pharmacology
physical assessments of various body systems
cardiac and respiratory emergencies
certifications in:
- BLS Health Care Provider
- Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA)
- International Trauma Life Support (ITLS)
- Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP)

Hands-on learning

Lab and simulation training
- The PCP program emphasizes hands-on learning. You’ll spend about one-third of your time in the classroom, one-third in practical labs and one-third in high-fidelity simulation. State-of-the-art simulation facilities use a wide range of scenarios to help you develop your critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Field practicums
- You’ll take the knowledge that you’ve learned in the classroom and put it to work with an emergency medical services (EMS) organization (usually ambulance service) to learn about policies, procedures and documentation; conduct independent patient assessments; and provide treatment using ambulance equipment.
Clinical practicums
- During your hospital-based practicum, you’ll conduct independent patient assessments and use hospital equipment to provide treatment. You’ll also learn about hospital policies, procedures and documentation.
Inter-professional education
- In order to prepare you for an integrated role within health care teams, you will have the opportunity to work with students from other programs within the School of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing. Learning activities are designed using a problem-based learning (PBL) model and include high-fidelity simulations, interactive case-based table-top exercises, and collaborative skill acquisition.

Career and salary information

Your career

As a primary care paramedic, you’ll find your skills in demand by ambulance, air ambulance and fire protection services around the province. You’ll also find job opportunities in the military, at mine sites, and at industrial manufacturing, milling and processing sites.

For more information about career opportunities, contact Student Employment Services at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus nearest you or check out the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics job postings.

Potential careers

Sample job title	NOC classification
Safety officer	Occupational health & safety specialists (22232)
Emergency medical technician (EMT)	Paramedical occupations (32102)
Firefighter*	Firefighters (42101)

^{*Fire Services often require PCP for employment and may provide firefighter training
for qualified PCPs}

Admissions

Admission requirements

Grade 12 with a minimum overall average of 60% in the following four courses: English Language Arts A30, English Language Arts B30, one of Biology 30 or Chemistry 30, and one of Workplace and Apprenticeship Math 30 or Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30. (Previous Saskatchewan mathematics Math A30 will also be accepted).
See English Language Proficiency Requirements for required evidence for this program (Program-Specific ELP Requirements section). The language of instruction and assessment for this program is English. In addition to the general admission requirements, if your first or primary language is not English and/or your country is not exempt, you must demonstrate an appropriate level of proficiency in English.

Note

A Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search upon admission to the program. At the discretion of the practicum/clinical agency, you may be declined access to a practicum/clinical based on the contents of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search. The cost of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search is your responsibility.
You must exhibit physical strength and fitness consistent with the requirements of professional practice. This will be evaluated within the program.
Standard First Aid is required prior to the start of the program and must be current at the start of the program.
CPR "C" AED or equivalent is required prior to the start of the program and must be current at the start of the program.
Current Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) certification OR Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certification upon admission into the program. The cost of (TLR®) certification or Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certification is your responsibility.
Current immunization records and meet Saskatchewan Polytechnic immunization requirements prior to entry into the clinical/practicum.
Current N95 respirator mask testing prior to entry into the clinical/practicum. The cost of N95 respirator mask testing is your responsibility.
2015 WHMIS Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification upon admission into the program. Recertification will be required every three years to remain current. The cost of WHMIS certification is your responsibility.

Alternative admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

250 Arithmetic
253 Reading
247 Writing

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake.

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year.

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and fees

Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.

2023-24 academic year

$12,510

Courses

Get credit for what you know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

Transfer credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Accreditation

Accreditation Canada / EQual Canada

Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Primary Care Paramedic program is fully accredited by Accreditation Canada/EQual Canada. This qualifies you to write the national Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators (COPR) entry to practice exam. With examination success, you'll be eligible for licensure by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics and other Provincial Regulators across Canada.

The cost of teh COPR national certification exam is the reponsibilty of the student. For more information see: https://copr.ca/examinations-emr-pcp-acp/information-and-application-process/

Advanced Care Paramedic

Community Justice Worker

Community Paramedic

Continuing Care Assistant

Dental Assisting

Pharmacy Technician

Practical Nursing