Community Paramedic

Our communities are experiencing increasing demand on health-care services where residents have limited access to the services required. That's where the community paramedic comes in. Community paramedics use their mobile care response skills to bring services to members of the community who may not be able to access available services otherwise. They work collaboratively with health-care professionals in the community to provide faster and more efficient health-care services.

The Community Paramedic advanced certificate program will enhance your training as a primary care or advanced care paramedic to focus on prevention, client education, geriatrics, palliative care, mental health and addictions, and chronic disease management. It builds on the on-site response expertise you have already obtained so you can apply it to caring for patients in their homes and community.

Community Paramedic is a 30-week program offered via a combination of online learning and hands-on lab and clinical practice experiences through Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Campus. On-site labs and community-based clinical experiences will enable you to apply the knowledge, theory and skills you acquire in a variety of environments. You will spend 53 hours in hands-on, practical labs building your competency in specialized skills. During a clinical practicum, you will be able to use these skills in the real world. Your practicum may be completed in a variety of settings such as long-term care, mental health, community clinics and more.

Career and salary information

Your career

Community paramedic is a rewarding career with an expanding range of job opportunities. Graduates from the program may be employed by ambulance services or health authorities. Roles can include opportunities in collaborative emergency centres, mobile health units and community services.

Do you need help deciding if this career could be a good fit for you? Contact Career Counselling Services or check out the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics job postings.

Do you already know this is the program you want to take but need more detailed information or help applying?  Connect with a recruitment advisor.

Part-time delivery

To graduate and receive a credential for this program, part-time students must apply to the program and be accepted before taking any of the courses and the practicum (PRAC 113).Students must be admitted to the program to take these courses through part-time studies.To register for individual courses, please view the part-time offerings available in the Courses section below.

Admissions

Admission requirements

  • Current Paramedic Licence
    • Primary Care Paramedic or Advanced Care Paramedic certification from an accredited program or equivalent
    • Verification of 2011 National Occupational Competency Profile for Paramedics training (Paramedic Association of Canada, 2011) *
    • Minimum two years work-related experience (you must provide verification of your work experience)
  • English Language Requirement

* Evidence of verification may include one of the following:

  • a Saskatchewan Polytechnic transcript indicating successful completion of all Primary Care Paramedic courses implemented during the 2013-2014 academic year or later;
  • a Saskatchewan Polytechnic transcript indicating successful completion of Primary Care Paramedic Upgrade (EMER 1638);
  • a valid Saskatchewan College of Paramedics licence indicating unrestricted practice of 2011 National Occupational Competency Profile at the Primary Care Paramedic level.

Note: Non-Saskatchewan Polytechnic graduates will be granted admission to this program on a case-by-case basis.

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

Varies by course

This program is not eligible for the Canada-Saskatchewan student loan program.

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.

Student awards

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

Additional information

Have a question? Email ConEd@saskpolytech.ca or call 306-659-4418.