How long is the Emergency Medical Technician at Portage College?
24 Week Certificate (Lac La Biche campus) 37 Week Certificate (Outreach)

What you need to get in to the Emergency Medical Technician at Portage College?
Entrance Requirements: Grade 12 diploma or equivalent (If student has equivalency diploma, must write CAAT C with a stanine of 5 in all areas), CPR certificate (Level C) issued within six months of course start date. Current EMR registration with the Alberta College of Paramedics Research assignment. Personal resume, medical form and up-to-date immunization. Minimum 18 years of age. Basic computer skills. Signed Student Agreement Form Class 4 Driver's License (Please note: although the Class 4 is not required for admission, students must hold a valid Class 4 Driver's License prior to the completion of the course or certification will be withheld). Signed Criminal Record Check (CRC) Waiver form. Please note: The student may be required to provide a recent (within three months of the practicum start date), clear Criminal Record Check and/or a Child Welfare Prior Involvement Check to both the hospital and ambulance practicum sites. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain, at the student's expense, the necessary checks and have them available for submission to the host practicum site upon request. Failure to provide this check may result in the student being withdrawn from the program. Minimum Hardware Requirements: Pentium class platform with Windows 98 Power PC MacOS System 7, or any later version Modem (28,800 or 33,600 bit/min.) or direct connection to the Internet Software Requirements: MS Word 2002 for the Mac, or MS Word 2002 (or later version) for Windows Internet connection with Netscape version 8.0 or greater, Explorer 6.0 or greater, or Mozilla Firefox 1.5. Career Potential: EMT graduates may be employed in rural or urban ambulance services, in various industrial settings, or with municipal fire departments. Registration as an EMT is a prerequisite for entry to Paramedic programs in Alberta. Successful completion of the program allows a graduate to apply for registration with the Alberta College of Paramedics. Out-of-province applicants should research the registration/license requirements for the province where he/she intends to work. Transferability: For those interested in pursuing a career as a Paramedic, EMT certification is a prerequisite for acceptance into Alberta Paramedic programs. The Emergency Medical Technician program is a full-time program offered in two different delivery formats. The November intake starts with a five day orientation session in Lac la Biche followed by four weeks of online instruction. The students then return for ten weeks of classroom and lab instruction prior to field placement. The format of the April intake offers students a unique alternative to traditional full-time on-campus programs by providing multi-modal instruction in a computer-mediated delivery format so students can remain in their home communities for the majority of the training period. Students attend a total of eight on-site training weeks in addition to the practicum rotations during the 40 weeks of training. Both formats are designed to prepare the student by providing education in the areas of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, assessment, treatment, differential diagnosis, critical thinking skills, communications, physical fitness and safety, and professionalism. In addition to these core components, the students will take a Professional Driving course, Pediatric Emergency Care (PEPP) course, International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), and a Self Defense course. The Portage College EMT (Primary Care Paramedic, or PCP) program is accredited by the Canadian Medical Association and approved by the Alberta College of Paramedics. EMT graduates will be competent in the knowledge and skills designated in both the Alberta and National Occupational Competency profiles for this level of practitioner.

For more information on the Emergency Medical Technician at Portage College
(780) 623-5580

Does the :program offer a Coop?
No

Distance Education Available:
Both distance and non-distance

What type of learning environment should I expect in the Emergency Medical Technician?
Multi-modal instruction in a computer-mediated delivery format. Eight on-site training weeks in addition to practicum rotations.