Emergency Medical Technician

• Ten-month certificate
• Program offered in Calgary
• Fall start
• Includes community-based workplace experience and clinical and ambulance practica
• Graduates in high demand
• Blended-delivery with online and face-to-face components
• *Please note the Educational Steps for this profession:
  1. Emergency Medical Responder
      (176-hour certificate course)
  2. Emergency Medical Technician
      (10-month certificate program)
  3. Emergency Medical Technology – Paramedic
      (2-year diploma program)

Program Description

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program provides education and training for pre-hospital care professionals and prepares them to work within a multi-discipline healthcare team.  This program is taught by experienced practitioners and covers all aspects of pre-hospital emergency care including Advanced Life Support assist, patient assessment, diagnostics, treatment and critical interventions.

The Emergency Medical Technician program is a competency-based, blended-delivery program which includes face-to-face and on-line learning components.  Students must be motivated and organized as this program is fast-paced and requires a significant contribution of time to be successful.

Students will be required to:

• Attend an orientation session.
• Complete all work as assigned.
• Attend mandatory class days for theory and psychomotor skills acquisition practice.
• Attend full-time one clinical (hospital and/or urgent care based) practicum and one ambulance-specific practicum to apply the theory and skills learned under the direct supervision of a preceptor.

Note: Students may have to travel to rural Alberta to complete their practica based on practicum spot availability.

This program is offered in Calgary at SAIT Polytechnic.

The Emergency Medical Technician program is a requirement for continuing into the Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic (EMT-P) program.

Your Career

Graduates are prepared for careers in emergency medical services or on industrial sites in rural and urban settings throughout Canada, as well as internationally.

Admission Requirements

Alberta High School Diploma or equivalent with at least 50% in each of the following courses or their equivalents:

• Pure Math 20 or Applied Math 20 or Math 20-1 or Math 20-2, AND,
• English Language Arts 30-1 or English Language Arts 30-2, AND,
• Biology 30 or Science 30.
• All applicants to SAIT Polytechnic must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada. For more information, please see English Proficiency.
• Students must be 18 years old by January 1 (second semester of the EMT program).
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) graduate. For more information regarding the SAIT EMR program, please refer to the SAIT Continuing Education Calendar.
• Completion of an EMR program by late April (for May examination by the Alberta College of Paramedic). Proof of this admission requirement will be accepted in one of the following three ways:
  1) Copy of EMR credential and Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP) registration card upon application.
  2) Proof of completion of EMR program by above date and a letter from ACP stating intent to write exam.
  3) Proof of registration in an EMR program with completion by the above date.
•  View High School Course Equivalencies Admission Equivalencies by Province.
  

Selection

To be included in selection, applications along with all supporting documents must be submitted.

Selection Criteria

Applicants that meet the Admission Requirements may proceed to the interview phase of the selection process. Applicants will be expected to present an updated résumé with supporting documentation at the interview. They will then be ranked using the following criteria:

• Career Investigations and/or Interview 50%
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Experience 25%
• References 25%

Selection Priority

Final selection recommendations may give consideration to community and regional distribution.

Selection

• Selection will be done on an ongoing basis starting in November. Applicants will receive a selection package with complete instructions on how to complete the Career Investigation. Your selection will be determined based on following those instructions and the quality of the investigation.
• Applicants must be registered as an Emergency Medical Responder with the Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP). An applicant’s ACP registration number must be submitted to SAIT by August 1 in order to maintain a seat in the program.
• Applicants must sign a practicum agreement contract prior to final acceptance. Practicum assignments are assigned by Alberta Health Services (AHS) and are subject to be located throughout the province of Alberta. AHS has stated they will endeavor to locate as many practicum placements in the Calgary region. There may be opportunity in boarding provinces for placements.
• Orientation is mandatory.

Applicants who are successful in gaining admission may be requested to provide proof of the following prior to the start of classes/practicum: (A requirements package will be sent to student following an offer letter.)

1. Updated Immunization Records. Details are included in the orientation package for successful candidates.
   Please note: Most practicum sites require students to demonstrate updated immunization status prior to attending practicum. Failure to do so could jeopardize your ability to complete the practicum portion of your program.
2. Security Clearance: According to the Protection for Persons in Care Act, our practicum sites require that students obtain a criminal records check prior to going on practicum. Any criminal code offence for which a pardon has not been received, may be a deterrent to a student’s entry into practicum, and therefore will result in an uncompleted program, or non-graduating status.
3. In compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, G8.40 Respiratory protection – Fit test, students are fit-tested for respiratory masks prior to their practica. Fit-testing is available on campus. Failure to adequately fit an N-95 mask may result in a restricted practicum and\or limited employment. Facial abnormality/hair may result in unsuccessful fit testing.

Student Success

• Students with higher secondary or post-secondary marks usually experience greater success in SAIT programs.
• Students who experience success in this program have effective communication skills in English.
• Health care practitioners are detail oriented in the care they provide and enjoy working in a team environment.
• The student must be a highly motivated and well-organized individual to succeed in this fast-paced program.
• Emergency Medical Technicians have a true desire to help people, can handle seeing things that may not always be pleasant, don't mind shift work, and have strong occupational physical stamina.

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Credentials

After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT certificate in Emergency Medical Technician. All graduates are eligible and required to register with the Alberta College of Paramedics to work in Alberta as an EMT.

Accreditation

The EMT program is accredited by the Canadian Medical Association for the Primary Care Paramedic Level program and meets the Alberta College of Paramedics Core Competency requirements.

Tuition And Fees (Subject To Change)

• Please refer to the Tuition and Fee Table.
• International Students, please refer to International Student Fees.
• For student funding, please refer to Financial Assistance.
• CPRS 212 Health Care Provider course in CPR. Annual update required – CPRS 222 Health Care Provider Renewal. All CPR courses must be from the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Call SAIT Life Support Training at 403.210.4009 for further information.
• Students are responsible for any additional expenses related to their practicum including relocation costs to practicum sites outside Calgary.
• The cost for a criminal record check, which is a requirement for practicum, is up to $40 or more.

Books And Supplies (Subject To Change)

• Books and supplies cost approximately $1,900 for the program.
• Students must also purchase a uniform (jacket, pants, shirt, belt, and boots) for approximately $500-$700 and may incur other costs, such as immunizations.

Program Outline

• To find the course description for a course shown below, please go to our Course Finder and enter the course acronym and numbers (i.e., DMST-202) into the Quick Search by Course Code field.
• This program is being reviewed and may undergo changes.

For More Information

Information: 403.284.8500 or 403.284.8481
Email: hps.info@sait.ca
Web: School of Health and Public Safety
Academic Chair: Dwayne Clayden

Transfer with Certificate to...

Through SAIT Polytechnic transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this SAIT program may be eligible for credit at the following universities and colleges:

• SAIT Polytechnic

Transfer options may also be available at other post-secondary institutions where credits from SAIT programs are evaluated on an individual basis. Interested students should contact the post-secondary institute of their choice for more information.

To learn more, visit Transfer Options.

Related Links (Internal):

• Student-For-A-Day
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Upgrading
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition