Advanced Care Paramedic

Description

Students acquire advanced knowledge and skills that prepare them to function as leaders in emergency situations, and practice out of hospital health care. Graduates demonstrate the ability to care for patients from diverse populations and to provide advanced medical treatment. Students experience classroom instruction, online learning, skills and patient simulation labs, as well as hospital, clinical, and field placements.

Career Opportunities

Graduates who possess provincial certification at the Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant (A.E.M.C.A.) level will, after successful completion of the Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) Program, be eligible to write the Ontario ACP certification exam and gain employment as ACPs with paramedic services. 

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. use advanced leadership, communication and advocacy skills to optimize patient care and support inter/intra-professional collaboration and practice; 

2.  use advanced diagnostic skills to assess a range of patients with acute and undifferentiated health problems and analyze findings in order to determine, implement, monitor, adapt and justify a plan of care in compliance with the current regulatory framework;

3. integrate and perform advanced care paramedic delegated controlled medical acts to provide comprehensive paramedic care using complex clinical reasoning and judgement to optimize patient care; 

4. critique and integrate research evidence to guide approach to complex clinical judgement and decision-making in paramedic practice; 

5. evaluate risks to personal health and well-being in self and others and provide role modeling and leadership in the use of risk reduction and management strategies;

6. maintain a safe working environment;

7. employ environmentally sustainable practices within the profession;

8. apply basic social entrepreneurial skills to identify and respond to new opportunities. 

External Recognition

This program follows the National Occupational Competency Profile for Paramedics as approved by the Paramedic Association of Canada. This program is accredited by EQual™ Accreditation Canada.

Program Progression

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake

• Sem 1: Fall 2025
• Sem 2: Winter 2026
• Sem 3: Summer 2026

Articulation

A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program co-ordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option. Additional information can be found on our website at https://www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Admission Requirements

• two-year Ontario College paramedic diploma or equivalent  
• Advanced Emergency Medical Care Attendant (AEMCA)   
• a minimum of 4000 hours of work experience within the last five years with a licensed land paramedic service demonstrated by providing letter(s) from current or recent employers
• applicant must be currently (within 1 year) employed by a licensed land paramedic service
• letter of current good standing from the applicant’s base hospital or regulatory body (from out of province applicants)

Selection Process

•  selection testing in Primary Care Paramedic Theory (cut score 70%)
•  If English is not your first language, refer to the English Language Proficiency Policy.

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student's responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not pardoned will be prohibited from proceeding to a clinical or work placement.

Additional Information

A current AEMCA is required to work as a Paramedic in Ontario. International applicants are required to complete the Ontario equivalency process. Please contact the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for information regarding the equivalency process.

Completion of the college Clinical Preparedness Permit is required for all hospital and field placements.

Verification and retention of all Clinical Preparedness Permit requirements is outsourced to an external agency. Students are responsible for any fees incurred for this service.

In order to provide quality practicum placements, students will be placed in a variety of agencies or services in the region serviced by the campus. While every effort is made to arrange placements in the planned sequence, placements are dependent upon availability and may need to be completed at a later date. Students are required to provide their own transportation.

Graduation Requirements

8 Program Courses
1 Internship

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, a student must attain a minimum of 60% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester. The passing weighted average for promotion through each semester and to graduate is 60%.

Program Tracking

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
PARM 1000	Advanced Pharmacology	42
PARM 1001	Advanced Patient Care Theory 1	56
PARM 1002	Advanced Care Paramedic Skills	42
PARM 1005	Advanced Patient Care Simulation	42
	Hours	182
Semester 2
Program Courses
PARM 1003	Advanced Patient Care Theory 2	56
PARM 1004	Advanced Professional Practice	42
PARM 1009	Clinical Practice	224
	Hours	322
Semester 3
Program Course
PARM 1006	Unifying Concepts in Paramedicine	42
Internship
PARM 1008	Field Internship	400
	Hours	442
	Total Hours	946

Graduation Window 

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of one year (as stated above) may take a maximum of two years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.