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Our 120-hour Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course equips you with the skills and certifications needed for a career in emergency services. With full EMALB Schedule 1 and 2 endorsements, no additional "Scope Update" training is required.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

Start Your Career in Emergency Response and Healthcare

Whether you're aspiring to work in paramedicine, firefighting, or industrial emergency response, our Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) training equips you with the knowledge and skills required to save lives and manage emergencies. Offered in Victoria, Nanaimo, and Burnaby, BC, this comprehensive course is perfect for anyone looking to start their healthcare career in emergency medical services.

Our EMR course covers key areas such as trauma life support, basic life support (BLS), and patient assessment skills, giving you the confidence and skills needed to provide effective emergency care. With a mix of self-directed learning and practical training, you'll be ready to handle real-world scenarios.

Is The EMR Course Right For You?

Secure Employment: Graduates of this program often find work with BC Ambulance Service, private ambulance companies, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, industrial workplaces, and ski patrol or rescue teams. Our previous students have been very successful with EMALB licensing. We're proud to have a pass rate of over 90% with licensing.
Path to Licensing: This course is a direct pathway to licensing through the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB). Upon successful completion, you can apply for licensing exams to become an Emergency Medical Responder.
Further Your Education: Many students use this course as a stepping stone to further studies in healthcare, including Primary Care Paramedic (PCP), Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP), or nursing programs.
Meet Industry Standards: This course meets the Paramedic Association of Canada’s National Occupational Competency Profile for EMRs, ensuring you’re fully prepared to take on emergencies in pre-hospital settings.

Course Overview:

The EMR course is designed to provide the knowledge and practical skills required to respond to medical emergencies, stabilize patients, and manage critical situations in pre-hospital settings. It is perfect for those looking to enter professions where emergency response is key—such as paramedics, firefighters, and industrial first responders.

Course Duration: 120 hours
Locations: Victoria, Nanaimo, and Burnaby, BC
Includes: CPR ‘BLS’ & AED certification, 2023 “Scope Update” training
Additional Exams: Licensing exams through EMALB must be completed after course completion (fees and scheduling are managed by EMALB).

Upon completing this course, students can apply for their Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) license through the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB). Licensing is a separate process involving additional exams, but with full Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 endorsements included, graduates will not require any further scope update training.

Notes:

Once licensed, students can receive an OFA 3 equivalency certification at a discounted rate

Full Course Length 18 hours online + 15 days (120 hours) in class Register Now

Course Details

EMR Course Content

EMS in British Columbia
Wellbeing of the FR/EMR
EMS Operations
Anatomy & Physiology
Pathophysiology & Patient Presentation
Pharmacology
Scene Assessment
Patient Assessment
Special Populations
Multiple Casualty Incidents & Triage
Treatment Protocols

FAQs

How hard is it to pass the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course?

The EMR course is challenging but achievable with dedication. To succeed, you must pass both a written exam and two practical exams. The practical exams are often the most difficult, requiring you to treat patients in simulated trauma and medical scenarios up to the EMR standard of care. Success typically comes with completing the pre-course assignment, staying engaged in the classroom, and dedicating time to practice. If you're unsure whether EMR certification is right for you, contact us to discuss your concerns.

How much pre-course work is required for the EMR course?

You should expect to spend a minimum of 10 to 24 hours on the pre-course assignment, depending on how much time you dedicate. We recommend focusing on key chapters in the provided workbook to get the most out of the course.

What job opportunities are there for an Emergency Medical Responder in BC?

EMR certification opens up various job opportunities in BC, including positions with ski patrol, private ambulance services, sports medicine, event medicine, and fire departments. Completing the EMALB licensing process expands your options further, allowing you to work with BC Ambulance Services or as an Occupational First Aid Attendant for industrial sites.

Where can I get more information about the skills required for the EMR course?

The skills you will learn are detailed in the course outline provided during registration. For more information, feel free to contact us, and we can guide you through the specific competencies covered in the course.

What can I do if I can’t afford the EMR course?

We understand that the cost to successfully complete a responder program is significant in both time and money. If you feel that you need financial assistance in order to start your healthcare career, please visit our main home page where you will find a link to apply for Scholarships for Advanced Courses in the banner.

What does the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) program cover?

Our EMR program provides comprehensive training in emergency medical services, covering essential skills such as trauma life support, basic life support (BLS), and patient assessment skills. It is a prerequisite for anyone looking to advance to roles in paramedicine, firefighting, or industrial emergency response.

Is the EMR course a prerequisite for other paramedic training programs?

Yes, the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course is a prerequisite for advancing to the Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program or other paramedic training courses. Completing the EMR program is the first step toward building your career in emergency medical services.

Does the EMR training include Red Cross certification?

While our EMR program is not part of the Red Cross curriculum, it includes certifications such as basic life support (BLS) and meets the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) requirements for EMR scope of practice in British Columbia.

How does the Emergency Medical Responder program help prepare for real-life emergencies?

The EMR training program includes a blend of self-directed learning, practical training, and scenario-based exercises. This ensures participants are confident in handling real-life emergency situations, including trauma life support and other essential emergency care skills.

What certifications do I receive after completing the EMR program?

Upon the successful completion of our EMR program, you will receive digital certificates for Basic Life Support (BLS) and Emergency Medical Responder. These certifications are the necessary credentials to apply for EMALB licensing exams. This prepares you for employment opportunities in emergency medical services throughout BC.

Certification

Training Schedules & Locations

Victoria Victoria - Downtown Victoria Victoria - Tillicum Centre Nanaimo Nanaimo - Downtown

Materials

The required course textbook is Emergency Medical Responder: A Skills Approach, Fifth Canadian Edition by Limmer, Karen et al. Students can choose to purchase either an e-book or a hardcopy of the text. This can be done directly through the publisher here, or students are free to source this themselves. Please note that this must be purchased in advance and the school does not sell this book or keep any copies on site.

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Who should take this course?

Paramedics looking for work with BC Ambulance
Employment with Fire Departments
Those working in prehospital care
Applying as EMR in Private ambulance service
industrial first aid attendants
Workplace First Responders
rescue teams
ski patrol

Looking for a group class?

If you have a group of people and would like us to come to you to teach a
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course, we offer this course in the following locations:

Give us a call at 1.866.282.5378, or send us an email at info@alertfirstaid.com to arrange a group course.

Mike made this course fun and informative with his great sense of humour and clear instructions. No time to sleep in his class!

Anne Boudewyn Emergency Childcare First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Awesome course. Covers a great amount. Charismatic & interesting instructors.

Jessica Noble Emergency First-Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

"Totally enjoyed the recert course. I always come to Alert First-Aid despite living in Duncan. I'd love for more courses to be offered in the Cowichan Valley."

Rozalee Daniels Standard First-Aid Recertification, Victoria, B.C. More Testimonials

Woaho! Wow! Awesome J This course went over and beyond….I expected more notes, but this was super hands on and educational. The teacher made learning fun!

Sophie Adams Standard First Aid, Victoria BC More Testimonials

I found Gary to be very passionate about the subject matter. His enthusiasm helped keep the class motivated and focused. A very good course!!

Nicole Cuddy Emergency Childcare First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Great balance between professionalism and fun. The learning atmosphere was comfortable. Excellent! I feel prepared to apply my knowledge when needed.

Chelsea Archer Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

I really enjoyed this class and learned a lot. Would recommend for sure!!

Eva Sparks Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

"Real life" scenarios were good for challenging my knowledge. Good pacing - fairly quick, but not rushed.

Jessie Janzen Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Hi, I took a cpr-c course from instructor Ashley this September. I am an RN and so have had to take very many first aid courses in the past. I would like to say that I was shuffled on to your organization because the original course i was going to take was cancelled and they gave me your company name. When I called I had a good conversation with someone who seemed very on top of things and knew how to give me directions and this person was very practical and seemed to know exactly the kind of cpr-c course I would need. I had never had this happen before... the the person on the other end of the phone actually sounded excited about first aid and that was a first for me. The course was easy to find and was exactly where I was told it would be with big signs out front to direct me and that was awesome. I was not given a hard time for not doing a lot of prereading (I hardly ever do the prereading as I have reading comprehension issues and am more a kinesthetic learner). We had this instructor named Ashley and as I work in mental health I quietly decided that she must have some low grade adhd diagnosis... I guess you would think that this would be a bad thing... but it was an awesome quality. She made the course really a lot of fun and it was the very first cpr course where I have not fallen asleep... seriously! I totally remember how to do cpr now and that is the first time I have taken a course and actually remembered stuff you know. So thank you. I will only take cpr courses from your outfit from now on. I really think you guys got it going on.

Liz

Liz Ringrose CPR C Recertification, Victoria More Testimonials

Really informative! I feel prepared to help in situations that may come up! Thanks for a great day Gary & Jason.

Matthew Smith Emergency First-Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials