A comprehensive 120-hour Emergency Medical Responder course that includes full EMALB Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 endorsements with no need to take additional "Scope Update" training.
This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary in an emergency to help sustain life, reduce pain, and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness in a pre-hospital setting. It is intended for those providing emergency response: firefighters, law-enforcement officers, paramedics, and workplace responders.
This course meets the Paramedic Association of Canada National Occupational Competency Profile for the practitioner level of emergency medical responder (EMR).
Completion of this course allows students to apply for licensing with the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) and can be used to help gain employment with fire departments throughout British Columbia or on-ambulance as an EMR with the BC Ambulance Service. Please note – licensing is a separate process conducted directly by the EMALB. They set the schedule and fees for this next step. Students will need to undertake and pay for additional exams as part of this.
Once licensed, students can apply for an Occupational First Aid (OFA) Level 3 equivalency certificate with no additional training needed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Greater Victoria | Brentwood Bay | Central Saanich | Colwood | Esquimalt | Highlands | James Bay | Langford | Sidney | Sooke | Oak Bay | North Saanich | Metchosin | View Royal | Saanichton | Salt Spring Island | Gulf Islands
Give us a call at 1.866.282.5378, or send us an email at grouptraining@alertfirstaid.com to arrange a group course.