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Columbia Medical Training EMR upgrade for First Responder and OFA 3 holders in downtown Victoria, with BLS, EMALB Schedule 1 and 2, and licensing support.

Victoria - Downtown Upgrade to EMR (FR/OFA3/AFA)

Victoria - Downtown Upgrade to EMR (FR/OFA3/AFA)

Columbia Medical Training EMR upgrade for First Responder and OFA 3 holders in downtown Victoria, with BLS, EMALB Schedule 1 and 2, and licensing support.

5.0★★★★★(5,400+ Google Reviews in Victoria)

Upgrade your First Responder or OFA 3 certificate to Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) in downtown Victoria with our EMR bridge course. This Columbia Medical Training program includes BLS and full EMALB Schedule 1 and 2 endorsements, with no separate Scope Update needed. Train at our downtown centre on Johnson Street, close to James Bay, Fernwood, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt, and get support from our EMR community right through EMALB licensing.

What students should expect

Who is it for? Firefighters, police, paramedics, and workplace responders who already hold First Responder (FR) certification or licensing, or OFA 3 (Advanced First Aid).

Plan for about 12 hours online, then 10 days (80 hours) in class. Buy the textbook, Emergency Medical Responder: A Skills Approach, 5th Canadian Edition, before class.

Licensing support

Support through licensing. After the course, you can join our community of past Alert EMR students and EMR instructors. Members share information, answer questions, and organize practice sessions to prepare for the EMALB licensing exams.

Licensing is a separate process through EMALB, with its own exams and fees. Once licensed, you can receive an OFA 3 equivalency certificate with no further training.

No FR or OFA 3 yet? Take our fullEMR course.

Why book with Alert First Aid

Central downtown location — A-920 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC V8V 3N4.

More dates — seeTillicum Centre.

We come to you — private EMR upgrade courses for fire departments and industry across Greater Victoria, from Saanich and Langford to Sooke and Sidney.

Support until you're licensed

Optional access to our EMR community of past students and instructors for questions, shared tips, and practice sessions.

Victoria Google Reviews
5.0★★★★★Based on 5,400+ Google reviews
★★★★★

"I have taken this class several times now and I always seem to find out something new every time…"

Victoria Downtown
★★★★★

"…the instructor was friendly knowledgeable and approachable and made the training fun with some humour."

Victoria Downtown
★★★★★

"My instructor was amazing and I learned so much!"

Victoria Downtown
Full Course Length 12 hours online plus 10 days (80 hours) in class - $1325 Register Now

Course Details

Course Content

Our Upgrade to EMR (FR/OFA 3 Bridge) is a Columbia Medical Training program for current First Responder and OFA 3 holders. It includes BLS, full EMALB Schedule 1 and 2 endorsements, and the Scope Update, and meets the Paramedic Association of Canada competency profile for EMR.

Plan for about 12 hours online and 10 days (80 hours) in class. Students buy the required textbook, Emergency Medical Responder: A Skills Approach, 5th Canadian Edition, before the course. Topics build on your FR or OFA 3 training and include:

  • Patient assessment
  • Critical decision-making
  • Trauma life support
  • Medical emergencies
  • BLS & AED
  • Airway management
  • Oxygen therapy
  • Team-based scenarios
Who Should Take This Course?

If you already hold First Responder (FR) or OFA 3, this EMR bridge is a shorter path to Emergency Medical Responder: 80 hours in class instead of 120.

  • First Responder (FR) certificate holders
  • Licensed EMALB First Responders
  • OFA 3 & Advanced First Aid attendants
  • VIERA First Responder graduates
  • Firefighters upgrading to EMR
  • Police & law enforcement officers
  • Workplace emergency responders
  • Industrial & remote site medics
  • Ski patrollers
  • Event & sports medics
  • Future BC Ambulance EMRs
  • Future paramedics (PCP applicants)

Need EMR Upgrades for Your Team?

Alert First Aid brings the Upgrade to EMR course directly to your fire hall, workplace, or team — anywhere in BC. Private group courses come with flexible scheduling and volume pricing, and we've trained over 200,000 people across BC.

Request a Group Quote

Certification

Pass a written exam and practical exam, along with all practical skills to earn your digital Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certificate from Columbia Medical Training. Your EMR certificate includes full EMALB Schedule 1 and 2 endorsements and the Scope Update, and it's the credential you need to apply for EMALB licensing exams. Licensing is a separate step, booked and paid for through EMALB. Once licensed, an EMR is recognized by WorkSafeBC as equivalent to Advanced First Aid (OFA 3).

Recertification

There are no recertification classes at this time. Please check back.

Materials

First Aid Course Materials for Upgrade to EMR (FR/OFA3/AFA) in Victoria

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.

Where to find us:

Visit our Victoria - Downtown training courses here.

Victoria - Downtown

A-920 Johnson Street Victoria, BC V8V 3N4

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Who should take this course?

  • First Responder (FR) certificate holders
  • Licensed EMALB First Responders
  • OFA 3 & Advanced First Aid attendants
  • VIERA First Responder graduates
  • Firefighters upgrading to EMR
  • Police & law enforcement officers
  • Workplace emergency responders
  • Industrial & remote site medics
  • Ski patrollers
  • Event & sports medics
  • Future BC Ambulance EMRs
  • Future paramedics (PCP applicants)

Looking for a group class?

If you have a group of people and would like us to come to you to teach a
Upgrade to EMR (FR/OFA3/AFA) 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 email us at to arrange a group course.

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