Paramedic – Advanced Care (graduate certificate)

Program Overview

A life is on the line. You could be the person who arrives on the scene with the necessary tools and knowledge needed to save a life. Becoming an advanced care paramedic will give you the training and certification you need to help the injured and care for the critically ill. Students are provided with 24/7 access to the lab and practice space to support their learning.

Admission Requirements

Paramedic Ontario college diploma or equivalent

Completion of an Accreditation Canada - accredited Primary Care Paramedic program

AND

Written evaluation/testing
Attendance at a mandatory orientation session

Please note: this program has post-admission requirements. Please visit the Admissions Requirements tab for details.

View All Requirements

Tuition

View Full Costs

Semester 1 Courses

View All Courses

Graduate certificate

First Response

Helping Others

Technology recommendations

To help students succeed in programs with remote learning requirements, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified minimum technology recommendations. While these are not program requirements, these suggestions will help ensure students have the right tools to support a quality remote learning experience.

View All Recommendations

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
January 2021	Open
September 2021	Open	Closed
January 2022	Open

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Advanced care paramedic

View all Career Options

Program Details

This program is designed for students with previous education. Please see the entrance requirements section of this page for more detail. If you are a current paramedic this program will give you the opportunity to obtain the skills and knowledge needed to gain employment as an advanced care paramedic.

Through a flexible delivery model, you will obtain the bulk of your classroom-based knowledge working within your own schedule. This includes the extensive critical thinking and decision-making skills required for additional training and certification in:

Advanced airway management and electrical therapy
Advanced monitoring and diagnostic skills
Intravenous therapy and pharmacology
Patient management

Instructional techniques are based on:

A problem-based learning model
An emphasis on research appraisal as an evidence base for patient care
Classroom and laboratory activities
Computer-assisted learning
Extensive lab access during and after scheduled classroom hours
A flexible delivery model that allows some courses to be taken in an online format
Clinical and field placement components
Individual and group study

The program is accredited by Accreditation Canada and Durham College was the first community college in Ontario to achieve this program status. The curriculum is also approved by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Emergency Health Services Branch.

Admission Requirements

Paramedic Ontario college diploma or equivalent

Completion of an Accreditation Canada - accredited Primary Care Paramedic program

AND

Written evaluation/testing
Attendance at a mandatory orientation session

Please note: a current Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant license is not required for program admission but is required to work as a paramedic in Ontario.

POST-ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

CBC (no convictions) with Vulnerable Sector Screening. If you cannot provide a clear CBC you may be denied the opportunity to enter your clinical or field placement, which will impact your ability to complete the full program and/or secure employment. Please note: If you are concerned, please discuss your circumstances with a student advisor prior to confirming your offer of admission. You must arrange and pay for your CBC at your primary residence (hometown). When requesting a check, you must inform the police that it is for work with vulnerable persons and required for a student placement
Current Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation Basic Rescuer Certificate in CPR (Level C) (within one year)
Current standard first aid (within three years) or AEMCA certificate
Entry immunization form
Freedom from communicable disease report

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

PADV Practicum 3 (PRAT 7400)

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2020-21 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes. Students should refer to their timetable for the most up-to-date course information.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Advanced care paramedic

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Hospital emergency rooms
Municipal paramedic services
Private and event paramedic services
Rural and remote paramedic services

Field Placement

Practicum

The Paramedic Advanced Care program features a series of practicum opportunities in all semesters of the program. Practicum facilitates the application of concepts taught in the program through skills and simulated scenario-based practice progressing to practice in hospital based rotations and finally to an on-car preceptorship under the supervision of professional Advanced Care Paramedics.

Students will acquire problem solving and clinical decision making skill through the acceptance of a series of graded responsibilities progressing towards competency. The opportunity to practice in a simulated setting allows the learner to practice skills and decision making in a safe controlled laboratory setting.

All evaluations are conducted in accordance with the Paramedic Association of Canada’s (PAC) definition of competency.

Eligibility

Students must have a Paramedic Ontario College Diploma or completed an Accreditation Canada accredited Primary Care Paramedic program. Students will be required to provide a Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS). If you cannot provide a clear CRC, you will be denied the opportunity to enter your placement and this will impact your ability to complete your full program and/or secure employment.

Field Placement Documentation

In order to maintain confidentiality and security, the program utilizes an independent provider, Verified by Synergy Gateway for field placement documentation collection and validation. This process is the Electronic Student Permit Checking (ESPC). There is a cost associated with this external agency of $49.95. Please refer to the Paramedic Advanced Care ESPC Information Package for details.

Contact

For more information contact Treina Kennington, Student Advisor/Field Placement Officer.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Qualified graduates can go on to take:

Ontario Tech University’s Bachelor of Allied Health Sciences

Qualified graduates may also be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.

Technology Recommendations

To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.

Processor: i3
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1
Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version)
Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
Camera: Webcam/built-in camera
Internet connection

Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk or the school office.

Living Lab

The Living Lab at Durham College mimics a typical residential unit, allowing students to work through real-life scenarios that depict several challenges they will face in their future careers. Complete with obstacles to problem solve and work around, such as a living room, bedroom, kitchen, and laundry room, students learn to not only care for the patient, but to be mindful of their environment as well. In an emergency, a person’s life can depend on the decision making and the abilities of the paramedic to take swift action; the Living Lab ensures that the students are well prepared and confident to meet the demand of this challenging career head on. Students plan and try out what they learn in the lab and are able to apply the new knowledge to future situations. By going beyond the theory learned in class and learning by doing, students get first-hand experience of practicing what has been taught to retain the life-saving skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.

COVID-19 Information

Paramedic – Advanced Care (graduate certificate)

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Technology recommendations

Intakes and Availability

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

Admission Requirements

POST-ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Field Placement

Practicum

Eligibility

Field Placement Documentation

Contact

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Technology Recommendations

Living Lab

Paramedic - Advanced Care (graduate certificate) in the news

Helpful Resources

College guide September 2020 [PDF]

College guide September 2020 [Interactive]

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]