View programs
Ministry-approved title: Paramedic
The Paramedic program at Durham College prepares students to provide compassionate, evidence-informed care in a rapidly evolving health-care environment. Through simulation-based learning, modern paramedic training facilities and small lab groups, students develop the clinical judgement, technical skills and confidence required for practice.
Students learn from experienced paramedics working across primary, advanced and critical care roles, gaining insight into current practices and emerging areas such as community paramedicine and integrated care models. The curriculum is aligned with provincial standards and industry expectations, while guaranteed clinical and on-ambulance field placements provide valuable opportunities to apply knowledge in real-world settings.
With a focus on professional practice, wellness and resilience, the program supports students as they transition from learners to practice-ready clinicians. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers with ground, air and military paramedic services, with a 100% graduate hire rate demonstrating the program’s strong connection to employment opportunities.
Please note: This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. Please refer to Admission Processes for details regarding highly competitive programs.
Interested paramedic applicants are also encouraged to consider the Emergency Services Fundamentals (EMSF) Certificate program. Unique to Durham College, this one-year certificate program provides foundational skills in communications, math, science, and other key areas relevant to emergency services and health sciences. EMSF is an excellent pathway to prepare for further studies in a related field. Learn more about EMSF here.
View full requirements
View full costs
View all courses
View all career options
Fill out the form to get more information on your program of interest, upcoming events, and how to become a Durham College student. By submitting your information below, you consent to Durham College contacting you via email and/or SMS with a minimum of 4 messages per month. You may withdraw consent at any time.
Please contact the international office.
Durham College’s Paramedic program has maintained accreditation through Accreditation Canada’s EQual program since achieving accreditation in November 2005 as the first college program in Ontario to receive this recognition.
The program uses a variety of instructional approaches to support student success, including:
Students learn in specialized paramedic facilities, including a living lab and fully equipped training spaces, while gaining experience with industry-standard equipment and practices.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Hybrid
The rest of the coursework will be delivered using hybrid, flexible or online formats. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Personal equipment and uniforms are required to facilitate lab, clinical and field placement participation. With the exception of boots, all items are included in the Program Fee and will be available during the first week of class; specific details to follow.
Black, green triangle police-style boots must be purchased by from any outside vendor ($80.00 to $260.00; ISECO, Marks Work Wearhouse, Mr. Safety Shoe, etc.).
In order to maintain confidentiality and security, the program utilizes an independent provider, Verified by Synergy Gateway (Synergy) for documentation collection and validation. There is a cost associated with this external agency. You will receive information on how to access the service once you have completed the registration.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Qualified graduates can go on to take Durham College’s Paramedic – Advanced Care graduate certificate program. Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
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.
The Paramedic program features a series of practicum opportunities in all semesters of the program. The first two semesters will include clinical opportunities interacting with patients in long-term care facilities. This will progress to hospital clinical rotations and an on-ambulance preceptorship with professional paramedics.
These practicum placements are designed to provide the opportunity to accept a series of graded responsibilities, progressing towards competency. All evaluations are conducted in accordance with the Paramedic Association of Canada’s (PAC) definition of competency.
Students participate in high-fidelity simulation throughout the program, providing repeated opportunities to apply clinical knowledge, communication, teamwork and decision-making skills in realistic patient care environments. Simulation experiences include complex medical, trauma, mental health and resuscitation scenarios using advanced simulation technology, trained patient actors and industry-standard paramedic equipment.
The program also offers large-scale experiential learning opportunities, including mock-disaster scenarios that expose students to the realities of multi-patient incidents, scene management, triage, interprofessional communication and system-level coordination. These experiences may involve collaboration with allied agencies and related disciplines, allowing students to work alongside partners such as police, fire, communications, nursing, security, social services, and legal or investigative teams.
Through immersive simulation and hands-on learning, students develop technical competence, situational awareness, adaptability, leadership and professional judgment while preparing for the complexity and evolving demands of modern paramedic practice.
This program also demands a high degree of physical fitness, flexibility and lifting strength. In order to participate in field placement, you must be able to:
Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV), immunizations, lab tests and certifications. Be sure to keep all receipts for income tax purposes. These costs include:
It is required that students have completed the ERV with Verified to be eligible for the field placement component of this program. Students must (at their expense) provide:
Links:
For more information contact Hayden McIntosh, Student Advisor/Field Placement Officer.
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.
Durham College’s Paramedic program has been accredited by the Accreditation Canada EQual program. This accredited status is in place until January 31, 2032.
App Store
Google Play