Advanced Care Paramedic

The JIBC offers one ACP program starting each year in the Fall Semester.

Fall 2014 - New Westminster and Victoria Locations

Fall 2013 - New Westminster and Kelowna Locations - FULL

The regional program in victoria or Kelowna runs parallel to the New Westminster program with some components, such as lectures, being delivered via webcast. In addition regional students would be required to attend approximately 5 weeks of classes at the New Westminster campus, over the course of the 20 month program, for face to face sessions with specialist faculty.

Example of the program schedule:

 Term Break: February 8 - 23, 2014

 Term Break: October 13 – 26, 2014

Locations

• Kelowna, BC, Canada
• New Westminster, BC, Canada
• Victoria, BC, Canada

Program Length
20 months / 3 terms

Teaching and Learning Methodologies
The blended delivery approach includes:

• guided online learning activities
• facilitated discussions
• guided independent study
• classroom sessions
• labs
• practical workshops
• High-fidelity simulations

Practicum

Students will have practicum placements each term which includes  a combination of clinics, hospitals, community-care based centers and on-ambulance rotations.  The majority of practicum activities take place in the lower mainland (Vancouver & area) as well as some regional centres around the province

Faculty

The Advanced Care Paramedic courses are taught by senior practitioners who combine academic theory with current experience in the field. Most of these instructors have graduate degrees or equivalent credentials in a related field (e.g. ACP, RN or MD), while others have completed an Emergency Services Instructor Training (ESIT) program. Many have completed additional certification in adult education, such as the Provincial Instructor Diploma.

ACP graduates will be able to:

• Meet the ACP competencies and the entry-to-practice requirements as an Advanced Care Paramedic
• Demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes in areas such as use of advanced technology, pre-hospital care clinical decision-making, current treatment methodologies and pharmacology
• Work collaboratively in interprofessional environments
• Function as leaders by utilizing effective problem-solving and critical thinking skills,
• Act as patient advocates while maintaining the highest possible standards in patient care

Program evaluation includes:

• Ongoing feedback from instructors, clinicians and preceptors
• Completion of a personal journal
• Essays
• Assignments
• Individual and team-based projects
• Written, oral and practical examinations.

Students must also successfully complete clinical and ambulance practicums and preceptorship.

Certification

Upon successful completion candidates will receive an advanced diploma in Advanced Care Paramedicine (ACP), and will be eligible to apply for licensure by the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) in British Columbia.

Tuition is $14,327.33 plus $257.40 Learner Services Fee.

This amount is payable in instalments over the three terms as follows:

Refunds:

Application fees & program deposit ($500) are non-refundable in any circumstances

Students who withdraw a minimum of 6 weeks prior to Term I will be refunded 100 % tuition & LSF minus deposit & $50 administration fee.

Students who withdraw from 6 weeks prior to 2 weeks into Term I will be refunded 50 % tuition & LSF minus deposit & $50 administration fee.

Students who withdraw a minimum of 2 weeks prior to Term 2 or 3 will be refunded 100 % tuition & LSF paid for that term minus $50 administration fee.

Students who withdraw from 2 weeks prior to 2 weeks into Term 2 or 3 will be refunded 50 % tuition & LSF paid for that term minus deposit & $50 administration fee.

After the first two weeks in any term there is no refund of tuition paid for that term

Financial Assistance

StudentAid BC may be available to supplement your own financial resources to help you reach your educational goals.

Students may also be eligible for other forms of assistance, such as the Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA) Education Fund Award and the JIBC General Student Bursary, and we encourage all students to apply.

For more information please visit Student Services or contact the Financial Aid & Student Awards Advisor at financialaid@jibc.ca or 604.528.5762 (toll free 1.877.528.5591).

Tuition fees do not cover the costs of course material, textbooks and ER scrubs. These may be purchased through the JIBC Store.

Admission to the Advanced Care Paramedic Program is contingent on availability of seats, completion of admission criteria, and applicant ranking as determined by a process of selective admission evaluation.

The following mandatory requirements must be met:

• PCP Certificate
• IV Insertion Training Certificate
• BLS for Healthcare Provider (CPR C) certification within the last year
• Criminal record check
• Completion of a Physical Fitness Assessment
• Current immunizations
• Three written professional reference
• JIBC ENGL100 Academic Writing (3 credits) or equivalent
• JIBC BIOL203 Human Anatomy & Physiology (3 credits) or equivalent
• JIBC PATH214 Pathophysiology (3 credits) or equivalent
• JIBC PHARM215 Principles of Pharmacology (3 credits) or equivalent

Candidates who have not completed the prerequisite courses (ENGL100, BIOL203, PATH214 & PHARM215) at the time of application must include an outline of their plan to complete them with their application form.

Applicants who have successfully completed equivalent liberal studies or health sciences courses at the college or university level may apply for a review of those courses to meet the prerequisite requirements for entry into the ACP program. Please provide details on the application form and attach transcripts.

All prerequisite courses are offered entirely on-line at JIBC, however the following courses from TRU-Open Learning are equivalent courses and can be used to assess other equivalent courses on the BC Transfer Guide.

• BIOL1693 Anatomy and Physiology II (3 credits) - JIBC PCP Program course CS200 meets the prerequisite BIOL1593 Anatomy and Physiology I
• HLTH2501 General Pathophysiology  (4 credits)
• HLTH2511 Introduction to Pharmacology  (3 credits)
• ENGL1101 Composition (3 credits)

Selection Process

Candidates who have met all mandatory requirements will be required to attend a Candidate Assessment Day and complete three assessment elements:

• Medical Knowledge Test
• Critical Thinking Ability Test
• Panel Interview

Assessment Days will be held at JIBC New Westminster campus location.  Participants should expect to spend a full day at the campus.

The results from each component will be integrated to produce an overall candidate score. All candidates' scores are then compiled into a rank ordering of candidates. Candidates will be offered a seat based on their ranking.

1. Download an Advanced Care Paramedic Program Information and Application Package
2. Complete all prerequisites and photocopy all required documentation.
3. Submit your application package including payment using one of the following methods:
   
   In Person
   Drop off your completed application package at the Justice Institute of British Columbia located in New Westminster.
   
   Justice Institute of British Columbia
   Registration Office
   715 McBride Boulevard
   New Westminster, BC, V3L 5T4
   
   Phone
   604.528.5590 or toll-free 1.877.528.5591
   
   Email
   register@jibc.ca
   
   By Mail
   Please send application package to the above address.
   
   By Fax
   604.528.5653