Advanced Care Paramedic

The SAIT Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic (EMT-P) program is a two-year full-time program offered to students currently registered with the Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP) as Emergency Medical Technicians who wish to extend their professional training and credentials to work as paramedics. In the EMT-P program, the student will become extensively familiar with human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, as well as wide variety of pharmacological and other therapies. The program commences each year in the fall and consists of 5 semesters which include classroom and simulation learning, two field (ambulance) practica and two clinical (hospital) practica placements. Students begin Semester 1 with nine weeks of class at the SAIT campus where they learn theory including anatomy, physiology and basic pharmacology. Six weeks of field practicum then follows to fine-tune basic care skills and develop familiarity with advanced procedures such as fluid resuscitation. The ambulance practicum continues in the winter semester, first year, until February. Students return to SAIT in February for Semester 2 where they will spend nine weeks in class continuing their studies expanding on pharmacological therapies and treatments for various medical and traumatic emergencies. Assessment skills, critical thinking and integrating advanced therapies into basic care are emphasized. Students will return in the fall for Semester 3 in late August for clinical practicum and then for seven weeks at SAIT for classroom and lab instruction including pediatric and adult advanced life support, rapid sequence induction and other advanced skills. Development of critical thinking and integration skills are key components. Semester 4 begins in January of the second year with clinical practicum rotations in the pediatric emergency room and labour and delivery. Students will finish with their final ambulance practicum at the end of April. Students return to SAIT for the spring semester--Semester 5--where they complete the classroom portion and prepare for registration with the Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP) as an EMT-P.