BC Ambulance Service
VICTORIA – Prospective paramedics are encouraged to apply for the Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA) Education Fund, which has provided financial support for training over 400 paramedics since its inception in 2007.
“The bursary meant everything to me,” said Port McNeill paramedic Claudette Wilson. “The paramedic training program, which was delivered locally, helped me achieve one of my personal career goals and increased the level of pre-hospital care available in the community.”
To date, the EMA Education Fund has helped 301 individuals study toward the Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) designation and 104 more upgrade their credentials to the Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) level; the total amount of funds disbursed is $3.5 million.
Bursaries are $5,000 for the PCP program and $22,000 for the ACP program. Preferential consideration is given to PCP applicants who are willing to practice in rural or remote locations.
“Better-trained paramedics means higher quality emergency medical care for patients and communities throughout British Columbia,” said BC Ambulance Service chief operating officer Les Fisher. “The bursary is a valuable tool that helps students offset the costs of post-secondary education and supports our targeted recruitment efforts underway in many rural and remote areas of the province.”
The next application deadline is June 28. Further information is available at: www.jibc.ca/student-services/financial-aid-awards/emergency-medical-assistant-education-fund-award. There are three application deadlines throughout the year.
BCAS is recruiting paramedics in many rural communities throughout the province. Please visit www.bcas.ca for more information about employment opportunities. A video with further information about working as a paramedic is available at www.careertrekbc.ca/episode/paramedic.