Advanced Care Paramedic (APPD)

Augment your Primary Care Paramedic training to advance your career

Upgrade your career and increase your salary while making a difference in your community with advanced paramedic training that exceeds the National Occupational Competency Profile for Paramedics. You’ll refine your skills through a combination of classroom, simulation, and clinical advanced training. 
 
You’ll also complete a real-world on-the-job experience with an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) land ambulance service. Depending on available opportunities, you may qualify to continue working as a Primary Care Paramedic while you enhance your training. 

Program highlights 

• Limited enrolment 
• Semester 2 blends on-campus training with 420 hours of fieldwork with an ambulance service 
• Possibility to work while you learn 
• Successful completion qualifies you to write the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Advanced Care Paramedic Theory Examination 

Program of study for 2024-25 Academic Year 

Cambrian College will endeavour to schedule clinical shifts at local facilities, and preceptorship at a location of the student's preference. However, this is not always possible and in such cases students will be required to incur the associated travel costs and living expenses.

Admission requirements

Graduate of a Primary Care Paramedic program or equivalent. Students must possess an Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant (A-EMCA) certificate, issued by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, prior to program commencement.

Additional admission requirements

• Complete an entrance exam in order to be considered for acceptance
• Criminal record check including vulnerable sector screening – this must not show evidence of a crime of moral turpitude
• CPR (Health Care Practitioner level) and Standard First Aid which must be valid through the duration of the program
• Class F driver’s license
• Current immunization status as outlined by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Emergency Health Services Branch as well as additional requirements as determined by various clinical sites.  This information is provided once accepted into the program.
• AODA and WHMIS 2015 training
• N95 and P100 Mask Fit Testing, to be completed prior to program commencement (students are responsible for the fee)
• A lift test may be required for those students completing field placement at select EMS services

Program delivery

2024-2025

Fall term start

SEMESTER 1:  Fall 2024
SEMESTER 2:  Winter 2025.

Registrations to practice /additional testing

Upon completion of this program, graduates must be successful in the Advanced Care Paramedic Theory Examination set by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Emergency Health Services Branch, in order to be eligible to work in an ambulance service in Ontario.

Specific program pathways

College or university degree opportunities  

If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information. 

Employment opportunities

The need for Advanced Care Paramedics is growing. The employment growth rate is average to above average because of the aging population, increased coverage of health care plans, and new technological advancements. You may find employment with:

• Municipal and regional emergency medical services
• Health care services
• Flight transfer services (such as ORNGE, formerly Ontario Air Ambulance)
• Emergency medical services in other provinces or countries