How to become an emergency medical responder in BC

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR / Licensed EMA First Responder) · British Columbia

Facts checked 7 September 2026

Give first emergency care at the scene and in ambulances. You need a two-to-three-week course, exams and a licence.

How long

2–3 weeks

Cost

About $1,600 – $3,100

Estimated tuition: about $1,600 to $3,100 for the whole program at the schools in our directory. Estimate; fees change every year. Confirm with the school.

Who licenses it

EMALB

Where you can take this: 12 schools

North Island College Alert First Aid Inc.Coast Medical Training Incorporated Columbia Paramedic Academy / Columbia Learning Firemedix Training First Response Safety Training (Read Fire & Medical)Justice Institute of British Columbia Medi-Pro First Aid +4 more

THE ROUTE

The route at a glance

STEP 1

CPR-BLS & Standard First Aid Prerequisite

Age 19+, Class 5 driver licence & clean record

STEP 2

80–142 Hour EMR Certificate Program

Complete 80–105 hour EMR course

STEP 3

EMALB Provincial Licensing Examinations

Pass EMALB written & practical exams

JOB

Licensed Emergency Medical Responder Employment

Obtain EMALB licence & work with BCEHS

STEP 1

CPR-BLS & Standard First Aid Prerequisite

Age 19+, Class 5 driver licence & clean record

STEP 2

80–142 Hour EMR Certificate Program

Complete 80–105 hour EMR course

STEP 3

EMALB Provincial Licensing Examinations

Pass EMALB written & practical exams

JOB

Licensed Emergency Medical Responder Employment

Obtain EMALB licence & work with BCEHS

This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.

See the full route, step by step →

THE JOB

What the job is like

Pay and outlook from WorkBC.

Pay

$25.00 – $46.00 / hr$34 median

Job outlook

1,910 forecasted job openings (2025–2035) · 2025–2035

Where the work is

Mainland/Southwest, Vancouver Island/Coast, Thompson-Okanagan

What a day looks like

Work takes place in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, remote industrial sites, fire departments, and wilderness clinics.

Watch out for

Be mindful of road traffic hazards, bloodborne pathogens, agitated patients, and high psychological stress and follow all required safety procedures.

Where it can lead

Complete accredited 8-to-12 month PCP diploma to administer medications and join full-time BCEHS ambulance crews.

Provide onsite primary and emergency healthcare in mining, oil and gas, or remote forestry camps.

Source: WorkBC career profile, NOC 32102

JOBS

Find jobs

Live postings on the big job boards, searched for this job in British Columbia.

Job Board

WorkBC job board

Search “Emergency Medical Responder” in BC →

Job Board

Job Bank (Government of Canada)

Search “Emergency Medical Responder” in BC →

Job Board

Search “Emergency Medical Responder” in BC →

Job Board

Indeed

Search “Emergency Medical Responder” in BC →

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Common questions

How long does it take to become an emergency medical responder in BC?

About 80 to 142 hours of training. The main steps are CPR-BLS & standard first aid prerequisite, 80–142 hour EMR certificate program, EMALB provincial licensing examinations, licensed Emergency Medical responder employment.

What are the requirements to become an emergency medical responder in BC?

Minimum 16 years of age (18 or 19 recommended for employment and licensing)
Valid Basic Life Support (BLS) or Standard First Aid CPR-C certificate
Grade 10 English completion or equivalent language fluency

Some schools ask for more; check the school page.

How much does an emergency medical responder make in BC?

WorkBC groups this job under 'Paramedical Occupations'; the figures are for that group. The WorkBC median is $34 / hour. Most earn between $25.00 and $46.00 / hour. 1,910 job openings are expected in BC over 2025–2035. WorkBC lists average pay of $74,775 a year.

How much does it cost to become an emergency medical responder in BC?

Estimated tuition: about $1,600 to $3,100 for the whole program at the schools in our directory. Estimate; fees change every year. Confirm with the school.

Do you need a licence?

Yes. You register with Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB). Before that you pass Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) provincial written examination.

WHERE TO TAKE THIS

Approved colleges, universities & providers

Accredited British Columbia institutions offering recognized programs and courses for this career.

Browse all BC institutions

🚑

Justice Institute of British Columbia

New Westminster / Victoria / Kelowna / Chilliwack · Metro Vancouver

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Certificate

Comprehensive foundational emergency medical instruction preparing candidates for EMALB provincial paramedic board examinations.

Duration3 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostAbout $3,100 for the whole program

Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 7 September 2026.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🩹

St. John Ambulance BC & Yukon

Vancouver / Surrey / Victoria / Kelowna · Metro Vancouver

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course

Hands-on practical training covering emergency childbirth, advanced airway management, and spine board immobilization.

Duration80–100 hours

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostTuition not yet verified

We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🌊

North Island College

Comox Valley Campus, Courtenay · Vancouver Island

Certificate

AET-020 Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

12-day professional pre-hospital responder course covering trauma management, clinical diagnostics, CPR HCP, and AED certification across Vancouver Island.

Duration12 days

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostAbout $1,800 for the whole program

Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🚑

Columbia Paramedic Academy / Columbia Learning

Langley & Kelowna · Metro Vancouver

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course

EMALB-recognized comprehensive responder program taught by practicing paramedics with full Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 endorsements.

Duration15 days

FormatHybrid

Est. CostAbout $2,200 for the whole program

Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🏔️

Coast Medical Training Incorporated

Vancouver & Surrey · Metro Vancouver

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder (120 Hrs)

EMALB officially recognized intensive responder program offering full-time and weekend cohorts with on-site licensing exam hosting.

Duration15 days

FormatHybrid

Est. CostAbout $2,500 for the whole program

Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🏥

Pre Hospital Care Training Inc (PHECT)

Nanaimo · Vancouver Island

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course

EMALB-recognized Vancouver Island training program in Nanaimo preparing candidates for provincial paramedic board evaluations.

Duration15 days

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostTuition not yet verified

We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🚒

Firemedix Training

Surrey · Metro Vancouver

Certificate

EMR Full Course

Operational fire hall based responder training instructed by career paramedics and firefighters with simulated emergency response.

Duration6 weeks

FormatHybrid

Est. CostAbout $2,000 for the whole program

Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🦺

Alert First Aid Inc.

Victoria, Nanaimo & Duncan · Vancouver Island

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course

Canadian Red Cross emergency responder program across Victoria, Nanaimo, Burnaby, and Vancouver with 90% EMALB pass rate.

Duration15 days

FormatHybrid

Est. CostAbout $2,000 for the whole program

Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🧼

Prosafe Training

Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, Abbotsford & Langley · Metro Vancouver

Certificate

Canadian Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder

Full-scope 120-hour Canadian Red Cross responder training meeting all EMALB Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 endorsements.

Duration3 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostAbout $2,000 for the whole program

Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🚨

First Response Safety Training (Read Fire & Medical)

Prince George · North

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder

Northern BC emergency services responder training academy in Prince George delivering 120-hour NOCP-aligned certification.

Duration15 days

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostTuition not yet verified

We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🩺

Medi-Pro First Aid

Kelowna · Interior

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

Okanagan intensive Canadian Red Cross responder program including Basic Life Support (BLS) and comprehensive practical scenarios.

Duration15 days

FormatHybrid

Est. CostTuition not yet verified

We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

⚡

Priority Care First Aid (Priority Care EMS Education)

Langley · Metro Vancouver

Certificate

Emergency Medical Responder Course

Fraser Valley pre-hospital responder course taught by veteran 911 paramedics covering full EMALB provincial scope.

Duration15 days

FormatHybrid

Est. CostAbout $1,600 for the whole program

Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.

See the full page: EMR course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

How to become an emergency medical responder in BC

The route at a glance

CPR-BLS & Standard First Aid Prerequisite

80–142 Hour EMR Certificate Program

EMALB Provincial Licensing Examinations

Licensed Emergency Medical Responder Employment

CPR-BLS & Standard First Aid Prerequisite

80–142 Hour EMR Certificate Program

EMALB Provincial Licensing Examinations

Licensed Emergency Medical Responder Employment

What the job is like

Find jobs

WorkBC job board

Job Bank (Government of Canada)

LinkedIn

Indeed

Common questions

How long does it take to become an emergency medical responder in BC?

What are the requirements to become an emergency medical responder in BC?

How much does an emergency medical responder make in BC?

How much does it cost to become an emergency medical responder in BC?

Do you need a licence?

Approved colleges, universities & providers

Justice Institute of British Columbia

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Certificate

St. John Ambulance BC & Yukon

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course

North Island College

AET-020 Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

Columbia Paramedic Academy / Columbia Learning

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course

Coast Medical Training Incorporated

Emergency Medical Responder (120 Hrs)

Pre Hospital Care Training Inc (PHECT)

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course

Firemedix Training

EMR Full Course

Alert First Aid Inc.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Course

Prosafe Training

Canadian Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder

First Response Safety Training (Read Fire & Medical)

Emergency Medical Responder

Medi-Pro First Aid

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

Priority Care First Aid (Priority Care EMS Education)

Emergency Medical Responder Course