Paramedic diploma (PCP)
Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) Diploma
Facts checked 7 September 2026
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Part of the route toParamedic·Diploma
A college diploma program that trains you to treat urgent medical emergencies in ambulances across British Columbia.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeNot yet verifiedFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- General BC secondary school curriculum and coursework at the Grade 11 level.
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- High school graduation or mature student status
- Grade 12 Anatomy and Physiology (or approved college human anatomy course) with minimum C+
- Grade 12. Requirement varies by school (Justice Institute of British Columbia, Columbia Paramedic Academy / Columbia Learning). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification or approved pre-hospital emergency equivalent
- Valid British Columbia Class 4 commercial driver licence (or Class 4 learner permit)
- Physical agility fitness testing certificate
- Valid Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or OFA Level 3 certificate
- Valid BC Class 4 Commercial Driver’s Licence (or learner permit)
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Apply directly through the Justice Institute of British Columbia School of Health Sciences portal
- Submit academic transcripts, driver abstract, and emergency first aid certifications
- Complete the candidate admissions assessment and testing
- Pass medical clearance and criminal record review
Step 5 of 8
Paramedic diploma (PCP)
⏱ 8–17 months- 17-month full-time diploma program combining classroom, clinical, and practicum phases
- Advanced patient assessment, ECG interpretation, IV therapy, and emergency pharmacology
- High-fidelity ambulance driving simulator and complex emergency scene simulations
- Over 450 hours of preceptored shifts in hospital emergency rooms and with BC Ambulance Service
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 2 schools in BC- Columbia Paramedic Academy / Columbia Learning — 12 months (About $11,700 for the whole program)
- Justice Institute of British Columbia — 17 months (About $8,900 for the whole program)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) provincial Primary Care Paramedic examinations
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Paramedic
- Explore Paramedic wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(2 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Justice Institute of British Columbia
New Westminster / Victoria / Kelowna / Chilliwack
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.