International Student Information – Professional Medical Associates

Student Support

School Contact information

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm

Email: Info@promedics.org

Phone: 780:460-8410

Student support is provided by Kim Doyle, BHSc, ACP who functions as the Practicum Facilitator and Student Liaison. Ms. Doyle is available to students on a 24/7 basis through cell phone to assist students both within the program, as well as monitoring students during clinical rotations.

Program Information

Primary Care Paramedic

The PCP program is offered over a period of 10 months, utilizing a rotational schedule of 3 days in class followed by 5 days off to complete reading assignments, online exercise and participate one day in synchronous online case studies and group exercises.

The schedule includes approximately 180 hours of theoretical review sessions, mostly traditional lecture style, with an additional 268 hours of practical and case-based sessions. An additional 320 hours of self-study and reading assignments are also required for the student to successfully complete the program.

The program relies on selection criteria and certification at the EMR level prior to the start of the program. This selection criteria and prerequisite structure eliminates the need to re-teach basic material, while still offering the opportunity to assess basic competencies of all students before moving to more advanced topics, assessment or diagnostic procedures, and treatment.

Click Here to View program information Sheet

Advanced Care Paramedic

The ACP program is offered over a period of 18 months, utilizing a schedule of 2 weeks in, 2 weeks out, utilizing all 14 days of the week in for a 10-month period. The schedule includes approximately 600 hours of theoretical review sessions, mostly traditional lecture style, with an additional 360 hours of practical, high-fidelity simulation and case-based sessions for a total of 960 hours. An additional 840 hours of self-study and reading assignments, online assignments through the LMS are also required for the student to successfully complete the program. Upon completion of didactic requirements, there are also 2 ambulance practicums of 864 hours and a hospital practicum of 268 hours.

The program relies on selection criteria and registration at the PCP level prior to the start of the program, with documented field experience. This selection criteria and prerequisite structure eliminates the need to re-teach basic material, while still offering the opportunity to assess basic competencies of all students before moving to more advanced topics, assessment or diagnostic procedures, and treatment.

Click Here to View program information Sheet

Program Admission Requirements

Primary Care Paramedic

application form (mandatory)
personal resume (mandatory)
high school transcript OR GED (mandatory)
certificate/transcript from an Alberta College of Paramedics approved FMR/EMR program
(mandatory for those not completing PMA program)
CLEAR security clearance check dated within 90 days of application
(must include vulnerable sector check) (mandatory)
photocopy of valid driver’s license (mandatory) NON GDL
photocopy of BLS (CPR) within 12 months (mandatory)
photocopy of Alberta College of Paramedics Practice Permit (if applicable)
copy of results from EMR Registration Examination (if applicable)
assessment fee of $105.00 payable to Professional Medical Associates (mandatory)
letters of reference of EMS/Health related employers (if applicable)

Advanced Care Paramedic

application form (mandatory)
personal resume (mandatory)
photocopy of Alberta College of Paramedics Permit (mandatory)
photocopy of BCLS – HCP (mandatory)
CLEAR security clearance check (must include vulnerable sector check) (mandatory) within 90 days of application
assessment fee of $125.00 payable to Professional Medical Associates (mandatory)
copy of your driver’s license
Copy of results from Alberta College of Paramedics/ COPR PCP Provincial Examination (mandatory)
Official transcripts from a recognized PCP program (mandatory)

For all students where English is not their first language, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in English to be eligible to enter all programs. Professional Medical Associates previously utilized the TOEFL system and required a minimum score of 80 for admission. With the changes made by IRCC, Professional Medical Associates now requires a CBL level of 8 for admission as that level if also required to secure a PGWP. Documentation of all proficiency results will form part of the student’s permanent record and available for review as part of any required compliance reviews.

The CIP 2021 code for paramedic is 51.0904 and would require the general test of either CELPIP, IETLS or PTE Core.

Program Costs

Primary Care Paramedic – $10, 950.00

To assist students in determining the total costs while comparing various programs, our programs are inclusive of all texts, lab fees and student packages, rather than a tuition price with the student responsible to pay additionally for texts, student and learning packages, etc. Various options for payment plans are available. Our current program fees are $10,950.00.

Advanced Care Paramedic – $25, 500.00 – $26, 500.00

To assist students in determining the total costs while comparing various programs, our programs are inclusive of all texts, lab fees and student packages, rather than a tuition price with the student responsible to pay additionally for texts, student and learning packages, etc. The total cost of the program is between $25,500 and $26,500 there are various options for payment plans if needed.

Student Complaint and Dispute Resolution

Professional Medical Associates Dispute/Complaint Policy (Included in Student Policy Manual)

Appeals must be received within 30 days post-incident to be evaluated and considered for review. Students must give a detailed account of their reasoning for the appeal.
Requests must be submitted to the Program Director. The Program Director will forward the appeal to the Appeal Committee, comprised of appropriate instructional staff (that have not had contact with the student) and the Medical Advisor.
The Program Director will then relay the decision of the Appeal Committee to the individual both verbally and in writing.

Health Care Insurance

The Advanced Care Paramedic program is currently 70 weeks and there are impending changes to the Primary care Paramedic program to extend the length to 56 weeks. As such, both programs meet the Alberte Health policy for coverage under Alberta health care.

Despite being covered under AHS based on the information on their website https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-students. Students are cautioned and advised that they should purchase private health insurance to ensure that gaps, if any, are covered for their protection during transit before program commencement. Information from the AHC website that lists eligibility is included;

International students

If you are a student from outside Canada, you may be eligible for AHCIP coverage.
Students under 18 years of age must be added to the AHCIP account of a custodian.
Students who have a 12-month study permit (valid for an Alberta educational institute) and who will reside in Alberta for 12 months or more are eligible for AHCIP coverage and should apply.
Students with study permits valid for less than 12 months, may be eligible for AHCIP coverage if their application is accompanied by a letter from the school confirming their enrollment and their intent to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months.

While there are a range of providers for insurance for international students and visa holders while in Canada, one provider has been identified that has programs for visa insurance, visitor to Canada medical insurance and student medical insurance that is available to both Canadian and international students. Information can be viewed on their website at https://danforthinsurance.com.

Tuition Payments and Refunds

International students will have the same tuition policy applied as non-international students whereby tuition is due on commencement of the program

For EMR, PCP and ACP Programs, tuition refunds are outlined in The Private Vocational Training Regulation – Retention and Repayment of Fees. Sections applying to programs include Sections 16 through 25 with the applicable clauses as outlined on the signed student contract and follows:

REFUND OF FEES – BEFORE TRAINING COMMENCES

16 (1) If a student terminates a student contract for vocational training before the vocational training has commenced, the licensee is entitled to any registration fee paid by or on behalf of the student.

(2) If

(a) a licensee terminates a student contract before the vocational training has commenced, or

(b) the vocational training does not commence by the date the training was to have commenced under the student contract, the licensee must refund any registration fee that has been paid by or on behalf of the student.

REFUND OF FEES – AFTER TRAINING COMMENCES

17 (1) If either party terminates a student contract for a program of instruction after the program has commenced, the licensee is entitled to the following amounts of tuition:

(a) when 10% of less of the program of instruction has been provided, 25% of the student’s tuition;

(b) when more than 10% but 50% or less of the program of instruction has been provided, 60% of the student’s tuition;

(2) If a licensee has received tuition in excess of the amount that the licensee is entitled to under subsection (1), the licensee must refund the excess.

Depending on the circumstances of withdrawal from the program, the Program Director may refund all or portions of the tuition on a case-by-case basis in addition to the minimums identified above.

EMR, PCP and ACP tuition refunds are subject to the regulations of the Private Vocational Training Regulation as outlined on back of the student contract provided to the student on commencement.

Professional Medical Associates will only process refunds to the entity/location that originally paid the tuition.

Student Housing/Accommodations Information

Professional Medical Associates, as a smaller institution, does not have the infrastructure to provide accommodation for local or international students. There may be an opportunity to foster accommodation arrangements with room and board with classmates and have been done in some programs in the past where students have travelled from more rural communities to attend in either the Calgary or St. Albert campuses.

International students should expect that they will need to find accommodation on their own for both the didactic components as well as practicum placements that may be within the campus city but may require travel to other communities.

For those that require assistance, Professional Medical Associates provides stents with immigration services in either St. Albert or Calgary. Edmonton support is provided through the Edmonton Immigration Services Association available at https://www.eisa-edmonton.org/ and offers assistance with English language skills, translation services as well as community support services and housing information. Calgary support is provided by Immigrant Services Canada available at https://www.immigrantservicescalgary.ca/ and also offers assistance with English language skills, translation services as well as community support services and housing information.

Language Proficiency Admissions

The CIP 2021 code for paramedic is 51.094 and would require the general test of either CELPIP, IETLS or PTE Core.

Support/Counselling

Edmonton support is provided through the Edmonton Immigration Services Association available at https://www.eisa-edmonton.org/ and offers assistance with English language skills, translation services as well as community support services and housing information. Calgary support is provided by Immigrant Services Canada available at https://www.immigrantservicescalgary.ca/ and also offers assistance with English language skills, translation services as well as community support services and housing information.

Health/Social Services

Academic/Career Support

Academic support is provided by Professional Medical Associates with the assistance of Mrs. Sue Stegmeier, the former Executive Director of Literacy for Life. Literacy for Life is an organization that’s prime focus is to increase literacy and study skills for adults.

Additional academic support, ESL and translation support is also available through the Calgary and Edmonton Immigration support organizations funded through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Edmonton support is provided through the Edmonton Immigration Services Association available at https://www.eisa-edmonton.org/ and offers assistance with English language skills, translation services as well as community support services and housing information. Calgary support is provided by Immigrant Services Canada available at https://www.immigrantservicescalgary.ca/ and also offers assistance with English language skills, translation services as well as community support services and housing information.

Designated Programs

Professional Medical Associates offers three designated programs, approved by the Alberta College of Paramedics and licensed by the Private Vocational Branch of Advanced Education, specifically the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) program, the Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program and the Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) program.

Professional Medical also offers a number of non-designated programs such as the First Medical Responder (FMR) program as well as a range of certification programs for health care professionals including Basic Cardiac Life Support – CPR (BCLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) as well as programs through the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) including Prehospital Trauma Life Support, Geriatric Emergencies for EMS.

Program Resources

Infrastructure and resource standards

Synopsis:

In terms of physical space, Professional Medical Associates (between the St. Albert and Calgary offices) maintain approximately 6800 square feet with 4400 square feet dedicated to classroom and practical station rooms. The classroom space is dedicated to students of the PMA programs.

All textbooks for the programs are provided to each student and are listed in the course outlines for each of the PCP programs and the ACP program. All required texts are included in tuition for each of the PCP and ACP programs and can be viewed in the PCP Course Outlines identified as Appendix B and the ACP Couse Outlines identified as Appendix C.

Educational Resources

The programs from Professional Medical Associates have been designed specifically to increase their accessibility and to attempt to move the program to the students rather than traditional delivery methods. For practical sessions and integration, the students are brought to the classrooms and offices of Professional Medical Associates in St. Albert or to our southern campus office which is located in Calgary.

The head offices of Professional Medical Associates are in the Carleton Professional Centre in St. Albert, Alberta while a southern campus office is located in southeast Calgary, Alberta. These locations allow the program to be offered throughout the province from a location that is more geographically attainable.

In terms of physical space, the total floor space in the St. Albert office occupies approximately 3800 square feet, with approximately 1400 square feet utilized for staff offices, reception area, etc. while the Calgary campus office occupies approximately 3000 square feet, with 1000 square feet utilized for staff offices, reception area, etc. The balance of space is utilized for programs and is divided into the main classroom, practical integration or scenario rooms and the multi-media and resource area. By maintaining small student ratios, such as a maximum of 4 students to 1 instructor for the PCP programs and usually 3 to 1 for the ACP program, the physical space is more than adequate for the students, without overextending and increasing unneeded overhead.

The classroom facilities of Professional Medical Associates offer an excellent environment for learning by the students. Reference material, multi-media and wireless internet support is readily available. Program staff are available throughout the week to review required skills or to provide tutorials for students having difficulty in specific portions of the program. Depending on the needs of the students, additional sessions may also be arranged on weeknights or weekends, as the need dictates. In addition, Professional Medical Associates regularly offers programs such as CPR updates and EMR, PCP and ACP Refresher programs. Current students are eligible to attend the sessions to gain even more practical exposure to equipment and application of the new information.

The practical laboratory or practical classrooms are available to the students on an almost unlimited basis. The office is open from 0800h to 1630h through the week, and arrangements can be made to have the classroom opened weeknights or weekends if the students require extra practice time. All program equipment is available, within the confines of student safety. Some equipment will only be released to the students when an instructor or monitor is present. This ensures that students are able to obtain required practice, while maintaining the safe environment of all participating.

Student Policy Manual – Professional Medical Associates – See Student Policy Manual

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