Advanced Care Paramedic
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Program Overview
As a career paramedic, you know the challenges that you face 24-7. With Fanshawe’s Advanced Care Paramedic graduate certificate program, you’ll build on your already impressive skill-set by learning how to better manage life-threatening situations. As well, you’ll increase the range of skills you can offer to employers, and the level of care you can offer those in need. More skills. More lives saved. More diverse employment opportunities.
Program Details
Program Code
ADP2
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
48 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2026 January
London
Open
2025 January
London
Waitlisted
Your Learning Experience
Class sizes for this 48-week program are limited to maintain small student-faculty ratios that will ensure you receive the highest quality, most advanced paramedic training available.
You’ll learn by using cutting-edge medical technology as you move from the classroom to the lab. A clinical placement in a hospital will broaden your knowledge of acute care areas, such as adult and pediatric emergency, obstetrics, operating room and intensive care. As a CMA-accredited graduate certificate, you can be sure your critical thinking and decision-making will be challenged, nurtured and put to the test. When you complete the program, you’ll be poised, experienced and ready to face any challenge that comes your way.
The practice of advanced care paramedicine requires graduates to demonstrate highly developed clinical reasoning and advanced care procedural skills, along with the ability to justify an intervention plan in accordance with Advanced Life Support Patient Care Standards, best practices, evidence-based medicine and clinical findings. Graduates will feel comfortable working collaboratively with an inter-disciplinary health care team to ensure optimal and sustainable patient care, including exploring treatment and management plans with physicians in real-time. This program uses Fanshawe's simulation lab and technology.
As a graduate, you will be eligible to write Ontario's Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) certification exam, a requirement for base hospital certification and employment as an advanced care paramedic in the province.
This program meets all Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities program standards.
Career Information
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Advanced Care Paramedic program are eligible to pursue certification and employment within community paramedic services in Ontario (provincial and hospital certification will be required), clinical practices across Canada (province-specific licensure may be required) or medical research clinical settings. For graduates seeking even more adventure, other opportunities could include flight paramedicine or remote clinical practices (e.g., national mining operations).
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Advanced Care Paramedic program:
Firefighter Paramedic
The firefighter paramedic is a diversely skilled professional serving as a key component of an integrated fire and emergency medical response system.
Advanced – Emergency Medical Care Assistant (A-EMCA) Paramedic
Perform primary and advanced emergency medical care and controlled acts.
Paramedic / First Aid Attendant
Responsible for First Aid coverage of crews working along remote transmission lines as well as in camp environments.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to
1. Interact professionally with patients and others, adhering to relevant provincial and federal legislation and codes of conduct.
2. Collaborate with a broad range of personnel such as employers, Primary Care Paramedics, Critical Care Paramedics, Communications Officers, firefighters, police officers, physicians, allied health professionals and others.
3. Lead an interdisciplinary team to ensure optimal patient care.
4. Provide complete and accurate reports, in compliance with current legislation, regulations, standards and established policies and procedures.
5. Analyze patient assessment findings critically, and infer a provisional diagnosis, using relevant theory and practices and complying with current legislation, regulations, standards, best practices and established policies and procedures.
6. Evaluate patient condition continuously, anticipating changes and adapting interventions to provide safe and optimal care.
7. Justify an intervention plan in accordance with ACP Medical Directives, best practices, evidence-based medicine and clinical findings.
8. Perform basic and advanced life support skills safely and competently, including controlled medical acts, in accordance with established standards and Medical Directives.
9. Employ preventative and therapeutic interventions, while maintaining safety of self and others, to promote optimal well-being of the patient, in compliance with current legislation, regulations, standards and established policies and procedures.
10. Formulate strategies for self-evaluation and for improving proficiency in the practice of paramedicine.
Related Programs
Academic School
Contacts:
Program assistant:
Alysha Halvorsen
Program coordinator:
Brad McArthur BHSc., CCP
Admission Requirements
ONE OF:
- Paramedic Ontario College Diploma
- Primary Care Paramedic Diploma from an accredited program at
a Canadian college
- Ambulance and Emergency Care Certificate
AND
- Advanced Emergency Medical Care
Assistant Certificate (AEMCA) or equivalent
AND
- 4000 hours of work experience within the last three years as a
Primary Care Paramedic*
AND
- Pass a Pre-Admission Theoretical Preparedness Test
Note:
- *The 4000 hours of work experience within the last three years must have been onsite with an ambulance based Paramedic Service and completed prior to the start of classes.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 88 |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands |
| PTE Academic | 59 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 176 with no language skill less than 169 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 9, 75% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 120, with no score lower than 105 |
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by April 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
- Achievement in a Pre-Admission Theoretical Preparedness Test with at least a minimum of 70%
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
The following items are applicable to the program and are time sensitive:
Immunizations
- Required prior to first class
- In accordance with Ambulance Service Communicable Disease Standard
- Students cannot proceed to clinical placement without proof of immunization
- Refer to mandatory immunization record
Please contact our Program Assistant and/or Clinical Liaisons for clarifications.
Class 'F' Driver's License
- Required prior to first class
- Prerequisite for ambulance operations on campus
Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Required prior to May 1
- Including a check of the Pardoned Sexual Offenders Database
- Must be current within 6 months of placement
AEMCA Certificate
- Required prior to first class
- Must be current within 3 years
Basic Rescuer (CPR) Certificate
- Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers (HCP)
- Heart and Stroke Foundation or equivalent
- Heart and Stroke Foundation certification prerequisite for ACLS certification
- Must be current within 1 year
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory courses: | ||||
| PARA-6017 | Paramedicine-Intro to Adv | 4 | ||
| In this course, students will receive an orientation to the concept of case-based learning. The philosophy of the Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) Program will be covered along with program expectations, class preparedness and research techniques. This course will establish the framework for all other courses in the Advanced Care Paramedic Program. An overview of various topics will be presented. Emergency Medical Systems, medico-legal issues, statistics, research, communication and health and safety will be discussed and reinforced. | ||||
| ANAT-6010 | Anatomy & Physiology for Advanced Care | 1 | ||
| This advanced course includes the study of the structure and function of the human body. First principles of anatomy and physiology will be reviewed. Interaction between systems and medical applications will be stressed. Emphasis will be placed on integrating applicable knowledge with the Advanced Care Paramedics' scope of practice. Content will focus on that of the nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. | ||||
| PHRM-6006 | Pharmacology for Advanced Care | 1 | ||
| This course will provide the student with the foundations of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and medical math. Students will gain an in depth knowledge of the indication, actions, dosages and adverse affects of various pre-hospital emergency pharmaceuticals. Medications used in caring for cardiovascular patients will be introduced. All medications relating to the care of respiratory illnesses will be covered. | ||||
| PARA-6018 | Patient Assessment | 2 | ||
| In this course students will discuss and practice various approaches to patient assessment. Students will set priorities and implement components of their assessment to reflect the presenting condition and/or chief complaint of various patient cases. Students will learn to employ various assessment strategies and adaptations for the infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient. | ||||
| PARA-6003 | Airway & Respiratory Emergencies | 1 | ||
| Students will engage in case-based and problem-based learning applicable to airway-respiratory emergencies. A variety of advanced airway interventions will be learned and practiced as well as a review fundamental knowledge and primary interventions. Evaluation of a patient's respiratory status and applicable corrective actions will be addressed. | ||||
| PARA-6013 | Mgmt of Cardiovascular Emergencies | 2 | ||
| In this course, students will learn to recognize the various manifestations of cardiovascular compromise. Students will utilize various assessments to differentiate the patient's diagnosis, will set priorities and employ the appropriate management. This course will be delivered using a case-based approach to patient assessment and management. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.