First Responder/OFA3 Upgrade to EMR

Courses starting in January 2024 or later include full EMALB Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 endorsements with no need to take additional “Scope Update” training. Not sure what this means? Check out our FAQs.

Course Details

This course is only available to those already holding either an FR or OFA3 certificate, and provides the knowledge and skills necessary in an emergency to help sustain life, reduce pain, and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness in a pre-hospital setting. It is intended for those providing emergency response: firefighters, law-enforcement officers, paramedics, and workplace responders. 

This course meets the Paramedic Association of Canada National Occupational Competency Profile for the practitioner level of emergency medical responder (EMR).

Completion of this course allows students to apply for licensing with the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) and can be used to help gain employment with fire departments throughout British Columbia or on-ambulance as an EMR with the BC Ambulance Service. Please note – licensing is a separate process conducted directly by the EMALB. They set the schedule and fees for this next step. Students will need to undertake and pay for additional exams as part of this.

Textbook Information

The required course textbook is Emergency Medical Responder: A Skills Approach, Fifth Canadian Edition by Limmer, Karen et al.  Students can choose to purchase either an e-book or a hardcopy of the text. This can be done directly through the publisher here, or  students are free to source this themselves. Please note that this must be purchased in advance and the school does not sell this book or keep any copies on site.