Questions & Answers

British Columbia

Inter-Provincial

British Columbia

  1. What is the licence mobility process? Where do I find more information on it?
  1. The process for British Columbia is found on the EMA Licensing website at Out of Province Applicant

  1. What is the licence good for?  Can I work for an ambulance operator? Can I work in Industry?
  1. Each jurisdiction determines the applicability of the licence issued.  In British Columbia a licence holder can be employed by an ambulance operator or in Industry. To work in Industry an EMA licence holder must also comply with WorkSafeBC requirements.

  1. Are there any exams required to be registered/get a licence from another province?
  1. If you are currently registered or licensed in a Canadian province, there will be no licensing exam to secure a licence from another province.  However, there may be a short jurisprudence exam specific to each province (jurisdiction specific laws, regulations, protocols and policy)
    1. How do I take the Jurisprudence Exam?
      Access is provided by the Regulator during the application process.
    2. Is there a cost for the Jurisprudence Exam?
      This will be determined by each regulator.  The cost for the British Columbia Jurisprudence Exam is found on the fee schedule
    3. How many attempts?   Cost per attempt?
      This will be determined by each regulator.  In British Columbia there is no limit to the number of attempts. There is a fee for each attempt.

  1. What are the registration requirements when I seek a licence from another jurisdiction?
  1. The registration requirements are set by each regulator. In British Columbia this includes the completion of certain documents including:
    1. Application for registration
    2. Licence application form and digital photograph;
    3. Verification of Paramedic Registration (From any jurisdiction where you currently hold, or previously held, a licence
    4. Proof of completion of the Jurisprudence Exam
    5. Licence and Exam Fees

  1. How much will it cost?
  1. Registration costs are set by the regulator in each jurisdiction.  In British Columbia they can be found on the fee schedule

  1. I am a licence holder in British Columbia.  How does AIT impact me?
  1. AIT facilitates mobility between jurisdictions. See the AIT tool for the requirements for mobility between specific provinces.

  1. Could I be partnered with a person that has a restricted licence? What is my responsibility in that situation?
  1. Yes. As in past practice when your partner has a restricted (or different licence than you) the onus is on the highest licence holder to ensure that the right patient receives right care by the right provider.

  1. Will my scope of practice change?
  1. There is no change to scope of practice in a particular province as the result of the AIT.  Across provinces, regulators, in general, see the advantage of aligning scope of practice between jurisdictions. Any change, once approved, will be posted on the regulator website.

  1. Will there be a change to the ability of an employer to set what skills/drugs they will allow their employees to perform within the scope of a particular licence level as a result of the AIT?
  1. There is no change.

  1. I am a certified Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) from another jurisdiction. Why can’t I get a CCP licence in British Columbia?
  1. No CCP licence has been issued in British Columbia. This licence level is under development.

  1. I am licensed as a paramedic in more than one jurisdiction. What happens to my British Columbia licence if I am disciplined by another regulator?
  1. The EMA Licensing Board would review this on a case by case basis and decide on the course of action that is required.

Inter-Provincial:

  1. What is the labour mobility agreement?
  1. The First Ministers in Canada have an Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) with a Chapter on Labour Mobility (chapter 7).  The Labour Mobility Chapter was amended in January, 2009, to establish full labour mobility for all regulated professions.

  1. What is full labour mobility?
  1. According to the AIT, full labour mobility means that every worker certified for an occupation by a regulatory authority shall, upon application, be certified by the receiving province with no further assessment, training or experience requirements.  In other words, if you have a licence to practice or are registered for your profession in one province, if you apply, you will be licensed or registered in another province with no exam or major training requirements. 

  1. Does this apply all the time?  I can go anywhere in Canada to work as a paramedic?
  1. There are some exceptions.  If there is a significant difference in the scope of practice from your current jurisdiction to the other province, you may face some restriction on your licence or be required to take some training before you can be registered.

  1. How can I find out whether I would face some restrictions or other conditions if I was to seek registration in another province?
  1. Paramedic Regulators across Canada have worked together to provide an online checkpoint for you to learn about labour mobility requirements for each jurisdiction.  The “AIT Tool” maps the crosswalks between provinces for specific registration or licence levels.   You will find the AIT tool.

  1. I am already licensed to practice/registered in my profession.  What is the impact of AIT on my current licence or registration?
  1. AIT has no impact on your current licence.  It only has an impact if you apply for a licence from another province.  AIT provides mobility between jurisdictions for similar registration or licence levels. See the AIT tool for the ‘crosswalks’ between provinces.

  1. Are there timelines I should know about?
  1. No, once the AIT is in effect on an ongoing basis.  If there are timelines specific to registration in a jurisdiction, they are on the AIT tool. If not specified, please contact the regulator of the province from which you are seeking a licence or registration.

  1. Will I be required to take any additional training in order to get registered with or get a licence from another province?
  1. In most cases there will be no significant training required.  In some cases there are additional requirements.  These are identified by the AIT tool.

  1. What if I have previously been refused a licence in the jurisdiction that I am applying?
  1. Each jurisdiction will address the issue of prior knowledge of the applicant through their policies.  Please contact the regulator for their policy.

  1. How long does it take to get a licence under this process?
  1. The time will be specific to each regulator but the process is not expected to take more than 4 to 6 weeks.

  1. How am I informed of expectations around practice in the new province?
  1. The required Jurisprudence Exam covers the laws, regulations, protocols and policies that you are responsible to know for that specific jurisdiction.

  1. Will there be any restrictions on my licence or my practice?
  1. Restrictions (if any) on licences granted are indicated on the AIT tool.
    Of course, each jurisdiction has limitations on practice established through Scopes of Practice which will be part of the jurisprudence exam.

  1. How do I remove restrictions placed on my licence?
  1. If the process is not specified on the AIT tool, please contact the regulator.

  1. I am a recent graduate.  How does AIT impact me?
  1. AIT applies only to licence holders.

  1. Can I get a licence from one jurisdiction and then use AIT to get a licence in another jurisdiction?
  1. Yes.  However, AIT is not intended to enable graduates to circumvent licensing requirements.  The initial licence in any jurisdiction will be subject to additional requirements such as licensing examinations and proof of completion of approved training programs.

 

[ AIT Tool ]  : : :  [ Jurisprudence Study Guide ]