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Ministry of Health

Categories of Licence

There are currently six levels of emergency medical assistant (EMA) licences in British Columbia - each level of licence building upon the skills of the one level below it.

An EMA can only hold a licence in one category at a time. For example, if you are licensed as a first responder (FR) and acquire an emergency medical responder licence (the next level up), you will automatically lose your FR licence.

The scope of practice for each licence level is described in the EMA Regulation. Each category of licence has a basic licence level described in Schedule 1 of the regulation. A licensee can also be endorsed to perform additional skills described in Schedule 2 of the regulation.

First Responder (FR)

  • This type of EMA licence is frequently held by search and rescue organizations and fire department personnel. These individuals assist patients prior to the arrival of an ambulance crew. Basic medical training allows FRs to deal with critical situations involving scene assessment, CPR, and basic wound and fracture management until higher level licensed EMAs arrive on the scene.
  • Endorsements include automatic external defibrillator, spinal management and basic airway management. 

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

  • EMRs are typically employed in rural and remote areas of the province.
  • Newly trained B.C. EMRs are trained and licensed for all EMR endorsements found in Schedule 2 of the EMA Regulation.
  • This is the first licence level permitted to transport patients.

Primary Care Paramedic (PCP)

  • PCPs are the most common level of paramedic working in British Columbia in both rural and urban settings.
  • The majority of PCPs have an endorsement to initiate peripheral intravenous (IV) lines. All current PCP training programs approved by the board include the initiation of intravenous lines.
  • Intubation is not a skill included in any approved training program in British Columbia. However, some paramedics bring this skill under the terms of their original licence from other jurisdictions or higher level licences in British Columbia.

Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP)

  • ACPs typically work in major centres in the province such as Greater Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, and Kamloops.
  • ACPs provide advanced life support, including advanced cardiac care.

Critical Care Paramedic (CCP)

  • The EMA Licensing Board began issuing CCP licences in March 2011.
  • CCPs primarily provide critical care transport (including air transport) throughout the province.
  • ACPs who meet all the endorsement requirements in section 4 of the Schedule 2 of the EMA Regulation are eligible for a CCP licence.

Infant Transport Team (ITT)

  • ITTs specialize in the care and transportation, including air transport, of high risk maternity, neo-natal and pediatric patients.
  • ITT licence holders are a specialized category of EMA that builds upon the primary care paramedic scope of practice.