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Deadline draws near for paramedic bursary

The deadline is looming for a bursary program aimed at training rurally based paramedics.

The deadline is looming for a bursary program aimed at training rurally based paramedics.

The next application deadline for the Emergency Medical Assistant Education Fund is June 28. Since its inception in 2007, the fund has provided financial support for training more than 400 paramedics.

“The bursary meant everything to me,” said Port McNeill paramedic Claudette Wilson. “The paramedic training program, which was delivered locally, helped me achieve one of my personal career goals and increased the level of pre-hospital care available in the community.”

To date, the EMA Education Fund has helped 301 individuals study toward the Primary Care Paramedic designation and 104 more upgrade their credentials to the Advanced Care Paramedic level, with $3.5 million of funds disbursed to date.

Bursaries for the PCP program are $5,000 and $22,000 for the ACP program. The bursary awards support students by assisting with the costs for tuition, books, fees and other expenses. Preferential consideration is given to PCP applicants who are willing to practice in rural or remote locations.

“Better-trained paramedics means higher quality emergency medical care for patients and communities throughout British Columbia,” said B.C. Ambulance Service Chief Operating Officer Les Fisher. “The bursary is a valuable tool that helps students offset the costs of post-secondary education and supports our targeted recruitment efforts underway in many rural and remote areas of the province.”

Further information is available at: www.jibc.ca/student-services/financial-aid-awards/emergency-medical-assistant-education-fund-award. There are three application deadlines throughout the year.