Northwestern Polytechnic has begun accepting applications for its highly anticipated, newly approved Emergency Medical Responder training certificate for the Spring 2025 intake.
The school has been developing the program for the past year, and officials say thanks to a generous equipment donation from the Regional EMS Foundation, and significant consultation with first response agencies and local leaders, the School of Health addition is now ready to accept students.
NWP President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Sheane has been a strong advocate for healthcare training at the local level, continuously working with the City of Grande Prairie in the pursuit of physician attraction and retention, and Sheane says the new program marks an important development for local healthcare training in GP.
“This is a timely and impactful program offering for our learning community and a great way to kick off the new year,” she says. “The EMR program will fill an important need in the region while offering students access to a dynamic and rewarding career path.”
NWP Provost and Vice President Academic Dr. Terry Kowalchuk agrees, saying there is already “significant interest” in the program, which bodes well as the province continues to navigate a significant shortage of qualified EMRs, especially in the north.
“We have continued to field significant interest as we have been working to expand our various healthcare career pathways,” he says. “This spring, we will be able to accept up to two dozen EMR students, and plans are in the works for additional fall and winter intakes pending interest.”
Students enrolled in the new program will go through rigorous training including 135 hours of online classroom learning, and 164 hours of clinical training, before students will get the chance to put their training into practice during ambulance placements and at NWP’s Health Education Centre in the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.
Interested individuals can apply online on NWP’s website.
