ACP Application Guide

Health Sciences Division

ADVANCED CARE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM APPLICATION GUIDE Prepared jointly with BCAS for BCAS Staff considering advancing their careers

THE JUSTICE INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (JIBC) is

Canada’s leading public safety educator — a dynamic postsecondary institution recognized provincially, nationally and internationally for innovative education and applied research in justice and public safety. To continue to fulfill our mission and vision, we will expand our reach with a focus on two over-arching goals: EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE Experiential learning informed by theory, research and professional practice.

STUDENT SUCCESS Built on the strengths of our educational philosophy and learning environment.

OUR VISION A world leader in justice and public safety education and research.

OUR MISSION Innovative education for those who make communities safe.

OUR VALUES LEARNING THAT IS: • • •

Experiential and applied Informed by research Student-centred

SERVICE THAT IS: • • •

High quality Respectful Responsive

INTEGRITY IN: • • •

Education and Research Business practices Relationships

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES • • •

Graduate Studies Applied Research Technology Enhanced & Distributed Learning

• •

Learning Support Services International Education

BCAS Employment Planning and Leave Management The following information is a brief overview of leave, benefit and

vacation issues for BCAS staff pursuing ACP training. Please discuss these issues with a Superintendent while you are considering your options.

BCAS employees have a number of leave options available to them.

What options for leave are available?

Students can apply for leave under Article 21.24 Education Leave - this is without pay and without loss of seniority. It can be taken for the total time of the training or as needed in groups of days or weeks. Benefits continue during this time for full time employees attending ACP training.

How do I apply for leave if I want to attend ACP training?

Apply to your Superintendent for leave. Your approved leave form must be forwarded to Human Resources so the HR system can be updated.

Would I be able to accumulate more than 96 HRS of CTO if I plan on attending Training?

How? Yes, your CTO bank may be extended past 96 hours for the purpose of ACP training with the approval of your Superintendent and the Director, Human Resources

I am a FT employee, what happens to my benefits and seniority if I’m on Vacation Leave?

During vacation leave all benefits and seniority continue to accrue.

As a FT employee, am I able to roll over my vacation to help cover off some of the time away while attending ACP school?

Yes, arrangements can be made through your Superintendent to carry forward vacation from year to year to assist with your leave for training.

I am a PT employee, what is the impact on my benefits and Seniority Date if I’m on an approved Leave to attend ACP training?

ACP training days can be counted towards your availability requirements under F3.01. If you don’t get enough hours or shifts in for benefits in accordance with Schedule F16.01 you could lose benefits in the following year.

Would I be able to work during breaks in my ACP training?

Yes. When you submit your leave request to attend training you must include a request to work while you are attending training. Your Superintendent will approve your leave request and your request to work at the same time. You must continue to submit availability to Provincial Scheduling and you will be paid your regular paramedic wage when you work.

What is the hiring process for ACP’s within BCAS? Human Resources, BC Ambulance visit the ACP classes at the School of Health Sciences when students are in their final semester. During this visit, HR staff explain the process for students to follow once they have completed training and have obtained their license to practice. Usually it takes about 4 months to obtain an ACP License from the EMALB. Once the paramedics have their licenses, competitions are opened to create the opportunity to apply for ACP positions.

ADVANCED CARE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM APPLICANT GUIDE JIBC HEALTH SCIENCES DIVISION BRITISH COLUMBIA AMBULANCE SERVICE PREREQUISITE COURSES AND REQUIREMENTS What are the prerequisites for the ACP Program?

• PCP License with IV endorsement • BIOL203 Anatomy & Physiology (or equivalent) • PATH214 Pathophysiology (or equivalent) • PHARM215 Principles of Pharmacology(or equivalent) • ENGL100 Academic Writing (or equivalent) • Other General Requirements – (criminal record check, physical fitness assessment, CPR C, current immunizations, three written references)

I have taken similar courses can I get them assessed for prerequisite equivalency?

Send a copy of your transcript to acp@jibc.ca and we will advise you whether they are on our list of approved courses. If not we will ask you to submit course outlines for an in-depth review.

If I have not yet completed all the prerequisite courses can I still apply?

Yes, we have established an earlier application deadline so that, following your Candidate Assessment, you can confirm your seat in the program while completing your prerequisite courses. However, we highly recommend that you have completed or are registered for a minimum of two prerequisite courses at time of application.

Include details of your plan for completion of the prerequisite courses on your application form. All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to the start of the ACP Program.

What can I expect at the Candidate Assessment?

The Candidate Assessment consists of two assessment elements: an online multiple choice PCP knowledge test and a panel interview. The panel interview focuses on criteria that have been identified as relating to success in the ACP program such as learning motivation, work standards and communication skills. Scores from each component are compiled into a ranking of candidates and seats are filled accordingly.

Can I work during the program?

In-line with other post-secondary institutions, it is recommended that students in fulltime programs work no more than 15 hours a week.

How much does the ACP program Cost?

The full cost of the program is $14,613.90 plus a $262.35 Learner services fee (LSF), however this amount is payable in installments over the three terms as follows: Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Deposit

$500.00

Tuition

$5,994.60

Tuition

$4,872.01

Tuition

$3,247.29

LSF

$119.25

LSF

$79.50

LSF

$63.60

Tuition applicable April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015. All fees subject to change without notice The cost of textbooks is approximately $1,100.00 and there are additional costs for scrubs and course supplies.

FINANCIAL PLANNING Financial Aid – Where to Start

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Before applying for the ACP program, it is strongly recommended that you create a financial plan for the two years you will be pursuing the program. Most students, during this period of time, will have very little to no income and will be responsible for paying $15, 000 in program related costs. An easy place to start is by creating a budget. To find a good guide, simply Google “student budget” and find one that does all the calculations for you.

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Once you’ve developed an overview of your financial situation, you will have a better idea of how much money you will need to fund your studies and then can start applying for loans, grants, awards, bursaries, and other funding.

Student Loans • The ACP program is eligible for government student loans and grants through StudentAid BC. These loans are interest free while you are studying. Interest starts accumulating the month after your program ends, and loans have to start being repaid 6 months after this portion ends.

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You can apply online and receive an automatic assessment for grants. However, you MUST be accepted into the program before applying. Be sure to carefully read all the information posted on their website in order to avoid having your application declined.

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If you have previous student loans, you can put them on hold while you’re in the program. For more information on interest-free status or other student aid topics, you can visit the StudentAid BC and National Student Loan websites.

Student Line of Credit • If you aren’t eligible for student loans, you may want to consider a student line of credit (SLC). SLC’s are loans from a bank or credit union, which incurs interest the moment the funds are activated. Every bank and credit union varies, so make sure you compare rates and rules before signing. The Vancouver Police Credit Union

offers low interest rate loans for ACP students.

Employment Insurance (EI) and the ACP Program •

Students are not eligible for EI while they are taking the ACP program. In order to receive EI benefits, people have to be “willing and able to work”. As you will be in full-time studies, you will not fit the criteria.

Bursaries, Awards & Scholarships offered by JIBC • JIBC has a number of funding sources for which you can apply. The list is continually updated, so be sure to check our website for the upcoming bursaries and awards. Some are financial need based, while others are based on merit.

Funding for Pre-Requisites •

Although the prerequisites included in the Diploma of Health Sciences (EMS) are not eligible for StudentAid BC, they are eligible for JIBC student awards and bursaries, as well as student lines of credit (see above).

Emergency Medical Assistant Education Fund •

The Emergency & Health Services Commission of BC funds an award program specifically for ACP and PCP students. The fund has increased the award for ACP Students to $22,000 per award with approximately 30 awards given each year. The criteria are based on financial need and career goals, but the EMA Committee also considers community involvement and other languages learnt. There are three application deadlines per year. Please consult the financial aid section of the JIBC website for more information on deadlines and how to apply.

External Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships •

Our website also has a listing of external awards, bursaries & scholarships offered to a range of students based on varying criteria. We like “Student Awards”: a searchable website full of different funding opportunities for Canadian students. You can set up a profile and the website will run a search based on the information you provide.

Other Services from JIBC’s Financial Aid Office •

Finally, if you’re not sure how to start planning or need help looking for other funding, make an appointment with a financial aid staff member. We’re here to help plan from before you even apply to when you graduate.

Financial Aid & Awards Office Located in the Student Services Office of the New Westminster campus Phone: 604.528.5762 / 1.877.275.4332 Financialaid@jibc.ca http://www.jibc.ca/student-services/financial-aid-awards

As well as being financially prepared it is important to be academically ready and prepared.

Some questions to think about:

How do I get ready to become a successful student?

Think about school as a full time job with lots of overtime. Talk to your family/friends about the commitment school requires. What do you need from your family/friends to be successful? What adjustments do you need to make to make school a priority.

I know I have the skills to be a competent ACP, but when it comes to school, I have learning challenges or I learn differently. What do I need to be successful in an academic setting?

We know a lot more about different learning styles and challenges than even 5 years ago. Identifying learning difficulties early will increase your chances of getting the supports you need to be successful. If you have learning difficulties or suspect you have learning difficulties, we encourage you to contact JIBC Counselling Services upon applying to the program. In a confidential setting the Counsellor will talk to you about the resource. Phone 604.528.5884/1.877.275.4331 or email studentcounselling@jibc.ca.

How do I improve my study skills?

Study skills, like other skills, are learned. If you need to sharpen your study skills and learning, it is best to start early. Check out wwwjibc.ca/libarary, click on Learning Commons.

I get really nervous about doing exams. Maybe I have test anxiety?

If this happens to you in exams, there are strategies you can develop to overcome the nervousness and do well on exams. Counselling Services are available to help you with this.

How do I make an informed decision about applying to the ACP program?

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Educational Advising is available.

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Counsellors will help you clarify your educational and career goals.

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Counsellors will also help you to be academically prepared to succeed in the ACP program.

Counselling Services New Westminster campus Phone: 604.528.5884 /1.877.275.4331 studentcounselling@jibc.ca

Justice Institute of British Columbia New Westminster Campus 715 McBride Blvd New Westminster, BC V3L 5T4 Canada Tel. 604.528.5590 Toll free 1.877.528.5591 Fax. 604.528.5653 www.jibc.ca/sohs sohs@jibc.ca Victoria Campus 810 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8W 1H8 Canada Okanagan Campus 825 Walrod Street Kelowna, BC V1Y 2S4 Canada

BCAS HR Office www.bcas.ca

Application timelines Now that you have all the information we can think of that is helpful for you to make a decision to apply to the ACP Program you still may be asking:

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