REGINA — Financial assistance is being made available to individuals pursuing a frontline paramedic career in Saskatchewan.
One-time funding of $530,000 for training bursaries will be available to students and new graduates of paramedic programs who commit to joining Emergency Medical Services in Saskatchewan. The bursaries are administered by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Bursaries will range from $5,000 for urban communities to $10,000 in rural and northern communities.
"Last year's bursary program was a great success and allowed qualified applicants to receive essential financial aid for their education,” Saskatchewan Health Authority Provincial Clinical and Support Services Vice President Bryan Witt said.
“The additional funding for the 2024-25 academic year will further strengthen the future of paramedicine in our province. A well-trained workforce is vital to meeting the growing health care needs of our communities."
"The Saskatchewan government's initiative to provide bursaries for the second year in a row for paramedics is a crucial step in continuing to address the pressing shortage of health-care professionals in the province," Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan (PSCS) Vice-President Jessica Brost said.
"By offering financial support to those pursuing careers as paramedics, the government is not only easing the burden of education costs but also actively encouraging more individuals to enter this vital field. "
Paramedic training programs in Saskatchewan are primarily offered through Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatchewan's regional colleges. Medavie HealthEd also provides an Advanced Care Paramedic program.
To qualify for bursaries, candidates need to meet the following criteria:
- Be accepted into or a new graduate of a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) program;
- Pass a pre-employment screening process through the Saskatchewan Health Authority or a contracted EMS provider;
- Sign a return for service agreement for a minimum of two years employment with ground EMS in Saskatchewan, operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority or a contracted EMS provider; and
- Advanced Care Paramedic candidates will need to sign the agreement with services currently designated as, or prioritized for, future Advanced Life Support designation.
Primary Care Paramedic training seats at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatchewan's regional colleges were increased by 100 from 152 to 252 in 2023. Additional Primary Care Paramedic training seats became available in fall 2023.
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