Paramedic Training Bursaries
Training bursaries are available to students and new graduates of paramedic programs who commit to joining Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Saskatchewan.
Approximately 58 bursaries are being provided to support paramedic training for EMS providers within the province. Bursaries range from $5,000 to $10,000.
To qualify for bursaries, candidates need to meet the following criteria:
- Be accepted into or are a new graduate of a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) or an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) program;
- Be eligible for licensure with the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics upon completion of the program;
- Pass pre-employment screening process through the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) or a Saskatchewan contracted EMS provider;
- Sign a return for service agreement for a minimum of two years employment with ground EMS in Saskatchewan, operated by the SHA or a contracted EMS provider.
- ACP 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.
Questions and answers
Why are you offering these bursaries for paramedic training?
Having stable, reliable Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that meet patient needs in communities across the province and ensuring the future of those services is a priority for the Government of Saskatchewan.
Additional paramedics are needed to address the current shortages of paramedics in Saskatchewan and stabilize paramedic staffing for ground ambulance services throughout the province.
Providing dedicated financial supports to students and new graduates of Primary Care Paramedic (PCPs) and Advanced Care Paramedic (ACPs) programs will help attract qualified paramedics to EMS.
These bursaries will support future paramedics to study and work in the EMS field, especially benefitting communities across the province.
How much will be offered for each training bursary?
Training bursaries will range from $5,000 for Regina and Saskatoon to $10,000 for all other Saskatchewan locations.
How many bursaries will be available and how will they be distributed?
Approximately 58 bursaries will be available for paramedic training and will be distributed between Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and contracted EMS services.
Who will be eligible for the bursaries?
To qualify for bursaries, candidates need to meet the following criteria:
- Be accepted into or are a new graduate of a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) or an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) program;
- Be eligible for licensure with the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics upon completion of the program;
- Pass pre-employment screening process through the Saskatchewan Health Authority or a Saskatchewan contracted EMS provider;
- Sign a return for service agreement for a minimum of two years employment with ground EMS in Saskatchewan, operated by the SHA or a contracted EMS provider;
- ACP candidates will need to sign the agreement with services currently designated as, or prioritized for future Advanced Life Support designation.
*Please note applicants must meet all requisite standards and hiring criteria of the Saskatchewan ambulance service they are applying with.
Do students qualify if they are currently in school?
Yes, students who have been accepted into a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) or Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) program and will be eligible for licensure in Saskatchewan may qualify for these bursaries if they meet all other eligibility criteria.
If I am already employed as a PCP or ACP am I eligible for a bursary?
These incentive dollars are for students not currently employed in EMS that are enrolled in a PCP program or are employed at an ambulance service but are looking to upgrade to a higher level practitioner classification.
For example:
- An Emergency Medical Responder employed at an ambulance service may be eligible for a bursary if they are enrolled in a Primary Care Paramedic program and meet the rest of the eligibility requirements; or
- A Primary Care Paramedic employed at an ambulance service may be eligible for a bursary if they are enrolled in an Advanced Care Paramedic program and meet the rest of the eligibility requirements.
When and how can I apply for this bursary?
- The application submission process is closed at this time.
- Questions? Contact shaemsmanagement@saskhealthauthority.ca
Thank you for your interest in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Saskatchewan.
What is the waiting list to get into a paramedic program in Saskatchewan?
Prior to the additional 100 Primary Care Paramedic training seats, there was a waiting list of about two years to get into the paramedic program in Saskatchewan. These additional training seats have reduced the current wait lists to just over a year in both Regina and Saskatoon.
There is currently no wait list for the Advanced Care Paramedic program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Regina or Saskatoon.
What is the cost of completing a PCP and ACP program in Saskatchewan?
There are a number of institutions that offer PCP and ACP programs. As an example, for an estimate of costs, tuition, fees and material costs to students are approximately $12,000 for the PCP program and $18,000 for the ACP program through Saskatchewan Polytechnic.