How to Become an Emergency Medical Assistant in British Columbia
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board to work as an emergency medical assistant in British Columbia or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- emergency medical responder, primary care paramedic, advanced care paramedic, critical care paramedic
Show the source
“In British Columbia, you must hold a valid licence to practice as a first responder, emergency medical responder, primary care paramedic, advanced care paramedic, infant transfer team or critical care paramedic.”
From www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps, listed one-time fees $50
- Licensed in another province: 1 step
- Annual fees
-
- Licence Renewal Fee: $50
Source
“Emergency Medical Responder | $ 50.00 | $ 400.00 | $ 450.00 | $ 50.00”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
- Licence Renewal Fee: $50
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- Listed one-time fees: $50
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $50
-
You must successfully complete all exams for your licence level before you are eligible for a licence.
Source
“You are eligible for a licence when you have successfully completed all exams for your licence level.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par... -
Complete and electronically submit an Application for Licence form.
Source
“Complete and electronically submit an Application for Licence form.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par... -
You must undergo a criminal record check as part of the application.
Source
“Undergo a criminal record check.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par... -
Submit the EMA Licence Payment form to pay the applicable fees.
- Licence Fee (if written examination is required): $50
Source
“Emergency Medical Responder | $ 50.00”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Source
“Submit the EMA Licence Payment form to pay the applicable fees.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par... - Licence Fee (if written examination is required): $50
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $50
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $50 | 100% |
| One-time total | $50 | 100% |
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Licence Renewal Fee: $50
Source
“Emergency Medical Responder | $ 50.00 | $ 400.00 | $ 450.00 | $ 50.00”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Licensed in another province
0 of 1 done
- 1 step without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $50
-
Applicants transferring from another province may be required to complete a written or practical exam.
Source
“initial licensing for applicants transferring from another province (unless a written or practical exam is required)”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board
1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Licence Renewal Fee: $50
Source
“Emergency Medical Responder | $ 50.00 | $ 400.00 | $ 450.00 | $ 50.00”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- NSF charge: $30
Source
“A NSF charge of $30.00 will be added to the amount of fees due.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Requirements
Police check
Applicants must undergo a criminal record check.
Source
“Undergo a criminal record check.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Other
No emergency medical assistant licences will be issued to applicants under the age of 16.
Source
“No emergency medical assistant licences will be issued to applicants under the age of 16;”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...Licence holders aged 16 to 18 must be supervised by a fully licensed EMA of the same level or higher who is at least 19 years old, until they turn 19.
Source
“All licence holders that are 16 to 18 years old must be supervised by a fully licensed EMAs of the same level or higher who is at least 19 years old. This term and condition is removed when a licence holder turns 19.”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...Licences require yearly continuing competence submissions.
Source
“Emergency medical responder, primary care paramedic and advanced care paramedic licences are valid for five years and require [yearly continuing competence submissions]”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Already licensed in another province?
Extra steps
Applicants transferring from another province pay no initial licensing fees unless a written or practical exam is required, indicating such exams may be required of them. Source
“There are no licence fees associated with emergency medical assistant first responder licensing, student licensing and initial licensing for applicants transferring from another province (unless a written or practical exam is required).”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board
Exams
-
written examination
Source
“Licence Fee (if written examination is required)”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par... -
practical examination
Source
“Licence Fee (if practical examination is required)”
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par...
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board
Demand and pay
No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.
Emergency medical assistants in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Licence Applications - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/par... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as an emergency medical assistant in British Columbia?
Yes. Registration with the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title emergency medical responder, primary care paramedic or advanced care paramedic.
Which exams are required?
written examination, practical examination.
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