The province is going to foot the tuition bill if you want to become a paramedic or emergency medical responder– a new role that works alongside paramedics, to help keep more of them on the road.
In return paramedics must work in the province for four years and the emergency medical responders, for two years.
Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson says it is an investment in people who want to save lives.
“It’s an opportunity for them to learn and work in their communities and for our province to increase the number of skilled paramedics and emergency medical responders,” said Thompson.
“As our population grows, so too will our demand for emergency health services. We must be proactive now and use every tool at our disposal to increase the number of people on the ground who can respond to an emergency.”
This recruitment initiative includes:
– about 180 emergency medical responders; investment of $1.9 million to cover tuition
– about 150 new primary care paramedics; investment of $3.58 million
– about 135 primary care paramedics, currently in training or recent graduates, whose tuition was already 50 per cent covered by the province in exchange for three years of service – the other half will now be covered for one additional year of service; an investment of $1.35 million.
It total, the province will cover the cost of tuition for more than 460 people.
There are currently 692 paramedics in Nova Scotia and 14 emergency medical responders, with another 200 who will be trained over the next two years.
