SAIT's accredited Primary Care Paramedic certificate prepares students for pre-hospital emergency care through blended study, simulation and clinical practicums. Applicants need specified high-school marks, English proficiency, an EMR credential or accepted equivalent, and both Casper and the profession-specific entrance assessment.
- Program
- Primary Care Paramedic
- Credential
- Primary Care Paramedic certificate
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Casper
- Required
- Next deadline
- October 8, 2026 (Casper deadline)
- Length
- 40 weeks across three semesters
Casper Requirement for Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- CASPer - Winter 2027 Primary Care Paramedic
- Languages
- English
- Applicant ID to enter
- SAIT ID is optional when registering for Casper.
- Score distribution deadline
- October 8, 2026
- Distribution fee
- $18 CAD per program; the Casper assessment costs $50 CAD.
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Select the Primary Care Paramedic assessment for your intake, use the same name and email as on your SAIT application, and distribute your result to the program by its Casper deadline at 6 pm MST. A valid government-issued photo ID is needed to write the test.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- ApplyAlberta for domestic applicants; SAIT Virtual Admissions System for international applicants.
- Applications open
- 2026-03-04 for domestic Winter 2027 applications; international applications opened 2025-12-07.
- Application fee
- $120 CAD domestic; $175 CAD international, non-refundable.
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Casper deadline | October 8, 2026upcoming |
| Program application deadline | October 16, 2026upcoming |
| PSEA deadline | October 19, 2026upcoming |
| Final transcript deadline for conditional offers | December 1, 2026upcoming |
Submit the program application and complete both required entrance tests. The Casper deadline is at 6 pm MST, and the PSEA deadline is at 4:30 pm MST. SAIT reviews applications after it receives academic documents and validates the test results. Use the same name and email across your application and testing registrations.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic Admissions Statistics
Period: 2025 SAIT Graduate Employment Survey; conducted January 9 to April 19, 2026
- Primary Care Paramedic graduate employment rate: 98%
- Primary Care Paramedic average starting salary: $66,389
Eligibility Requirements for Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic
- Degree / credits
Complete an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certificate, a medical sciences-related diploma or degree, or an accepted equivalent.
- Language proficiency
All candidates, including those educated in Canada, must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission.
Admission pathways
- Accepted EMR equivalents: LPN, RN or licensed physician with at least one year of experience; or MFR/FMR with ITLS provider certification.
Applicants must be at least 18 when the program's second semester begins.
Other requirements
- Prior clinical qualification: Provide proof of an EMR certificate, medical sciences-related diploma or degree, or accepted equivalent.
- Practicum documents: Before practicum, provide the program consent form, immunization documents, police information check, CPR certificate and N95 mask-fit testing certificate.
Selection Factors Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Math 20-1 or 20-2 | At least 50% Or equivalent |
| English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 | At least 50% Or equivalent |
| Biology 30 or Science 30 | At least 50% SAIT ANPH 209 is accepted instead; equivalents also accepted. |
GPA
- Minimum
- At least 50% in each required high-school subject and at least 50% in the School of Health and Public Safety entrance testing process. To progress in the program, attain a PGPA and/or CGPA of 2.0 or better each semester and pass prerequisite courses.
Admission uses specified course marks and entrance testing, not a published competitive GPA.
Admissions tests
- Profession-Specific Entrance Assessment (PSEA) (required): Write the Primary Care Paramedic PSEA; one attempt per program intake. Fee: $25 USD.
- English Language Proficiency (required): All applicants, including those educated in Canada, must demonstrate proficiency before admission.
Experience and volunteer hours
Not required.
No general volunteer-hours requirement is listed. The LPN, RN and licensed-physician alternatives to the EMR credential each require at least one year of experience.
How applicants are ranked
Applicants must meet or conditionally meet academic requirements and meet the entrance-testing benchmark. Qualified applicants are ranked by their combined Casper and PSEA entrance-test scores for two rounds of offers; remaining qualified applicants are placed on a ranked waitlist.
Prepare for Casper and Your Interview
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic
- Program length
- 40 weeks across three semesters
- Structure
Full-time, 34.5 credits across 15 courses. The Winter intake is blended: theory is primarily online, with labs on campus; clinical and ambulance practicums are required.
- Campuses
- Calgary
The program prepares graduates for immediate employment in Alberta's emergency medical services. It is accredited by Accreditation Canada at the Primary Care Paramedic level and meets the Alberta College of Paramedics core competencies. Graduates report solid Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) competencies that ease Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) training and practicums.
Campus and facilities
Calgary campus labs include patient-care and ambulance simulations; practicum placement may require travel or relocation.
Tuition and Funding at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- 2026/27 estimated domestic tuition and fees: $7,431.50 total
- 2026/27 estimated international tuition and fees: $27,545 total
- Books and supplies: Approximately $4,000 for the program
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology's Mission and Values
The Primary Care Paramedic program is accredited by Accreditation Canada at the Primary Care Paramedic level and meets the Alberta College of Paramedics core competencies.
The Primary Care Paramedic program is accredited by Accreditation Canada at the Primary Care Paramedic level and meets the Alberta College of Paramedics core competencies.
What Applicants Are Saying
Students report that strong preparation in English 30/33, Biology 30, and Math 20 Pure or Applied positions candidates effectively, as the curriculum builds directly on this foundation. Matriculated students describe the curriculum as comprehensive, equipping participants with skills for multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Graduates report solid PCP competencies that ease ACP training and practicums. Preceptors note SAIT-trained students perform capably compared to peers from other Alberta programs. Graduates call it the top PCP course in Alberta, with near-guaranteed employment post-accreditation. Current students and alumni stress that SAIT's preparation exceeds competitors, particularly for practicums. One preceptor shared: "Solid PCP skills make ACP school much easier and practicums more bearable." Completing the program provides accreditation without typically hindering medical school applications, per student reports.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic Application
- Confirm the required course marks, English proficiency and EMR credential or accepted equivalent. Check that you will be 18 when the second semester begins.
- Register for the Primary Care Paramedic Casper and PSEA for your intake; use the same name and email across both tests and your SAIT application.
- Arrange transcripts and proof of your prior credential for your application.
- Use Acuity's practice questions and review the subjects tested by SAIT's PSEA.
- Check your SAIT application portal for document and testing updates.
More About Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic
- Accreditation
Accredited by Accreditation Canada at the Primary Care Paramedic level; meets Alberta College of Paramedics core competency requirements.
- Employment
SAIT reports a 98% graduate employment rate for Primary Care Paramedic.
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Primary Care Paramedic
Is Casper required for SAIT Primary Care Paramedic admissions?
Yes. Winter-intake applicants must also write SAIT's PSEA and distribute their Casper result to the program.
What are the entry grades?
At least 50% in Math 20-1 or 20-2, English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2, and Biology 30 or Science 30, or accepted equivalents.
What is the age requirement?
You must be at least 18 when the second semester begins.
Is English proficiency required for Canadian-educated applicants?
Yes, before admission.
How long is the program?
It spans 40 weeks over three semesters; the Winter intake blends online theory with on-campus labs.
Is it accredited?
Yes, by Accreditation Canada at the Primary Care Paramedic level.
What Casper dates are available?
Check Acuity for bookable sittings and distribute your result by the published program deadline.
Does the certificate affect medical-school applications?
Check the admissions requirements of each medical school you plan to apply to.
Sources
- SAIT Primary Care Paramedic
- SAIT Winter and Spring 2027 Entrance Testing
- SAIT Casper Assessment
- SAIT PSEA
- SAIT Apply
- SAIT Transcripts and Supporting Documents
- SAIT Practicum Requirements
- SAIT Graduate Employment Survey
Last updated: September 26, 2026