Emergency Medical Assistants
Last updated on June 13, 2017The Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board is the regulatory body established for the health profession of emergency medical assistants (paramedics and first responders).
The Licensing Board has been established under the Emergency Health Services Act since August 30, 1991, and operates in accordance with the Act (as amended, effective April 1, 2013), the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation (as amended - see below), the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board Regulation (effective April 1, 2013) and the Emergency Health Services Regulation (as amended - see below).
Emergency medical assistants have been regulated under British Columbia legislation since 1975. Before the Licensing Board was established, they were regulated by British Columbia Emergency Health Services under its former name of the Emergency and Health Services Commission.
The licensing board is composed of three members, one of whom must be an emergency medical assistant selected in the prescribed manner and another of whom must be a medical practitioner, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
Amendments to the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation
| Approved Regulation Amendments | Date |
|
Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to allow first responders to administer naloxone to individuals who have overdosed on opioids. |
January 8, 2016 MO 017/2016 BC Reg 2/2016 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to designate and include the Community Paramedicine Program as a service within the purposes of the corporation. | November 15, 2015 MO 379/2015 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to update the services that emergency medical assistants (EMAs) at the PCP, ACP, CCP, and ITT categories may perform. | May 1, 2014 MO 141/2014 BC Reg 76/2014 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to make further housekeeping changes consequential to bringing into force of the Emergency and Health Services Amendment Act, 2013 | July 17, 2013 MO 159/2013 BC Reg 194/2013 (PDF, 705KB) |
| Effective April 1, 2013, brings into force repeal (as enacted in Emergency and Health Services Amendment Act, 2013) of amendments enacted in the Health Planning Statutes Amendment Act, 2002, that would have disestablished the Licensing Board. Also makes the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board Regulation. | March 27, 2013 OIC 188/2013 BC Reg 145/2013 (PDF, 1.0MB) |
| Effective April 1, 2013, amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation and the Emergency and Health Services Regulation to make house-keeping changes consequential to bringing into force of the Emergency and Health Services Amendment Act, 2013. | March 26, 2013 MO 74/2013 BC Reg 144/2013 (PDF, 726KB) |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to remove IV starts from the continuing competence requirements for PCPs. | September 27, 2012 MO 209/2012 BC Reg 288/2012 (PDF, 551KB) |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation regarding renewal and reinstatement of licences, and the EMA continuing competence program, effective April 1, 2011. | March 31, 2011 MO 081/2011 BC Reg 62/2011 |
| Effective September 1, 2011, brings into force section 11.1 of the Emergency and Health Services Act, requiring EMAs to comply with advance directives for refusing service, as enacted in the Adult Guardianship and Planning Statutes Amendment Act, 2007. | February 3, 2011 OIC 026/2011 BC Reg 14/2011 |
| Amends Schedules 1 and 2 of the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to allow EMRs and PCPs to use additional forms of airway management for patient care. | January 17, 2011 MO 010/2011 BC Reg 3/2011 |
| Effective July 1, 2010, re-enacts the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation, including new authority for the Licensing Board to endorse licenses allowing EMAs to provide 'out-of scope' services while participating in research projects approved by the Commission. | June 29, 2010 MO 191/2010 BC Reg 210/2010 |
| Effective July 1, 2010, brings into force amendments to section 14 of the Emergency and Health Services Act regarding regulation-making powers for the practice of EMAs as enacted in the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2010. Also repeals the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation (BC Reg 562/2004) and amends the Health Emergency Regulation by changing its name to Emergency and Health Services Regulation and adding the EMA licence fee provisions formerly found in BC Reg 562/2004. | June 25, 2010 OIC 459/2010 BC Reg 191/2010 |
| Brings into force repeal of section 11 of the Emergency and Health Services Act regarding limits on the practice of EMAs, as enacted in the Health Planning Statutes Amendment Act, 2002. | April 29, 2010 OIC 230/2010 BC Reg 107/2010 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation regarding temporary licensure in extraordinary circumstances. | June 30, 2009 OIC 300/2009 BC Reg 167/2009 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to establish licence fees, effective April 15, 2007. | March 30, 2007 OIC 180/2007 BC Reg 75/2007 |
| Amends section 6 of the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation extending the maximum temporary licence period from 180 days to one year. | March 1, 2007 OIC 114/2007 BC Reg 45/2007 |
| Amends Schedules 1 and 2 of the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation regarding services that may be provided. | July 13, 2006 OIC 525/2006 BC Reg 207/2006 |
| Effective January 1, 2005, repeals the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation (BC Reg 260/91) and enacts the new Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation. | December 9, 2004 OIC 1211/2004 BC Reg 562/2004 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation regarding recertification based on continuing education. | November 8, 2001 OIC 979/2001 BC Reg 262/2001 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to include registration provisions for labour mobility applicants under the Agreement on Internal Trade. | October 18, 2001 OIC 920/2001 BC Reg 246/2001 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation regarding special reinstatement. | March 30, 2001 OIC 319/2001 BC Reg 77/2001 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to: provide that the EMA FR licence expires after 3 years; make it a condition of every licence that active employment in British Columbia must not be interrupted by any continuous period of more than six months; make it a condition of every licence that EMAs perform a certain number of calls as required by the Licensing Board. | April 14, 2000 OIC 562/2000 BC Reg 125/2000 |
| Amends the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation regarding State of Washington EMAs. | June 2, 1995 OIC 633/95 BC Reg 240/95 |
| Brings into force provisions of the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 1989, that establish the Licensing Board. Repeals the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation (BC Reg 239/82) and enacts the new Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation. |
August 30, 1991 OIC 1181/91 BC Reg 260/91 |
Contact information
Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Branch
Ministry of Health