Becoming a registered paramedic in PEI

Information for internationally educated paramedics

General information

Paramedics who held a valid Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license under the former Act are as of April 1, 2024, deemed to be registered with the new College of Paramedicine of Prince Edward Island. The first registration renewal will be due on March 31, 2025.

Paramedicine became a self-regulated health profession in Prince Edward Island on April 1, 2024. All paramedics practising in the province must be registered with the College of Paramedicine of PEI (CPPEI, the College) to practise their profession or use their appropriate titles legally.

The register is divided as follows:

• Primary care paramedics
• Intermediate care paramedics
• Advanced care paramedics
• Critical care paramedics

Each of these groups, except for intermediate care paramedics, is divided into three sub-registers:

• general register - where most paramedics are registered
• provisional register - for new graduates working under supervision while waiting to complete the entry-to-practice exam to fulfill general registration requirements at their level
• special register - where paramedics registered in other regulated Canadian provinces apply to practise in PEI for a limited time and special purpose

The intermediate care paramedic (ICP) is a temporary designation reserved for a small group of paramedics who have completed additional training beyond the primary care paramedic level (in-house or other) and were previously registered with the PEI government. Currently, there is no paramedicine education program for this level of care in Canada and this registration category will be phased out over the coming years. This type of registration can be renewed, but not reinstated.

General registration requirements

Pursuant to the PEI Regulated Health Professions Act, all applicants applying must:

• Be entitled to work in Canada;
• Have reasonable proficiency in written and spoken English;
• Meet education and examination requirements set out in the regulations;
• Meet requirements concerning the currency of professional knowledge and skills set out in the regulations;
• Not have been found guilty of an offence that, in the College Council's opinion, renders the applicants unsuitable to practise the regulated health profession;
• Not have been disciplined by a professional regulatory body for misconduct, incompetence or incapacity that, in the Council's opinion, renders the applicant unsuitable to practise the regulated health profession; and
• Hold or be covered by professional liability insurance or protection as required by the regulations.

Further, to be considered for registration with the College all applicants must:

• Meet the education and examination requirements for their professional level;
• Meet the professional currency requirements;
• Submit additional required documents as required for the type of registration they are applying for; and
• Pay applicable fees.

Professionals registered in other Canadian provinces

Under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), regulated professions have mutual recognition of credentials across provinces. This means that a registered paramedic in good standing with a regulatory body in any other regulated Canadian province can apply for registration in PEI as a labour mobility applicant.