Determine whether you want to be an intermediate care, advanced care, critical care, community or primary care paramedic. In addition to these designations, you could also become an emergency medical dispatcher. Note that Nova Scotia's Emergency Health Services is no longer registering new intermediate care paramedics.
Browse the various paramedic education programs that are accredited by the Canadian Medical Association. You can also choose a program that is approved by the EHS (Emergency Health Services) Registration Committee.
Determine what school would be best for you if you wanted to become a primary care paramedic. Programs are available at: Maritime School of Paramedicine/St. John Ambulance, Canadian Career College, Centennial College, Holland College, Atlantic Paramedic Academy and Universite Sainte Anne. If you wanted to become an advanced care paramedic, programs are available at Holland College/Nova Scotia Community College, Atlantic Paramedic Academy, Maritime School of Paramedicine/St. John Ambulance, Universite Sainte Anne. For critical care paramedics there is the Health Care Corporation of St. John's. All of these programs are approved by the Canadian Medical Association.
Stay up to date on new legislation regarding paramedics in Nova Scotia. The most recent legislation, Bill No. 158, was introduced in 2005 and sets forth the responsibilities of paramedics. It is generally referred to as the Paramedics Act.
Register with the Nova Scotia Department of Health once you have completed your paramedic education program and your proper designation as a paramedic. Once the College of Paramedics of Nova Scotia (CPNS) is up and running, it will replace the EHS as the licensing board of Nova Scotia.