Three Routes Start
College diploma

Paramedic

DEC Soins préhospitaliers d'urgence (3 years) + national registry

22 of 30 verified for Quebec; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify
Quebec works differently: trades are a nearly free DEP then a CCQ apprenticeship; college is a 3-year DEC at a cégep (tuition-free for residents); university is 3 years after a 2-year pre-university DEC. Numbers from IMT en ligne, CCQ, FIQ scales and the Relance surveys.
Years to credential3
First real paycheque~3 years
Time in a classroom55%
Total cost$3,400
Typical debt after$0
Demand in QuebecHigh

The first ten years

schoolschoolschoolschoolearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$467k3 years at $0 while in school, then $59,700 rising to $69,900 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$3ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$464kthe number on the card
Low to high$393k to $534kpay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the Quebec median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isEmergency response in ambulance crews. Adrenaline, judgement under pressure, long shifts.
What actually stops peopleCompetitive admission plus fitness testing and a clean driving record.
The downsideTrauma exposure and burnout are real; many paramedics move on within ten years.
If you're the parentA respected, well-paid public-sector job in two years. The emotional toll is the thing to talk about honestly.
Local opportunities in Quebec

Ready to explore this for real?

Eight quick questions about whether this route fits your life, not just your grades. You'll get a readiness check, and if you want, we'll introduce you to employers, unions or programs in your region.

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How to enter

What you need
  • Courses: Biology, Chemistry, English (U)
  • Average around 75+
Deadlines in Quebec
  • SRAM (cégep) March 1 for fall; a DEC takes 2 or 3 years
  • AFE in spring

Next steps in Quebec

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

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In QuebecCégep tuition is free for Quebec residents; only fees apply. Union agreements have expired, so rates will rise.
www.cegepgarneau.ca · www.quebec.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for Quebec Sources: Cégep fees $537/yr (Cégep Garneau 2025-26); FPHQ collective agreement step 1 $28.70; IMT 32102 median $33.60/h; MESS Diagnostic 2025-2029: léger déficit

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