BC Scope Update: Understanding Ministerial Order M292

In response to evolving healthcare needs and the growing complexity of pre-hospital care, British Columbia’s Ministry of Health issued Ministerial Order M292 in September 2022, amending the Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation to broaden the legal scope of practice for Emergency Medical Assistants (EMAs), including Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs). These changes were designed to strengthen the province’s capacity to deliver advanced life‑saving interventions. The EMALB registry was updated in December 2022 to reflect the new scope, with revised licensure letters issued to fully licensed practitioners shortly after.

What the Scope Update Means for EMRs and First Responders

Under the expanded authority of M292, EMRs licensed in BC can now perform additional assessments and interventions previously reserved for higher levels, including non-invasive diagnostic testing (e.g. blood pressure, glucose monitoring), and may administer medications such as epinephrine, naloxone, nitroglycerin, nitrous oxide, inhaled bronchodilators, platelet inhibitors, and oral analgesics where indicated. Endorsements may also include intravenous line maintenance (absent medications or blood products), chest auscultation, and soft‑tissue injury management. These competencies align BC’s practice standards more closely with national EMR scope profiles and support enhanced continuity of care in out‑of‑hospital settings.

Training and Implementation: ProSafe’s Scope Update

To safely and effectively adopt these expanded responsibilities, licensees must complete authorized scope‑update training that covers the Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 competencies as outlined in Order M292. Until these educational and competency requirements are met, EMRs and other EMA licence holders are not permitted to practice under the enhanced scope—even if their licence has been amended in the registry. ProSafe’s comprehensive “Scope Update” is specifically designed to fulfill this requirement, ensuring that practitioners gain the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to practice within the updated provincial standards.

Why This Matters—and How to Get Started

These enhancements mark a significant change for emergency medical response in British Columbia—enabling first responders and EMRs to provide more effective, evidence‑informed care when every second counts. By expanding the toolkit available to these practitioners, Order M292 helps bridge gaps in care, especially in communities where timely access to paramedic services may be limited. We are proud to support this transition through best-in-class education and training.

To ensure you’re legally compliant and practice ready under the new provincial standard, register for Prosafe’s Scope Update program today: https://www.prosafetraining.ca/first-responder-emergency-medical-responder-scope-update/.