Overview

All air and land ambulance services must be certified by the Ministry of Health to operate in the province. For a copy of the most recent version of the Land Ambulance Certification Standards, please visit the Paramedic Practice Documents section.

To be considered for certification by the Ministry of Health as an air ambulance operator, an agreement with Ornge to operate an air ambulance service and to receive Ornge base hospital program services is required. Please contact Ornge for further information.

How to be certified to operate an ambulance service

To be certified to operate an ambulance service in Ontario, you must complete and submit an application form and associated fee by certified cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance in the amount of $40.00.

Applications must be submitted at least 120 days before the ambulance service is intended to begin.

Requests for an application form and completed forms (along with the associated fee) can be sent to:

Inspections & Certifications
Emergency Health Regulatory and Accountability Branch
590 Rossland Road East
Whitby ON L1N 9G5
Attention: Chair, New Operator Certification Panel
Phone: 905-665-8086

New operator certification package

Once the application and fee are received, a new operator certification package will be provided to the applicant, typically within seven business days. The package sets out the criteria and requirements an applicant will need to meet to demonstrate their readiness to be certified to provide land ambulance service in Ontario.

New operator process and certification

Applicants will need to submit documentation that outlines how they intend to fulfill the legislated requirements as set out in the certification package. Once the applicant has submitted the required documentation, a new operator panel will be convened with representatives from the ministry and ambulance services to finalize the process.

When the applicant has successfully completed this process, the new operator panel will recommend the operator to the certifying authority for certification as an ambulance service operator for a term of 1 year. They will then receive a certificate to operate an ambulance service in Ontario.

Within 180 days of receiving a certificate to operate an ambulance service, the operator must undergo an Ambulance Service Review. Successful completion of the Ambulance Service Review will typically result in a three-year certificate to operate.

Recertification

Certified ambulance service operators must undergo a ministry-led peer recertification process every 3 years – before their existing certificate has expired. This process confirms that the operator meets compliance with legislated land or air certification standards as applicable. The certification of a service is not extendable under the Ambulance Act.

Notice of an upcoming Ambulance Service Review is given 90 days before the on-site review occurs. Notification includes a team checklist self-assessment and resource tool, which helps an ambulance service prepare for the on-site review.

Ambulance service providers will also be sent a letter to confirm the date and time of their review, approximately 30 days before the on-site visit.

When a service has successfully completed the ambulance service review, demonstrating compliance with the land or air ambulance certification standards, the service is issued a three-year certificate to operate an ambulance service. When an ambulance service does not initially meet certification standards, a supplemental visit is conducted to re-evaluate the service’s success in meeting the standards.

The Ambulance Service Review team includes representation from about 70% of Ontario’s paramedic services. The on-site team includes one ministry team leader, Service Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, Commanders, Deputy Commanders, Superintendents – as well as Primary, Advanced and Critical Care Paramedics. Team members are considered subject experts in their field, working together to ensure excellence in ambulance services for all Ontarians.

Certifying ambulance models

In addition to certifying ambulance service operators, the Emergency Health Services Division also certifies various types of ambulance models built by manufacturers.

Every new and remounted ambulance intended to be used in Ontario must be certified by the ministry before it can be placed in service.

To obtain certification for an ambulance model produced by a manufacturer, it must be in full compliance with the Ontario Provincial Land Ambulance and Emergency Response Vehicle Standard that is current at the time of its delivery.

The process for certification of an ambulance model may include a review of testing documentation for the specific model. It could also include on-site visits to the manufacturer’s production or testing facilities at times when manufacturing or performance standard testing of ambulances intended for use in Ontario is occurring.

To help schedule certification of new ambulance models, the manufacturer shall provide the Emergency Health Regulatory and Compliance Branch Director with a minimum of 60 calendar days’ notice before commencing testing of a new ambulance model.

For a copy the most recent version of the Ontario Provincial Land Ambulance and Emergency Response Vehicle Standard, please visit the Paramedic Practice Documents section.

Emergency response vehicles

Currently, for every emergency response vehicle (ERV), the operator, either directly through a contractor, or indirectly through a third party, must ensure that all necessary compliance testing is undertaken and completed. The ministry does not currently issue compliance certification for ERVs.

As of November 1, 2023, every ERV intended to be used in Ontario must be certified by the ministry before it can be placed in service.

To obtain certification for an ERV produced by a manufacturer, it must be in full compliance with the Ontario Provincial Land Ambulance and Emergency Response Vehicle Standard that is current at the time of its delivery.

The process for certification of an ERV may include a review of testing documentation for the specific model. It could also include on-site visits to the manufacturer’s production or testing facilities at times when manufacturing and/or performance standard testing of ERVs intended for use in Ontario is occurring.

To help schedule certification of ERVs, the manufacturer shall provide the Emergency Health Regulatory and Compliance Branch Director with a minimum of 60 calendar days’ notice before commencing testing related to the certification of an ERV model.

For a copy the most recent version of the Ontario Provincial Land Ambulance and Emergency Response Vehicle Standard, please visit the Paramedic Practice Documents section.

Inspections

Inspectors visit air and land ambulance service operators, ambulance communication services, and base hospitals to ensure they are complying with current legislation, regulations and standards under the Ambulance Act. Inspections can be scheduled or unscheduled, in-depth or of specific focus. Inspectors also have authority under legislation to visit an ambulance service at any time.

Types of inspections

Ambulance service reviews

Air and land ambulance services must have an Ambulance Service Review every 3 years. An ambulance service review is a ministry-led peer recertification process that must take place before an existing certificate expires. It confirms that an ambulance service operator meets legislated land or air certification standards.

The Ambulance Service Review team uses several activities and processes to evaluate whether a service provider is meeting the requirements of the legislation, regulations and standards. The team may utilize methods such as interviews with service staff, documentation review, paramedic performance evaluations, observations and examinations of vehicles and equipment.

Follow-up inspections

After an ambulance service has been found to meet its certification standards, follow-up inspections take place. They confirm that the ambulance service has completed any actions required to address observations noted during the Ambulance Service Review.

Ambulance communication services and base hospital reviews

Ambulance communication services and base hospital programs undergo a Quality Assurance Review every 3 years to ensure they are complying with their performance agreements and legislation.

The review team uses several activities and processes to evaluate whether they are meeting the requirements of their performance agreement, legislation, regulations and standards. These review activities could include interviews with service staff, a documentation review, evaluating live and taped calls – as well as reviews and inspections of vehicles and communication equipment.

Service review supplemental visits

Supplemental visits take place if an air and land ambulance service, ambulance communication service, or base hospital did not meet certification standards during its review.

Unannounced inspections

Unannounced inspections of air and land ambulance services, ambulance communication services, or base hospitals take place without prior notice. They are conducted throughout the service’s three-year certificate period.

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