How do I become a CRST in Canada?

[JaRylan]

Though I would throw out the first question!

I am interested in becoming a certified Children's Restraint System Technician. I live in Saskatchewan. Does anyone know how much the course is and how long it takes? Does anyone have a contact number?

Thanks,

[QuassEE]

I'm thinking that St. John's Ambulance runs the training program in Sask. like it does in BC and Ontario? I would give them a ring and see if they're offering the training and when. It's difficult enough to get certified here in BC, so you should expect a wait until there's enough interest for the course. When I first did it about 3.5 years ago, I had to pay $500 for the training. I know that subsequently, advocates taking the course have had their tuition waived under the condition that they would be somehow serving the community with their training. When I first did my training, my husband was on paternity leave and we were starting a business. Five hundred dollars was actually almost 100% of our income for the month! But.. it was worth every penny.

-Nicole.

[hipmaman]

I would start with a SJA branch near you. SJA runs the national training program in Canada now and trains all techs. Most of these techs are those working in the health/medical, law enforcement, firefighting, etc. as part of their jobs, so they often have priority over lay-people like us.

I was fortunate to be at the right place at the right time and trained with SJA Mississauga when it was the pilot program opened up to lay-people. The deal with us to have the cost waived is to take the training course and volunteer for certain hours to do certain amount of clinics per year. Certification is for 3 yr and re-cert is now available through SJA too.

If your local SJA branch does not have a CRS program, perhaps it can direct you to somewhere else that can help. Not all SJA branches have the resource/instructors to do training.

[JaRylan]

I emailed SJA - Sask branch and was told that they do not provide the course. I wonder if I took the course in another province if it would be valid in Saskatchewan?

[Jewels]

Our MPI (provincal insurance co.) told me they offer the St.John's course and they will pay the fee for me to take the course!

Hey Jacqui, maybe you should come out for the weekend and take the course with me! I am only 5.5hrs away!

[JaRylan]

Our MPI (provincal insurance co.) told me they offer the St.John's course and they will pay the fee for me to take the course!

Hey Jacqui, maybe you should come out for the weekend and take the course with me! I am only 5.5hrs away!

That was what I was thinking. ;)

[JaRylan]

CRST contact information for Saskatchewan. In Saskatchewan it is run by The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute (not St. John's Ambulance like most places).

This is the contact information:
http://www.preventioninstitute.sk.ca/
CHILD INJURY PREVENTION
Child Injury Prevention Program Coordinator
1-306-655-4077
llocke@preventioninstitute.sk.ca