How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
You could do a college course to give you some of the skills and knowledge you need to become an emergency care assistant.
Courses include:
- health and social care
- T Level in Health
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
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Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an Ambulance Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship with an ambulance service.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
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Volunteering
You'll find it helpful to get some health or social care experience before applying for a job. For example, you could volunteer with:
- the NHS
- the British Red Cross
- St John Ambulance
You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do IT.
Direct Application
You can apply directly to become an emergency care assistant. You'll usually need:
- driving experience
- experience in patient care, ideally in the NHS
- a first aid certificate
Some ambulance services may ask for 3 or 4 GCSEs, including English and maths at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent qualifications.
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Career tips
You can search for vacancies on NHS Jobs, or contact your nearest ambulance service trust.
Further information
You can find out more about how to become an emergency care assistant from Health Careers.