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Paramedic

Alternative titles for this job include Ambulance paramedic

Paramedics respond to emergency call-outs and give people life-saving medical help.

Average salary (a year)

£25,655 Starter

to

£39,027 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

36 to 38 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a paramedic

You can get into this work through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • apply for a trainee scheme

University

You'll need to do a paramedic science degree approved by the Health and Care Professions Council.

Full-time courses usually take 3 years.

You may be able to get additional student financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can get into this role through a paramedic degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements but it may help you to get in if you have:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as an ambulance care assistant or an emergency medical technician. With experience you could apply for a place on a paramedic training scheme. You would need to check the entry procedures and requirements with individual ambulance service trusts.

Volunteering

Entry to paramedic courses is very competitive and it may help you if you have some relevant experience or training. You could:

  • volunteer as a first responder with a charity or social enterprise, like St John Ambulance
  • volunteer with an NHS ambulance trust
  • work at a residential care home or day care centre
  • get a first aid certificate
  • work in an office-based job for an ambulance service

You can find more information on how to get relevant healthcare work experience from Health Careers

Other Routes

You could apply for a training scheme as a student paramedic with an ambulance service. You would do your university paramedic qualification on the job.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

When applying for degree courses or apprenticeships, you'll be expected to show an understanding of how NHS values apply in your work.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the College of Paramedics and get access to courses, conferences and workshops to keep your skills up to date, and to swap ideas with colleagues in the profession.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a paramedic from the College of Paramedics and Health Careers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of healthcare and medicine
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • customer service skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

Many ambulance services will expect you to have a full driving licence by the time you finish your training and preferably a C1 driving licence that allows you to drive medium-sized vehicles.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you'll:

  • respond to emergency calls
  • assess situations when you arrive and check details with others at the scene, like the police
  • work calmly and quickly to stabilise patients
  • use a defibrillator to revive patients
  • give patients medicines and injections
  • help to deliver babies
  • attend non-emergency calls and decide whether patients need to go to hospital
  • check equipment regularly and keep accurate records
  • reassure family and members of the public who are on the scene

Working environment

You could work on an ambulance, at a client's home or in the community.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors some of the time.

You may need to wear protective clothing and a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With around 3 years' experience, you could become:

  • a team leader
  • a specialist paramedic
  • an emergency care practitioner

You could also move into operations management, education and training or research, or train to work in other areas of healthcare, for example nursing.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a paramedic right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Access to HE Diploma (Health Professionals)

  • Provider: NEWCASTLE AND STAFFORD COLLEGES GROUP
  • Start date: 12 September 2023
  • Location: Stafford

Access to Higher Education - Health Professions

  • Provider: COMMUNITY LEARNING IN PARTNERSHIP (CLIP) CIC
  • Start date: 07 October 2022
  • Location: MABLETHORPE
Find courses near you

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