1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Paramedic

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)

£24,907 Starter

to

£37,890 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

36 to 38 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

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.

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. With experience, you could apply for a place on a paramedic training scheme.

Volunteering

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Health Professions

  • Provider: BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE
  • Start date: 07 September 2021
  • Location: Poole

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Professionals)

  • Provider: MACCLESFIELD COLLEGE
  • Start date: 13 September 2021
  • Location: Macclesfield
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat

  • 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday
  • 10am - 5pm Saturday

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.