Paramedic

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

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

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

• equivalent entry requirements
• search for apprenticeships on NHS Jobs
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start as an ambulance care assistant. With experience, you could apply for a place on a paramedic training scheme.

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 service
• working at a residential care home or daycare centre
• a first aid certificate
• working in an office-based job for an ambulance service

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.

Registration

• you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council

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.

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

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults
• pass a medical check

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.

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

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.