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.

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

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• NHS Learning Support Fund|https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could apply to do a Paramedic Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This takes 3 years to complete and is a mix of on-the-job training and classroom learning.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 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|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• search for apprenticeships on NHS Jobs|https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You could start as an ambulance care assistant or an emergency medical technician , also known as an associate ambulance practitioner (AAP).

With experience you could apply for a place on a paramedic training scheme. You would need to check the application and entry requirements with individual ambulance service trusts .

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

You could apply for a training scheme as a student paramedic with an ambulance service. You would study for a university paramedic qualification while working at the same time.

Registrations

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

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. You can also 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 .

As an ambulance paramedic, you could:

• 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.