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Paramedic

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

Average annual salary

£25,655 to £39,027

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Entry Requirements:

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:

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

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

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

Entry requirements:

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

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

OtherRoutes

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.

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Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:
  • 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
  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • knowledge of English language
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • active listening skills
  • leadership skills
  • the ability to learn through your work
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • the ability to read English
  • physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
  • concentration skills
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What you'll do:

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

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

Location : You could work on an ambulance, at a client's home or in the community.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors some of the time.
Uniform : You may need to wear protective clothing and a uniform.

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Salary:

Starter : £25,655
Experienced : £39,027

These figures are a guide

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Working hours:

36 - 38 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

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Career Path:

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.

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