How to Become a Paramedic - A Guide to University, Apprenticeships, and Jobs

Being a paramedic is an intense but rewarding experience.

As the first health care professional to arrive on the scene of an accident or emergency, you need to quickly ensure the patient is safe, make health assessments, and provide initial treatment.

Being a paramedic can be stressful and tiring, but you get the satisfaction of knowing that the work you do makes a difference in people’s lives.

Moreover, there are multiple avenues for professional growth. For example, you could progress to a consultant paramedic role or specialise in other areas of health care.

To become a paramedic, you’ll need to complete at least two to three years of professional training documented on your CV. Though this can be competitive, there are multiple ways you can qualify. It’s also possible to train as a paramedic if you don’t have many school qualifications, provided you complete an access course.

So if you’re ready to begin your journey towards becoming a paramedic, here’s what you need to know.

What does a paramedic do?

As a paramedic, you provide emergency care to people who are injured or ill. You’ll be responsible for providing on-site medical assessments, dealing with symptoms and injuries, and transporting patients to hospital to receive further care.

Paramedics typically work out of a local ambulance station. You’ll work in shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and in all types of weather.

To get ahead in this career, you’ll need to work well in stressful situations and enjoy helping others. You’ll also need to be able to manage people who are panicked, angry, or distressed.

How much does a paramedic earn?

As a newly recruited paramedic, you’ll start at Band 5 of the NHS pay rates, which ranges from £25,655 to £31,534. Entry-level positions start at the lower end of this scale, and your salary will rise as you accumulate experience.

More senior paramedic positions reach Band 6 (£32,306 to £39,027) or Band 7 (£41,659 to £47,672). Consultant paramedics may reach Band 8c (£67,064 to £77,274).

Paramedics may receive extra pay in parts of the country where the cost of living is higher:

• Inner London: 20% of basic salary
• Outer London: 15% of basic salary
• Fringe areas of London: 5% of basic salary

NHS pay bands shift annually, but you can get an estimate of how much you’ll be paid with this pay band calculator.

How to become a paramedic

There are two routes to becoming a paramedic in the UK:

1. Paramedic apprenticeship, during which you can work as a student paramedic
2. BSc in Paramedic Science

Basic Requirements

For a paramedic apprenticeship, you’ll need a minimum of five 9–4 (A*–C) grade GCSEs or equivalent, including maths, English, and science. If you want to take a paramedic course at university, you will also need 2 A levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications (e.g. Scottish Highers or T levels).

Paramedic Apprenticeships

Some ambulance trusts in the UK offer the opportunity to work as a student paramedic and obtain a paramedic apprenticeship.

Paramedic apprenticeships vary in length but typically take 36 months to complete. You can’t get student grants as an apprentice, but you will be paid for your work.

The following ambulance trusts offered paramedic apprenticeships at the time of writing:

Each ambulance service sets its own requirements. Typically you’ll need:

• At least five 9-4 (A*-C) grade GCSEs or equivalent
• Good physical fitness
• A full manual driving licence with a minimum of one year’s driving experience

Paramedic science degree

A BSc in Paramedic Science is the most widely available channel into paramedic work.

You’ll need to complete a programme approved by the Healthcare Professions Council.

Generally, two A levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications are a requirement for paramedic degrees.

If you’re over 19 years old and don’t have two A levels or equivalent, you can prepare for university by completing an Access to HE Diploma (Paramedic Science) course.

In Scotland, paramedic access courses are available through the Scottish Wider Access Programme.

If this is your first degree, you can get additional funding as a paramedic science student. The NHS Learning Support Fund offers grants of £5,000 per academic year to eligible students.

Get on the HCPC Register

The HCPC is the official regulatory body for health care professionals in the UK. You need to be on the register to work as a paramedic.

Once you’ve qualified as a paramedic, you’ll need to apply to join the HCPC. You’ll need:

• proof of identity
• proof of address
• your education certificates
• proof of your right to work in the UK

All documents must be certified copies of the originals, meaning they’ve been hand-signed by an authorised person. You’ll find more information about how to certify your documents correctly in the application guides at the HCPC application portal.

If you qualified as a paramedic abroad, some steps to HCPC registration may differ. You can find more information about the steps international HCPC applicants should take in this guide.

Finding paramedic vacancies

The NHS is the largest employer of paramedics in the UK. Vacancies are listed on NHS job sites, including:

• NHS Jobs
• TRAC Jobs
• NHS Scotland

You can also find work as a paramedic outside the NHS. Other employers of paramedics include:

• the armed forces
• oil and gas exploration companies
• overseas health departments
• private ambulance services (e.g. Met Medical, Platinum Ambulances)

Paramedic career progression

After working as a paramedic for a few years, you may be offered a promotion to an operational manager or a similar position. You’ll get opportunities to specialise or move into other areas of health care.

For example, you could progress to a primary care paramedic or consultant paramedic position or transfer to a nursing or GP position through further training.

Once you have several years of experience as a paramedic, you can begin looking for secondment job opportunities through the NHS or your ambulance trust. Gaining experience this way will help you prepare for future health care opportunities.