Paramedic
2nd July 2019
To be a good paramedic you need to have…
- a caring attitude and outgoing, helpful personality
- excellent interpersonal skills for dealing with patients, their friends and family, and members of the public
- initiative and decision-making capability in pressured situations
- a calm and reassuring approach
- good general fitness to cope with lifting patients and equipment
- resilience in the face of strong emotions
- excellent driving skills – most NHS ambulance trusts will require you to be able to drive an ambulance under emergency conditions
If you’re thinking of a career as a paramedic…
You must be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). In order to register you’ll need to complete an HCPC-approved paramedic science qualification. There are a few ways to do this:
- complete a university course at diploma, foundation degree or degree level (this is the main recommended route)
- apply for a position within an ambulance trust as a student paramedic and study while working
- apply for a degree standard apprenticeship in paramedic science with an ambulance service trust
Full details of all HCPC-approved paramedic science qualifications are available on the HCPC register of approved education and training programmes.
To get onto a degree apprenticeship, you will need to apply for an apprentice position with a health care provider. You can search for vacancies on the NHS Jobs website and Find an Apprenticeship website.
Other useful links
