Qualifying as a paramedic

Previously, entry into the paramedic profession was achieved by 'working your way up' through various roles within the ambulance service. However, this is no longer the case.

New entrants to the paramedic profession now need to either:

• secure a student paramedic position with an ambulance service trust, or
• attend an approved course in paramedic science at a university that leads to registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC) as a paramedic.

Driving licence

You will also need a full, manual driving licence in order to drive an ambulance, whether emergency or non-emergency. Ambulance services use vehicles of different gross weights and you will be required to hold a driving licence with the appropriate classifications to enable you to drive the vehicles used in that particular service. In order to drive under emergency conditions staff are also required to pass an emergency driving course, commonly of three to four weeks duration, which NHS Trusts often provide in-house.

Medical conditions

People with certain medical conditions are not permitted to drive emergency vehicles. These conditions include insulin dependent diabetes and some categories of epilepsy. This is something to bear in mind if you are thinking of becoming a paramedic and suffer from one of these conditions.

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