Paramedic

As a paramedic, you'll often be the first healthcare professional on the scene and will make autonomous clinical decisions about a patient's care. You may assess and treat patients with conditions ranging from life-threatening emergencies to minor illnesses and injuries.

You'll usually work in a two-person ambulance crew alongside an ambulance technician or emergency care assistant, or independently in an emergency response car, motorbike or bicycle.

The profession has evolved beyond traditional emergency ambulance work, meaning you can also work in settings such as GP surgeries, urgent treatment centres, minor injury units, walk-in centres, A&E departments and ambulance control centres.

Types of treatment given by paramedics

Paramedics use their skills to provide immediate care, sometimes in life-threatening situations. In these cases, they may carry out a range of emergency interventions, such as:

• resuscitating and stabilising patients
• establishing and maintaining an airway
• stopping severe haemorrhage
• monitoring vital signs and supporting breathing and heart function
• administering intravenous fluids, medicines and oxygen.

In some settings, you may conduct advanced clinical assessments, take responsibility for ongoing patient care and make decisions about referral, treatment and discharge.

What does a paramedic do?

Your work will vary depending on the patient and their condition, but typically you'll:

• obtain consent, where possible, to assess patients and determine appropriate treatment
• provide emergency treatment and continually monitor patients' conditions using specialist equipment where necessary
• carry out clinical procedures and interventions, such as cannulation and advanced airway management, where required
• carry out advanced clinical assessments and make decisions about treatment, referral, follow-up care or discharge
• decide whether a patient needs hospital treatment, ongoing community support or referral to another healthcare service
• transport patients safely to appropriate healthcare settings when necessary
• identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns involving children and vulnerable adults
• work with other emergency services and healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care
• share clinical information and coordinate care with receiving healthcare teams and partner services
• support patients, relatives and members of the public at the scene in challenging situations
• maintain accurate patient records and complete clinical documentation
• check, clean and decontaminate vehicles and equipment to ensure they are safe and ready for use.

Paramedic salaries

• Newly qualified paramedics working in the NHS are typically employed on Band 5 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, which ranges from £32,073 to £39,043, while completing a supported development pathway of up to 24 months. On successful completion, they usually progress to Band 6, which ranges from £39,959 to £48,117.
• Experienced paramedics in specialist, senior, team leader, advanced practice or primary care roles may progress to Band 7, which ranges from £49,387 to £56,515.
• If you continue to work up to consultant paramedic level, you could achieve a Band 8c salary of £79,504 to £91,609.

Employee benefits may include an NHS pension, study leave for sponsored courses, and access to counselling and physiotherapy services.

Salaries outside the NHS may vary, depending on the sector and type of organisation.

Figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does a paramedic work?

Many paramedics work in services that operate 24 hours a day, including ambulance services, urgent care and emergency care settings, so you'll typically work shifts to provide round-the-clock care. You'll typically do 37.5 hours per week, which may include evenings and nights, weekends and public holidays.

You may be required to undertake additional stand-by and on-call duties, particularly in rural or remote areas. Flexible working opportunities, such as part-time work or job sharing, may be available.

The role can be physically and emotionally demanding. Paramedics receive training in conflict management and personal safety. Many employers also provide access to wellbeing support, including counselling services, post-incident debriefing and stress management resources.

How do I become a paramedic?

To work as a paramedic in the UK, you must complete a Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)-approved paramedic education programme and register with the HCPC.

The most common route is to study an HCPC-approved BSc (Hons) degree in paramedic science or paramedic practice. Courses usually last three or four years full time and combine academic study with clinical placements in ambulance services and other healthcare settings.

Entry requirements vary between universities, but you'll typically need two or three A-levels (or equivalent), including a science subject, and five GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above, including English, maths and science.

Another route, available in England, is a paramedic degree apprenticeship. This allows you to earn a salary while working and studying towards a degree. Some ambulance services also recruit student paramedics or support existing staff, including experienced ambulance technicians and other support workers, to train through apprenticeship and progression programmes.

If you already have a degree, you may be able to qualify through an HCPC-approved pre-registration MSc in paramedic science or paramedic practice. These courses usually take two years full time. Entry requirements vary, but most providers require a degree and may ask for relevant healthcare experience. Search for an HCPC-approved paramedic qualification.

Eligible pre-registration paramedic students in England can receive at least £5,000 a year in funding support through the NHS Learning Support Fund. Funding arrangements differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check with the relevant student funding body.

You'll also need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme in Scotland) and pass occupational health and fitness assessments.

What skills does a paramedic need?

You'll need:

• critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills to assess patients, prioritise treatment and adapt quickly to changing situations
• empathy and a commitment to patient-centred care when supporting people experiencing illness, injury, distress or trauma
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills to gather information, explain treatment options and reassure patients, relatives and members of the public
• good physical fitness to safely move patients and equipment and meet the demands of frontline paramedic work
• resilience and emotional strength to remain calm and effective in high-pressure and potentially traumatic situations
• strong teamwork skills to collaborate with ambulance crews, emergency services and multidisciplinary healthcare teams
• the ability to work autonomously while making safe clinical judgments in emergency, urgent and community care settings.

Frontline paramedics are often required to drive ambulances or rapid response vehicles, and some employers may require additional driving qualifications.

Paramedic work experience

Relevant healthcare, social care, volunteering or customer-facing experience can help strengthen your application and demonstrate your understanding of the profession. This may include:

• voluntary experience with organisations such as St John Ambulance, St Andrew's First Aid and the British Red Cross
• experience of life-saving techniques, which you can gain by volunteering as a community first responder with a local ambulance service
• experience as an emergency care assistant or in another ambulance service support role
• paid or voluntary work supporting older people, disabled people or individuals with physical or mental health conditions
• customer-facing work that demonstrates communication, teamwork and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

If possible, try to arrange work shadowing with an ambulance service or paramedic to develop your understanding of the role and strengthen your application.

A current first aid qualification can also be useful as it demonstrates your interest in healthcare and commitment to developing relevant skills.

If you're on an HCPC-approved paramedic education programme, you can become a student member of the Royal College of Paramedics and get access to useful resources, guidance and support.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs paramedics?

NHS ambulance services are a major employer of paramedics across the UK. There are also opportunities with private ambulance providers offering services such as patient transport, event medical cover and support for NHS ambulance services during periods of high demand.

Other employers include:

• air ambulance services
• the armed forces
• GP surgeries and primary care networks
• hospitals in emergency departments and intensive care units, urgent treatment centres and minor injury units
• hospices
• NHS 111 and other telephone triage services
• HM Prison and Probation Service and custody healthcare providers
• universities and other education providers
• community healthcare and integrated care services
• offshore and remote industries, including oil and gas.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Health Jobs UK
• Jobs.hscni.net - health and social care jobs in Northern Ireland.
• NHS Jobs
• NHSScotland Jobs

Private ambulance providers, air ambulance charities and other specialist healthcare employers may advertise vacancies on their own websites, through recruitment agencies and on general job sites.

Where can a career as a paramedic lead?

When you start work as a newly qualified paramedic, you'll usually complete a supported development programme and period of preceptorship to help you transition into autonomous practice.

To remain registered with the HCPC, you'll need to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career. The Royal College of Paramedics provides a post-registration career framework, as well as CPD resources, events, conferences and specialist interest groups.

Career progression is often supported by undertaking additional qualifications, specialist training and gaining experience in a particular area of practice. Some paramedics also undertake prescribing qualifications to support progression into specialist and advanced practice roles. Within your first five to ten years, you may progress into specialist or advanced paramedic roles in areas such as:

• emergency and critical care
• mental health
• primary and urgent care.

Experienced paramedics can move into senior clinical, leadership, education or research roles. Opportunities also exist in operational management, higher education, healthcare consultancy, the armed forces and other healthcare settings. Some paramedics progress to consultant paramedic positions, leading clinical practice, service development and research across health and care organisations.