Career Paths: How to Become a Paramedic

A paramedic is someone who provides emergency medical care in a variety of settings—think: in an ambulance, hospital, helicopter, or more. They have advanced knowledge about a variety of medical procedures, and they can administer medications, start intravenous lines, resuscitate and support patients in medical distress, such as patients who experience heart attacks or strokes. Paramedics must react quickly to assess a patient’s medical needs and stabilise their conditions.

To become a paramedic, there are specific steps you must take. Those steps include:

1. Get an education in paramedic science.
   According to the NHS, there are several ways to gain experience in order to become a paramedic, including earning a degree in paramedic science at a university; getting on-the-job education as a student paramedic with an ambulance service; or apply for a standard apprenticeship in paramedic science with an ambulance service trust.
2. Register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
   Once you have completed one of the approved qualifications in paramedic science mentioned here, you’ll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, which will allow you to work in the UK as a paramedic.
3. Get a job as a paramedic.
   Now, it’s time to find a job! Potential employers may work with recruiters to assess your skills, and they’ll be looking for applicants with not only the knowledge but the physical fitness to do the job. (After all, in a fast-paced environment, fitness can be key!)

You’ll need many skills to be a paramedic—like a deep knowledge of medicine and healthcare—but here are some that the National Careers Service thinks are especially important on the job:

• Sensitivity and understanding: In a profession where people’s health (and lives) are on the line, sensitivity and understanding to their situation is crucial—and as such, these are soft skills that any potential employer will want to see in a person applying to be a paramedic.
• A team spirit: As a paramedic, you’ll work with a team—whether that’s police or fire officials, hospital staff, an ambulance driver, or fellow paramedics—to help your patients. And so, it’s very important that you can work well with others in order to put patients’ needs and health first.
• Communication skills: Not only will you have to communicate effectively with your team, but you will need to communicate with the patient in order to discuss their symptoms and treatment.
• Computer skills: Technology is a big part of healthcare—it’s how medical professionals record and find health data—and so, paramedics must be able to use computer programs and software.
• Ability to stay calm: Working as a paramedic can be stressful, so potential employers will look for people who can keep calm and perform well under pressure.

According to Glassdoor data, paramedics can expect to make an average of £31,508 per year in the UK. That number can vary based on where a paramedic works or years of experience. The data shows that paramedics can make as little as £24,000 per year or as much as £42,000 per year depending on these factors.

Paramedics can work in a variety of settings. Those might include:

• Ambulance
• Fire department
• Rescue service
• Hospital or emergency room
• In a client’s home

You may not want to be a paramedic but there are plenty of other jobs in related fields you may enjoy. Here are a few other options:

EMT

Average salary: £21,676 per year

Education required: Level 4 apprenticeship

Nurse

Average salary: £27,451 per year

Education required: Four-year degree

Physician Assistant

Average salary: £34,027 per year

Education required: Full-time post graduate diploma

Firefighter

Average salary: £31,273 per year

Education required: Level 2 or 3 diploma in public services

Police Officer

Average salary: £38,143 per year

Education required: Level 2 or 3 diploma in public services