You will have heard the term paramedic, but do you know what they do? These modern-day heroes are the backbone of the NHS and play a vital role in saving people’s lives, and a paramedic’s work is vitally important. They may be the unsung health professionals in the NHS, but this role is still highly fulfilling.

You need to do your research ahead of joining the health and care professions council. Understanding the demands of the job ahead of time will help you know whether it’s right for you and whether you want to take the step and train as a paramedic. Here are some of the core tasks and duties:

If you’ve asked yourself questions like, “how do I become a paramedic?”, “are there many ways to become a paramedic?”, “what kind of schooling should I take to become a paramedic?” and “how long does it take to become a paramedic?” we’ve got the answers. Exploring healthcare courses can help you to find out what you need to learn to move into this exciting career field.

If you think that a role in the NHS is for you, you will first need to understand the entry requirements it takes to begin your paramedic qualifications. As a minimum, you will need to gain five GCSEs, including maths, English, and one science-based qualification. You will also need to gain two A-Levels or an NVQ of the equivalent credits. 

Additionally, you may want to study for a paramedic science degree to get an overview of this interesting subject. You can do an NVQ, BTEC, and alternative qualifications—such as a degree apprenticeship—in paramedic science. Speak to your careers advisor for more information.

While you can learn this role on the job, there are additional qualifications you may want to undertake. For example, you can study to be a paramedic at university as many campuses offer vocational courses. You will also need to take certain first aid certificates and gain membership to St. John Ambulance. Aside from all of the above, you will need to ensure that you have a full, clean driving licence. 

Once you have ticked all of the above boxes and you know how to be a paramedic, you can become a student paramedic and start practising at placements.

Ready to start a flourishing new career? When you have completed your high school education, gaining two A-Levels typically takes two years. You may need to do additional training on the job as well.

Keep in mind that everyone’s path is individual. What’s more, you will need to take driving lessons alongside your education. The final stage of your education will be becoming a student paramedic. At that point, you will learn on the job.

When you first start out in this career, you can expect to make an average of £24,907 per year. However, the longer you stay in the role, the more you can expect to make. For example, an experienced paramedic will make around £37,890 per year. You will likely see incremental raises in your pay package every year when you work in this type of role, especially if you’re an NHS worker. 

The average working week for a paramedic is between 36 and 38 hours. You should understand that this will be shift work, meaning that you will be needed during the weekends and evenings. Therefore, before deciding whether a healthcare career is right for you, you should ensure that you are prepared to work long hours. You can be faced with stressful situations. However, this role is highly fulfilling as you will have the opportunity to save lives and make a real difference.

Earnings for adjacent roles such as an ambulance care assistant or emergency medical dispatcher (who take emergency calls in the control room) fall around £18,000 and £25,000 a year.