How to become a Paramedic, T levels and other questions?

[Littletreefrog]

Yr10 DS has finally decided what he would like to do with his life. He would like to be a paramedic. Our local Uni does Paramedic Science as a degree but needs 124 UCAS points. Now he is only predicted 5s and 6s at GCSE so wasn't planning on A levels. Some other Unis seem to accept Health related T levels.

So first question how do you actually become a Paramedic? Second question are T levels any good? What happens if you can't find a placement as I imagine Health related placements are hard to come by.

There are some "Uniformed Services" courses which seems more his kind of thing as they include fitness elements and seem to be quite hands on but are these aimed more at people wanting to join the police?

If you are a paramedic or know a paramedic how did they become one? Is it realistic if you are only a 5/6 at GCSE student?

This is the pathway my child is on

they too want to be a paramedic.

she hoped to get on to a t level - but her local college needed 5 and 6 s and she didn’t get enough grades to get on the course (btw the college sorted out the placement for the t level as they worked with the local hospital- it’s worth going to open days to check it out )

she enrolled on a level 3 health and social care and resat a gcse . In their second year they can volunteer with paramedics (have to be 18) for the placement part .

then she plans to do an apprenticeship type course with the paramedics (I need to find out more about this as admittedly we have been just getting though her first year at college)

it’s takes an extra year to qualify like that , but mean they can be earning a bit of money and doing a day/ two at uni .

there is lots of information and incentives (bursary ect) for students wanting to go into the nhs , so I really would recommend going to a few open days , they give so so much information, and lots of things also vary by school/ county , for example acceptance grades . One college for example would accept onto t levels with 4’s at gcse

Thank you. An apprenticeship would definitely be the way he would prefer to do it but is finding it difficult to find much information about how available they are as ideally he wouldn't want to leave home in order to find one.

Has she been doing any voluntary work in the health sector? as our local Uni seems to want them to have worked (even if voluntarily) in a health/care role in order to get an interview for the course

We also looked at the public service level three and decided it wasn’t for her. College seem to be pushing the fitness aspect and a lot of the recruits seem to be going onto the army.
what I liked about the level three health and social care was that should she change her mind? It could be Used to get onto lots of different courses or go straight into Work

atm she plans to stay at home and travel to uni for the one day a week

Depends on the trust, but they can also work their way up

• start at ECSW/ECA level, which is band 3-4, needs basic gcses. Takes about a year or so to fully qualify. Get blue light training + basic training from the trust. Work with a more senior clinician (AAP/Para) on an ambulance
• Move up a level to AAP or whatever is similar in that trust. Another year and a half but more training, more responsibility. Can lead a crew.
• Apply for student paramedic - many trusts offer this as an apprenticeship.

Either way your child will need C1 driving - some trusts will pay for that but many expect you to arrive with it.

There are also basic fitness tests to go alongside the interviews.

Public service qualifications as a starter or anything health related.

There is a diploma level qualifying paramedic science at different uni's so look around.

Also look on local ambulance service website at their careers section for info/insight.

She does St John’s ambulance cadets , this was really good as they would take them to events (I do remember that the waiting list was about a year)

she does a day a week in a care facility

and works in a pub a few evenings a week

@olderbutwiser that's great info thank you. How do you become an ECA? All I've found is job adverts for qualified ECA's? What qualifications do they need or is it just a case of look for a trainee ECA position?