So, I have finally decided on a career, but where do I start???

[SantasKinkyKnickers0nMaHead]

After much thinking, I have decided I would like to be a paramedic, but, I have no idea where I start.

I have no qualifications, at all.

I have checked my local college site and they have GCSE courses but they only do them for people who have got GCSE's but want to up their grade.

I know I need to do :-

5 GCSE's -

Triple science/core science
English
Maths

And I know I need to have held my driving licence for 3/4 years.

So, the first thing to do is put in for my test, but then what???

This is something I really would like to do but really need some help in getting there please.

Can someone please point me in the right direction on the ou website please?

Mavis, yes, at the min I am on IS, as I have recently become a LP.

I am just finishing my nurse training at the moment, and the paramedic course at my university is run from the same building as my course.

I agree with what has been said by gigglebells and JAMM, you don't need to do GCSE's and A levels, what most people do as mature students (which is the majority of people on my course and the paramedic one, from what I have seen, so it wouldn't be just all 18 year olds) is take the access to healthcare course at an FE college (2 years), they will then help you to apply to university. Where I am, the paramedic course is two years, but half of that, spread over it, is practical placement.

After that you are a qualified paramedic, with a foundation degree, you can then choose to go back to top up that qualification, once you have more experience, if you choose to.

Four years might seem like a long time, and I was worried about how long it would take me to qualify as a nurse when I started, but it has gone by so fast, and really is worth it, I absolutely love what I'm doing, and can't believe I'm nearly there.

Good luck!

(Have you tried St John's ambulance for the voluntary work? It is a really good idea to get experience, also, if you google voluntary first aid, pages from the uk, it comes up with all sorts)

are you CAT able?

My df works for CAB and would be able to advise,re courses in area wrt gcses and suchlike (has access to cab database)

If you are can you CAT me

Would prob be tues/wedsbefore I replied as on nights tommorow though.HTH

Also, the access course is free, and doesn't affect benefits, but you are not entitled to IS if your are on a uni course. Nursing you do get funding from the NHS though, don't know if that is the same for paramedics.

In looking at the ou website, it looks like my first port of call is Understanding health.

Bugger, so that is OU out of the window then if I wont get IS.

Mavis, yes I am Cattable, I think!

I'm pretty sure OU is the exception, that's brilliant that it looks like you can do it through OU, seems like a much easier way in lots of ways, but you can't do the nursing through them because of the practical side.

I'm off to bed now but will check this thread tomorrow sometime. My friend is coming over tomorrow too to help me sort it out, and she is a nurse so can give me some good adice too.

Thank you everyone, every bit of info is helping, although a little confusing at this time of night!!!!

ok,Will getback weds

I will nip into college tomorrow too to see if the do access courses, and explain what I am wanting to do.

You know, I am crap at organising things like this, but great once it's sorted!

Great, thank you!

knickers you're looking at the wrong bit on the red cross website - that bit is advertising the vacancies not the volunteering courses etc - why not give them a phone, they're always looking for volunteers and working at events along side the paramedics etc will all help in the long run

and agree re the GCSEs go and check exactly what they recommend you do, it may well be that practical stuff is enough

can I ask please (and I hate myself for bringing up a worry ) but have you considered that being a paramedic will include shift work? I'm only asking because DH and I work with the emergency services and the shift work is an absolute killer childcare wise - we have no family support nearby which would help but its still hard

good luck

Oh great, I never even thought of that!!

I just told myslef that by the time I have my qualifications, they would be in nursery/school.

Hoping exp will have a different job by then.....

Knickers, we're not in the ambulance service so it might be different - just wanted to give you a heads up

Thank you.

I have a lot of things to sort out to get to being a paramedic!

yes,you'll have to be in a position to work nights,bank hols,unsocial hours....all that,so will need someone either at home with dc or someone who can have them at odd hours.

this is whats prevented me from returning to police full time. have no family close by,and you just can't rely on the ex can you?!!

Santas, paramedic degrees are hugely in demand. Even jobs for paramedic assistant roles are hugely overapplied for. DH applied unsuccessfully, and was told that to even have a chance, they would want:

-Experience of first aid use (either St John's, a local first response group, etc.) and/or care assistant type experience.

-Experience of driving ambulance size vehicles.

-Make sure your license covers that type of vehicle (licenses after 2000 don't).

So while it is great to get the academics sorted, it is the practical experience that will give you a chance of the role.

BIL is a paramedic and aside from the medical training it can be pretty gruesome in terms of the events you attend (death of children, hangings, shootings, suicide, murder etc). I think you have to be able to cope witih some pretty tough shit. Not sure I would be able to do it.

Not looking good is it it

Contact your local ambulance service, my local one isn't degree entry. Its still the old route of be a technician for a year then train on the job to be a paramdeic.

Only thing that would put me off is that its 12 hour shifts. My local service covers such a wide area now, you could be sent to a city 50 miles away. If this happens towards the end of the shift there is no way you'd finish on time. So its not very family friendly.