Paramedic

Paramedics are usually the first healthcare professionals to appear at the scene of an emergency. Their expertise allows them to tend to a range of medical emergencies, from minor wounds and burns to serious injuries caused by a road or rail accident, for example. 

Paramedics provide patients with pre-hospital care. They are responsible for responding to medical emergencies and providing emergency care and treatment to critically ill or injured patients. Their work involves responding to medical emergencies in a range of different environments and transporting patients to the appropriate medical facility.

To practice as a Paramedic at the highest level, you need to have either a Bachelor’s degree or a diploma in Emergency Care. Should you be interested in a less advanced qualification in the same field, you can look into becoming an ambulance emergency assistant or an emergency care technician, for example.  A formal qualification from one of the abovementioned institutions can be obtained – here is a breakdown of the minimum requirements you will need:

University of Johannesburg

• Diploma in Emergency Medical Care (2 years)
  • English 60%
  • Mathematics 50%
  • Physical Sciences 50%
  • Life Sciences 50%
  • Minimum APS score of 26
• Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (4 years)
  • English 60%
  • Mathematics 50%
  • Physical Sciences 50%
  • Life Sciences 50%
  • Minimum APS score of 26

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

• Diploma in Emergency Care
  • English 40%
  • Mathematics 40%
  • Life Sciences 40%
  • Physical Sciences 40%
  • Minimum APS score of 28
• Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care
  • English 50%
  • Mathematics 50%
  • Life Sciences 50%
  • Physical Sciences 50%
  • Minimum APS score of 30

Durban University of Technology

• Bachelor of Health Sciences in Emergency Medical Care
  • English (Home Language) OR English (First Additional) 50%
  • Mathematics 50%
  • Life Sciences AND/OR Physical Sciences 50%

Netcare Education

• Diploma in Emergency Medical Care (2 years)
  • The requirements for learners with a Senior Certificate (with a University exemption or its equivalent) are as follows:
    • 40% in Higher Grade Biology/Physiology, Physical Science and Mathematics OR
    • 50% in Standard Grade Biology/Physiology, Physical Science and Mathematics
  • The requirements for learners with a National Senior Certificate are as follows:
    • Mathematics 40% OR Mathematical Literacy 70%
    • English 50%
    • Life Sciences 40%
    • Physical Sciences 40%
    • 40% in the additional subject 1 and 2
    • Minimum APS score of 24 (excluding Life Orientation)

Nelson Mandela University

• Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care
  • Minimum NSC (National Senior Certificate) requirements for degree entry are to be met.
  • Mathematics 50% OR Mathematical Literacy 65%
  • Life Sciences 60%
  • Physical Sciences 50%

Emergency ambulance services usually run for 24 hours a day.  Due to this, Paramedics usually work on shifts, where they perform their duties on an on-call basis. As a result, the working hours can often be unpredictable.

According to PayScale, the average pay for a Paramedic ranges between R49k – R369k per year, depending on experience.

Here are a few things you can expect from a career as a Paramedic:

• Emergencies can take place in a variety of environments, so a lot of travelling and time in the outdoors.
• Outside of emergencies, writing reports and dealing with hospital admissions, discharges, and transfers.
• On-the-spot patient care through life support techniques, surgical procedures, dressing wounds and implementing support for broken bones.
• Daily checks on the emergency vehicle, ensuring that it is running smoothly and that the medical supplies are accounted for.
• Quick decision making about whether hospital admission is necessary and if so, working closely with doctors and nurses in hospital accident and emergency departments and briefing them on the patient.