If you work well under pressure, can think quickly and have an interest in medicine then a career as a Paramedic could be for you.
Career Overview
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.
Required School Subjects
You will need to have taken the following subjects at high school:
- Pure Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- Life Sciences
Institution and APS
The following institutions are highly recommended for students wanting to study to be a Paramedic:
- University of Johanesburg (UJ) – APS of 26
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) – APS of 28 – 30
- Durban University of Technology (DUT) – No specific APS
- Netcare Education – APS of 24+
- Nelson Mandela University (NMU) – No specific APS
Required Qualification/s
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)
- The requirements for learners with a Senior Certificate (with a University exemption or its equivalent) are as follows:
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%
Required Skills
You will need to show the following in order to be successful as a Paramedic:
- Alert thinking and quick problem-solving skills
- Physical and mental strength
- The ability to work and stay calm in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment
- Care towards others, with the ability to comfort and reassure patients
Where you can work
You can specialise in one of the following areas:
- Government or private ambulance services
- University or college training environment
- South African National Defence Force
- Aeromedical services
- Event management services
- The mining industry
- VIP protection
- Medical retail
- Disaster relief
- Occupational health and safety
Working Hours
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.
Expected Salary
According to PayScale, the average pay for a Paramedic ranges between R49k – R369k per year, depending on experience.
What to expect
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.
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