[unknown guy]

so im just considering my career prospects and am wondering how easy it is to get on a paramedic course, like how competitive are they are they as competitive as medicine/dentistry?? if i get 1 years experience volunteering alongside with my life sciences degree of a 2.1 then how likely is it i would be accepted?any answers would be greatly appreciated as always

[Beki101]

It's an incredible competitive and difficult course to get on, regardless of experience it is still hard but I wish you all the luck and encourage you to apply some get accepted the first time whilst others apply 3 or 4 times before getting on a course.

[betpool]

(Original post by unknown guy)
so im just considering my career prospects and am wondering how easy it is to get on a paramedic course, like how competitive are they are they as competitive as medicine/dentistry?? if i get 1 years experience volunteering alongside with my life sciences degree of a 2.1 then how likely is it i would be accepted?any answers would be greatly appreciated as always

Paramedic courses are extremely competitive. There are easily 3000+ applicants for just 15 places.
I was around whilst this year's interviews were going on and the interviewers were using absolutely anything to narrow down prospective candidates. A full clean UK driving license is standard. Applicants have to be extremely fit - fitness tests are done with a heart rate monitor and heart rate is not allowed to exceed 80% of max HR.
A 2.1 in life sciences will obviously help. But a great proportion of paramedic courses is the practical. Doctors and nurses in A&E don't have to contend with for instance treating someone on the motorway or doing advanced life support whilst negotiating an escort for someone to prison. Life experience is a must have.

[Georgiemcc]

I'm really interested in becoming a paramedic. There is an academy just opened in caledonia university glasgow, but it doesnt seem to have any links to the application process. Anyone got any information.

[Happy_Holidays]

Paramedic courses are very very competitive. You have to be able to show an excellent knowledge of the ambulance service and work of a paramedic to get on. Experience working with people would be very helpful though I would recommend going for something different than the normal st john or red cross.


As for Glasgow cal it's not an external course and is run internally through the Scottish ambulance service.


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[David Sayers]

Everything mentioned above is spot on. I'm just finishing a levels and going on to do paramedics in September this year so it's not necessarily key to be older with a lot more experience as long as you can show maturity, patience, empathy and that you have good communication skills, you're half way there. The rest is in not only finding placements, I would advise getting involved in elderly, young and disabled opportunities but also having a wide and in depth knowledge of the ambulance trust you are going to be studying under. For example, I had an interview at Stafford university with one of the lecturers (who was an ex paramedic) and the other interviewer, a current paramedic with that ambulance trust so I had to show I knew about the history of that particular one as well as studying the 3 other ambulance trusts for 3 other interviews all over the country.

Also they are impressed to hear your knowledge on how the job is developing. If you're willing to put the work in, it'll pay off.

The best job in the world, but then I would say that. Drop me a message if you need any help if it is what you decide to do.


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