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Student Paramedic

Have you got what it takes to save a life? The exceptionally popular and successful Student Paramedic Apprenticeship training programme at West Midlands Ambulance Service provides an alternative to going to university to gain your dream job.

What is the Student Paramedic Pathway?

This is our vocational apprenticeship route into becoming a fully qualified paramedic. As a student paramedic you’ll receive a salary and training throughout the duration of the 42 month programme. What’s more, following you successfully passing the course and registering as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), we’ll offer you a full time position which starts with your working as a newly qualified paramedic (NQP) with the Trust.

Day in the Life of a Student Paramedic

Initial training begins with a 14 week course to prepare you with the clinical aspects of the role by undertaking an Associate Ambulance Practitioner (AAP) course, followed by a four week intensive driving course (Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving qualification) to enable you safely drive under emergency conditions.

Successful completion of these elements will then see you spend the next seven months (approximately) working with qualified staff on an ambulance, providing care to patients under supervision. This will be followed by a further six months consolidating what you have learnt and developing and mastering the clinical skills that you have learnt treating patients.

a photo of a heart monitor

The final element of the programme will be a blend of academic study and operational learning where you will complete a Level 6 Apprenticeship qualification in Paramedic Sciences. The programme will have the requirement to complete theory and practical examinations. These are typically spread across the programme in modules.

In addition to the time provided by the Trust for study, the programme will require you to undertake further study in your own time.

Reasons for becoming a Student Paramedic with WMAS

What you need to apply

  • 5 x GCSEs (including English, maths and science) at grade C / 4 or above (or equivalent)
  • An A Level or equivalent level 3 qualification
  • A full UK Driving Licence with no more than 3 penalty points
  • Provisional Category C1 on your Licence; you must have completed your forms, your medical and returned the forms to the DVLA at the point of application
  • A passion and motivation to provide excellent patient care to the people of the West Midlands
  • Willing and able to undertake full rotational shift patterns, covering 24 hours, including evening, weekends, nights, Christmas and Bank Holidays.

What does the Recruitment Process Involve?

Submit your application via NHS Jobs.

The shortlisting panel will anonymously review all applications and shortlist those who meet the essential criteria.

You will be invited to provide copies of your qualification certificates to be verified.

A formal interview will be booked in either face to face or via MS Teams.

Upon passing your interview, you will be sent a link to complete an online Highway Code assessment, similar to your car theory test.

Once you have completed your Highway Code assessment, you will then complete a short driving assessment to assess safe driving practices and observations.

You will also be invited to complete a fitness assessment. Please see below video for more details on the requirements for this.

Once all of the above have been successfully completed, you will receive a Conditional Offer and we will begin your pre-employment checks.

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