How To Become A Paramedic In South Africa

A paramedic is a specialist healthcare professional who responds to emergency calls for medical help outside of a hospital. Paramedics mainly work as part of the emergency medical services (EMS), most often in ambulances. The scope of practice of a paramedic varies among countries, but generally includes autonomous decision making around the emergency care of patients.

Paramedic In South Africa

Paramedic training colleges in South Africa are accredited by Health Professions Council of South Africa HPCSA.

There are currently numerous options on how to become a paramedic.

In order to work on an ambulance, you have to have at least BAA (Basic Ambulance Assistant) qualification and be registered with the HPCSA. Over and above the BAA you can later enroll for AEA and CAA/Btech EMC.

There are two ways to become an Advanced Life Support Paramedic, via short courses or the full four year BTech Degree.

You can enroll for BAA at an accredited academy in your area. Once you passed this four-week course you have to be active for approximately 1000 hours or six months. From here you can enroll for AEA, which is the next level. This course is approximately four months. Again you have to practice for 1000 hours or six months before you can enroll for the ALS course. The ALS course is one of your most Advanced courses. The course lasts for approximately nine months full time.

You can also take a once-off route to become ALS. The University of Cape Town offers BTech Emergency Medical Care. This is four years full time. You can enroll straight after school.

You can also have a look at www.hpcsa.co.za and download the protocols of the different levels in order to view their capabilities. Please remember there are other Emergency Courses you can do as well. A fairly new qualification, ECT is also available. Unfortunately, the ECT course is not presented by all the academies. The ECT course is two years and you have the option to bridge into the Btech degree once you have passed the ECT course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Paramedic Courses In south Africa

Paramedic Schools In South Africa And Their Courses

How Much Does a Paramedic Make in South Africa?

What Are The Paramedic Levels In South Africa?

How Long Will It Take to Become a Paramedic In South Africa?

How Much Will Paramedic School in South Africa Cost?

Which Universities Offer Paramedic Training In South Africa?

What Are The Job Requirements For Paramedic?

What High School Subjects Are Needed For Paramedics?

What Are The Paramedic Courses In South Africa?

Flight Paramedic Training In South Africa

Paramedic Learnerships In South Africa

Paramedic Bursaries In South Africa

Paramedic Levels In South Africa

How To Become A Volunteer Paramedic In South Africa

Where To Study Paramedics In South Africa?

There are a few Paramedic schools within South Africa that have paramedic courses. Below is the list of institutions providing paramedic training in South Africa.

  • GUATENG
  1. Action Training Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  2. Ambusave: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant
  3. COJEMS Training Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance  Emergency Assistant course
  4. Critical Care Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  5. De Vries Ambulance Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  6. Elihle College of Emergency Care: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  7. ER 24: Ambulance Emergency Assistant, Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  8. Global Emergency Technologies: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  9. IET Fire Rescue and EMS Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  10. Impact Emergency Technologies: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  11. Kernbridge FET College: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  12. Lebone College of Emergency Care: Ambulance Emergency Assistant Course, Critical Care Assistant, ECT
  13. Netcare Education: Faculty of Emergency and Critical Care (FECC): Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant, Critical Care Assistant
  14. North West Private Ambulance Training College: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  15. Rescu-Life Africa: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  16. School for Military Health Training (Z): Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant, Operational Emergency Care Orderly Course, ECT
  17. University of JohannesburgNational Diploma: Emergency Medical Care, B Tech: Emergency Medical Care, 4-year Bachelor: Emergency Medical Care
  18. SRQ Ambulance Training College: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Emergency Ambulance Assistance Course
  • NORTH WEST
  1. Bokone Bophirima Ambulance Training College: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  2. Mokgojwa College of Emergency Care (used to be Tshedimosetso Trauma Training Ambulance Academy): Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant
  3. Mankwe Ambulance Training Centre: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant
  4. NORTHERN CAPE
  5. Northern Cape College of Emergency Care: Ambulance Emergency Assistant
  6. LIMPOPO PROVINCE
  7. Bokamoso Pre-Hospital Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  8. Ingozi Medicals: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  • FREE STATE
  1. Golden Hour Ambulance Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  2. Impact Emergency Technologies: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  3. Free State College of Emergency Care: National Certificate: ECT
  4. Leximed Training College: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  • KWAZULU NATAL
  1. Academy of Emergency Medical Training (AEMT): Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant
  2. Action Training Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  3. Africa Medical: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  4. College of Emergency Care- KwaZulu Natal: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant, ECT course
  5. Durban University of Technology (DUT): NDip: EMC, BTech: EMC, MTech: EMC
  6. KwaZulu Private Emergency Care Training Academy (KPECTA): Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  7. Netcare Education: Faculty of Emergency and Critical Care (FECC): Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant
  8. St. John Ambulance Foundation: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  • EASTERN CAPE
  1. Eastern Cape Ambulance Training College (ECATC): Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant
  2. Mary Grace Ambulance Academy: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  3. Queensland Ambulance College: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course
  4. Nelson Mandela University (NMU): Bachelor of EMC
  • WESTERN CAPE
  1. Ambutek: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course, Ambulance Emergency Assistant
  2. Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT): National Certificate: Emergency Care, National Diploma EMC, BTech: EMC, ECT
  3. Provincial Government of the Western Cape College of Emergency Care: Ambulance Emergency Assistant, CCA, ECT
  4. St John Ambulance Training Centre: Basic Ambulance Assistant Course

How much does a paramedic course cost in South Africa?

How Much Will Paramedic School in South Africa Cost? The cost of your courses will vary a lot based on what you’re trying to achieve. For those seeking to enroll in a Basic Ambulance Assistant course, you can expect to pay anything from R8500.00 if you’re a full-time student to R9000.00 if you can only go part-time.

How long does it take to become a paramedic in South Africa?

There are two ways to become an Advanced Life Support Paramedic, via short courses or the full four year BTech Degree. You can enroll for BAA at an accredited academy in your area. Once you passed this four-week course you have to be active for approximately 1000 hours or six months.

How much do paramedics earn per month in South Africa?

A person working as an Ambulance Officer and Paramedic in South Africa typically earn around 26,764 ZAR per month. This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits.

Can I become a paramedic without matric?

Can I Study Paramedic Without Matric? To become a paramedic there are different paths and different qualifications you can study. You can choose between studying full-time, or getting in-service training. When you are a qualified Paramedic, you must register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

What subjects is needed to become a paramedic?

To begin EMT training, one requires a high school diploma or GED. High school students should focus on courses involving math, physics, chemistry and biology. Being a paramedic takes strength and dexterity, so physical education classes and early fitness training may be beneficial as well.

What is the age limit to be a paramedic?

Yes, there is an age limit for applying to paramedic school. But it’s a minimum age limit—you usually must be 18 years old to apply to a paramedic program. With that said, let’s address what some worry most about—a maximum age limit. If you’re in your 30s, 40s or even 50s, is it too late to become a paramedic?