How to become a paramedic?

There are some professions that, although very demanding, give great satisfaction. To these can certainly be counted the profession of paramedic.

As the name suggests, a paramedic is a person who shoulders the responsibility for the health and life of other people. There is no denying that this is a difficult task, requiring a lot of resistance to stress. A strong character is one thing, as it must go hand in hand with good physical shape and – of course – proper education.

In this article, we suggest how to become a paramedic and what to pay special attention to when choosing this career path.

How many paramedics are there in Poland?

According to data provided by the National Health Fund, there were more than 22,000 paramedics in 2021. A lot? Considering the scale – according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO), almost 9 million interventions (total on the scene, outpatient and in emergency departments) and a 12 percent increase in the number of people helped – one can see a considerable shortage of paramedics.

This opinion is also confirmed by the NIK report on the functioning of the emergency medical system in Poland. What does this mean in practice? It’ s that if you get the right qualifications, you have a good chance of finding a job in your profession.

But what are these “relevant qualifications”? This question is regulated, among other things, by the Law on State Emergency Medical Services, which clearly indicates how to become a paramedic.

A paramedic – how to become one?

To become a paramedic, one must meet several requirements regulated by law.

Until recently, the National Emergency Medical Technician Examination (PERM) was still mandatory, but last year’s amendment abolished it, allowing new paramedics to enter the job market faster.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that the Ministry of Health is considering options for the future introduction of theoretical-practical examinations to be held at the end of the college education process.

Paramedic – requirements

The requirements for candidates for the position of paramedic are precisely defined to make sure that those in this key role are properly qualified and competent. Below is a list of requirements for paramedic candidates:

• Medical education – the candidate should have a secondary or higher medical education. This can be a high school graduate in emergency medical technician or a bachelor’s degree in a medical-related field.
• BLS and ALS certifications – A paramedic should also have current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) certifications, which demonstrate the ability to provide advanced first aid and high-level medical interventions.
• Physical requirements – paramedic candidates must meet certain physical criteria, including both general physical fitness and the ability to lift and move patients under difficult conditions.
• Ability to make quick decisions – sometimes a few seconds can decide the life and health of a patient, so a paramedic should demonstrate the ability to make quick decisions in dynamic medical situations.
• Excellent interpersonal communication – excellent communication skills will come in handy when dealing with both the medical team and patients.
• Ability to work under stress – a paramedic candidate must be able to work effectively in stressful situations where time is of the essence.

Meeting these stringent requirements is crucial to ensuring the highest standard of emergency care, and the position of paramedic is one of the most responsible in the healthcare field.

Emergency medical services – studies

To practice as a paramedic, you need to complete at least a bachelor’s degree in this field. You can take such studies at one of 31 universities in Poland (as of the 2023/2024 academic year) – both public and private.

And so emergency medical services are offered by such universities as. :

• Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun,
• Medical University of Lublin,
• Krakow’s Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Academy in Krakow,
• Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce.

And many other universities from smaller and larger Polish cities. Importantly, the studies can be taken in both full-time and part-time modes, and in both cases the curriculum is designed to prepare students for the paramedic profession.

And now an important question that many prospective students ask themselves – what are the requirements for this course? It is difficult to have a definite answer, because the requirements can vary from school to school, but the most commonly indicated subjects are:

• Chemistry,
• biology,
• physics,
• math.

Of course, the better the score on the high school diploma – especially the extended one – the greater the chance of success.

How to become a paramedic – summary

The profession of paramedic requires adequate preparation – even at the high school stage. When studying for the baccalaureate, you need to decide what subjects to pass and at what level.

In addition to gaining the right qualifications, one should also have character traits such as empathy, strong motivation, patience and the ability to work under pressure. After all, this profession is based on direct contact with another human being, often under difficult and stressful conditions.

We hope that in this article you have found answers to the question of how to become a paramedic, and that your future career in this profession will be more than satisfying.