Diploma in Paramedic Science

Kaycee Bottcher Student, Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine  “I’ve always wanted to study health science, and paramedicine just seemed to tick all the boxes for me. It’s an exciting career full of new experiences and challenges. There’s also the huge benefit of being able to help people every day and even save lives”. Read Kaycee's story

The Diploma in Paramedic Science is for students who want a career in pre-hospital emergency healthcare, primarily in an ambulance setting. After completing the Diploma in Paramedic Science you will have successfully met the requirements to work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Programme code: AK1011
Level of study: 6
Points: 120
Duration: 1 year full-time
Venue: South Campus
Start date: 17 July 2017 26 Feb and 16 July 2018

Entry requirements

NCEA: 48 credits at level 2 or higher including 8 credits at level 2 in any one subject from Classical Studies, Drama, English, Geography, Health Education, History, History of Art, Media Studies, Social Studies OR Business Studies, Economics, Physical Education, Te Reo Māori, or Te Reo Rangatira.

CIE: 60 points on the UCAS Tariff, including any one subject similar to the NCEA subjects listed above.

Police clearance

Structure and content

Career opportunities

Career opportunities in New Zealand include employment with St John, Wellington Free Ambulance services, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and other pre-hospital medical providers.

An emergency medical technician administers pre-hospital emergency care – looking after patients during the time between when an ambulance locates the patient and when that patient arrives at the hospital or treatment centre. EMTs are required to provide a high level of professional medical care to patients under a variety of circumstances.

Responsibilities of an EMT:

• Attend accidents and emergencies
• Treat sick and injured people
• Stabilise the patient’s condition by delivering basic life support care of the injured and medically unwell
• Transport patients and accident victims to medical facilities
• Liaise with other emergency services, including fire and police, at the scene of an emergency
• Ensure the ambulance and equipment are kept clean and in good working condition
• Ensure that patient paperwork is complete and kept confidential
• Transfer non-emergency patients to and from medical facilities
• Work a roster pattern with day and night shifts
• Provide a high level of professional medical care to patients under all circumstances
  

Further study options

Diploma in Paramedic Science graduates can progress to a higher level paramedic qualification by completing the Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine.