A career as a Paramedic is exciting, demanding, and rewarding, requiring mental alertness and physical fitness to make clinical decisions in an environment that can be dangerous and difficult. As a health professional, you will provide pre-hospital Emergency Care that includes gaining access to the critically ill or injured patient, making a clinical diagnosis, and providing advanced emergency treatment before transporting and handing over the patient to the medical personnel at the hospital. CPUT offers three qualifications in the field of Emergency Care:
Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care
The one-year Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care is an entry-level qualification that will lead to registration as an Emergency Care Assistant (ECA) with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
Holders of this qualification will have basic introductory knowledge, cognitive and conceptual tools, and practical techniques in Emergency Medical Care.
The core components of the qualification include introductory sciences, anatomy, physiology, rescue, and emergency medical care theory as well as practical and clinical practice.
Diploma in Emergency Medical Care
The two-year Diploma in Emergency Medical Care is a mid-level qualification that will lead to registration as a Paramedic (ANT) with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
This qualification will develop graduates who can demonstrate focused knowledge and skills in Emergency Medical Care.
The graduate will independently perform advanced skills and administer medicines for a range of emergency conditions, some of which will be under the guidance of an Emergency Care Practitioner or Medical Doctor.
The core components of the diploma include basic sciences, anatomy and physiology, basic rescue and emergency medical care theory, practical and clinical practice.
Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care
After completion of the 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Medical Care, the graduate will register as an Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
The ECP has an advanced scope of practice that requires a high level of medical knowledge to make critical diagnostic decisions, using the latest scientific evidence, to administer medicines and perform invasive clinical procedures on the most critically ill patients.
The ECP will be equipped with skills to perform a medical rescue in a variety of contexts that require a high degree of physical fitness and swimming proficiency. The core components of the degree programme include urban, wilderness and aquatic search and rescue, basic sciences, anatomy and physiology, general pathology, pharmacology, diagnostics and emergency medical care theory, practical and clinical practice.
Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care – Extended Curriculum Programme
The Bachelor of EMC Extended Curriculum Programme (BEMC-ECP) refers to the extension of the course to allow a student to complete the first year over two years.
Students study in smaller groups and are provided with additional time and support to increase their opportunities for academic success.
The minimum course duration is five years.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
| National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) with: | |||
| Higher Certificate | Diploma | Bachelor Extended Curriculum Programme (BEMC-ECP) | Bachelors |
| Mathematics (3) or Maths Lit (6) or Technical Maths (4) Life Sciences or Physical Sciences (3) English (3) | Mathematics (3) Life Sciences (3) Physical Sciences (3) English (3) | Mathematics (4) Life Sciences (4) Physical Sciences (4) English (4) NB. One of the above may be (3) | Mathematics (4) Life Sciences (4) Physical Sciences (4) English (4) |
| APS 26 | APS 28 | APS 30-34 | APS 35+ |
Additional Admission Requirements
| Selection interview Physical and medical assessment Height and claustrophobia test Job Shadowing Final selection will consider the applicant’s overall performance. |
Recognition of Prior Learning
| CPUT’s Recognition of Prior Learning policy will apply to applicants with existing AEA, CCA, and ECT emergency care qualifications and experience. The closing date for RPL applications is 30 June. |
Master’s Degree in Emergency Medical Care
Graduates who have completed the 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Medical Care may pursue a research-based Master’s Degree.
Work opportunities for Emergency Medical Care practitioners
There is a world-wide demand for emergency care practitioners with the appropriate qualifications and experience. Employment opportunities can be found in the following sectors:
- Provincial emergency medical services
- Private emergency medical services and hospital groups
- South African National Defence Force
- Remote site services such as offshore oil rigs and the mining industry
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Paramedic Contact Details
- Call Centre: +27 21 959 6767
- Email: [email protected]