Becoming an Ambulance Paramedic in Victoria: Choose Your Pathway

There are essentially two pathways to becoming an Ambulance Paramedic in Victoria. In fact, it’s pretty much the same process no matter where you live in Australia.

We have detailed the two pathways for you; all you need to do is decide which option is best suited to your situation.

Paramedic – via University

The paramedic profession in Australia changed in late 2018. Legislation was passed to bring the industry into line with other health care professions. Students studying paramedical theory must now complete a degree from a university approved by the Council of Ambulance Authorities Inc.

New and existing paramedics also are required to be registered with the Paramedicine Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

The Bachelor degree will open up many employment opportunities in the paramedical sector. Typically, the full degree takes around three years to complete (full-time) and can cost anywhere from $55,000 to $65,000+. The University of Tasmania (UTAS)  – Bachelor of Paramedic Practice 53A is a 2 year bridging degree, although there are some conditions.

The Australian Paramedical College is proud that our graduates have advised that the following universities have accepted our diploma;

• Central Queensland University (CQU) – Bachelor of Paramedic Science
• Edith Cowan University (ECU) – Bachelor of Science (Paramedical Science)
• Charles Sturt University (CSU) – Bachelor of Paramedicine
• University of Tasmania (UTAS)  – Bachelor of Paramedic Practice 53A
• Victoria University (VU) – Bachelor of Paramedicine
• University of Western Sydney – Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicine)

Diploma pathways

If the university pathway is not an option for you at this stage, there are other alternatives to consider on your way to getting the degree.

One of the most popular pathways is to complete the HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science (superseded by HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care) online, then apply to a university to study the degree.

The benefits to this are;

• keep in working in your current job and keep on earning whilst studying the diploma
• no interruption to your existing lifestyle, study at your own pace, in your own time
• finish the diploma and apply to university to study the paramedic science degree

Many universities offer credits towards the degree (usually around 10-30%) because the HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science (superseded by HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care) is highly recognised and is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level 5 qualification.

Each university has a slightly different degree structure; and the subjects can vary.

As a guide, the following Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree subjects were awarded to APC Diploma graduates;