Why your ATAR doesn’t matter

Learn how Australian Paramedical College can help you achieve your career goals, no matter your ATAR score.

You probably heard a lot about your ATAR in your final year at school.

For many people, it’s the thing that will determine their next step when school is over – whether they go onto further education or not. However, it’s not always as important as it seems.

With Australian Paramedical College (APC), there are other paths you can take to help you reach your education goals. Keep reading to find out how we can help you too!

ATAR for paramedicine

What actually is an ATAR?

ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) is used by universities to compare the performance of all students across Australia who complete their HSC in any given year.

It’s based on overall HSC (High School Certificate) results and is designed to give universities an idea of how you might perform in your first year at uni.

Your ATAR is a number out of 99.95 but, remember, it’s not a score, it’s a rank of your percentile position of all the students from that year. So, an ATAR of 40 doesn’t mean you got 40%, it’s the rank you have based on the percentile position when everyone has been taken into account.

 

For School Leavers

What can I do if I didn’t get into university and my ATAR is lower than I expected?

If you didn’t get the ATAR you were hoping for, it doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to get to university, it just means you need to consider alternative ways of getting there.

So if you’re aiming for a career as paramedic but don’t have the results you need to go to uni right now, a pathway course with APC is a great option for you.

In fact, when you choose to study with APC, your ATAR doesn’t matter.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to work towards their dream career. And while we do have some basic entry requirements that you need to meet to apply for our courses, a specific ATAR isn’t one of them.

Build confidence with the diploma pathway

Direct Entry

Gain direct admission into university: 3 years full-time study or 3-6 years part-time study

 

Diploma Pathway

Gain a VET qualification before progressing onto university: APC’s HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care is perfect for students who choose this pathway!

Diploma pathway benefits

Boost real-life skills, save time and get industry-ready by applying for direct entry at APC.

Choose APC to…

Ensure that this is the right career for you before enrolling in a 3-year, full-time university degree.

To learn more about career pathways, check out this page

Develop confidence in your foundational knowledge and hands-on skills to give yourself a head-start at university. 

How? By getting quality experience at APC’s Clinical Workshops and as part of Clinical Placement too. 

Completing the Diploma means you’ll be nationally qualified to immediately start working in the private emergency healthcare sector before and during university. 

Did you know we are partnered with 15+ established organisations across Australia too? That’s right! These partnerships mean our students can gain direct access to quality Clinical Placement while they study, often leading to exciting employment opportunities once they graduate. 

The diploma could give you university credits that will shorten the length of your degree!

To learn more about what credits you might be eligible to receive, click here

All about ATAR’s

To become a paramedic, you do need to complete a Bachelor of Paramedic Science at university.

The ATAR required to apply may differ for each university, so we recommend contacting your preferred education provider to confirm the exact entry requirements you need to be aware of, including ATAR score. 

Learn more about university pathways here.

The short answer is – no!

When you choose to study with APC, your ATAR does not matter.

Whether you don’t have one at all, or received a low score, this won’t hold you back from starting a career in healthcare. APC supports individuals of all backgrounds and experience levels, so don’t worry if you never finished high school or haven’t studied for a while.

One of the most popular pathways to become a Registered Paramedic is to complete a HLT51020 Diploma of Emergency Health Care first.

Depending on your career goals and personal preferences, you may need an ATAR to kickstart your study journey.

However, if you choose to study with APC we’re here to tell you – your ATAR does not matter!

Please note we do have some basic entry requirements that you need to meet to apply for our courses, however a specific ATAR isn’t one of them. Feel free to check out our courses where you can learn more about our entry requirements for your preferred course. 

 

Enquire now

Take a look at our courses and have a chat with one of our friendly Course Advisors to find out how APC can help you in your pathway to becoming a qualified medic or paramedic.

What students had to say about their ATAR

Alan Leahy
Jess Vojtek
Matthew Delicata

Ready to learn more?

Take a closer look at our courses and have a chat with one of our friendly Course Advisors to find out how APC can help you in your pathway to becoming a paramedic.