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Newly Qualified Paramedic roles – FAQs

The role of a paramedic is focused in a range of emergency and non- emergency situations, using judgement and skills to quickly access a patient’s condition and make lifesaving decisions.

The Newly Qualified Paramedic (NQP) course at London Ambulance Service (LAS) is a structured two year programme to integrate and support newly qualified paramedics into the ambulance service with the opportunity to consistently apply academic knowledge, skills and placement experience into confident practice.

A group picture of Newly Qualified Paramedics posing for a photo after completing their training at our Dockside Education Centre

What is the Paramedic pathway?

Clinical & Corporate induction: Introduction to clinical practice of LAS and NHS ambulance services which may be different if you have been a paramedic in another country. The induction will also include other aspects including familiarisation with our organisation structure, People & Culture processes, annual leave policies, and procedures and policies around other aspects such as sickness and trade unions.

Operational Placement Centre (OPC): Your OPC placement will be approximately 8-10 weeks. This allows time to become familiar with the LAS and the various policies and procedures. Your placement is designed to support you, with time given for paperwork completion, referral processes and frequent feedback and debriefs. You will be likely be with another new starter and under the supervision of an experienced paramedic. Sometimes these placements are shorter and occasionally they are longer: depending on your clinical development needs.

NQP1- Your Clinical Team Manager welcomes you to your ambulance station local group where you will be based as a Newly Qualified Paramedic. Firstly, you’ll be working solely with an experienced paramedic, then once signed off to a certain level you will be working with non-paramedic clinicians too as you are supported in completing your portfolio of evidence. This period usually lasts between three to four months.

NQP2- Once you have completed 30% of you NQP portfolio you can progress to NQP2. Here, you can now work with non registrant clinicians (Emergency Medical Technicians, Emergency Ambulance Crews and Assistant Ambulance Practitioners).You will also start to mentor non-registrant trainees and paramedic students during their formative placements.

By the time you have been on the road for 24 months you should have completed your NQP portfolio and blue light driving. You can now be credentialed to a “Band 6” paramedic and progress to pay band 6. You will be able to work with staff of any skill level, mentor summative and apply for secondments and other specialist paramedic roles.

What are the application requirements?An ambulance parked inside an ambulance station with other ambulances either side

  1. You must be a final year student or hold a Diploma/Bachelor’s Degree in Paramedic Science or similar from an approved provider.
  2. To be eligible to register as a paramedic with the Health Care Professions Council (or already be registered) and have successfully completed a HCPC approved paramedic programme.
  3. Have demonstrable evidence of clinical practice within at least the last 12 months
  4. All UK applicants need to have a current manual B class driving licence, with a maximum of 3 penalty points and C1 provisional licence or full C1 licence at the time of application. A driving licence summary check will be requested at pre-screening stage to evidence this entitlement.
  5. All International applicants need to have a current manual B class driving licence, with a maximum of 3 penalty points. You will be expected to convert your driving licence to a UK licence and attain a full C1 Licence during NQP1 training.

Other essential and desirable criteria can be found on the job description.

How do I apply?

Applicants are required to submit an application via

NHS jobs – https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/  or Health jobs – https://www.healthjobsuk.com/

For UK please apply for ‘Newly Qualified Paramedic’

And if you are not based in the UK please apply for ‘International Newly Qualified Paramedic’

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