What Does a Paramedic Do? (And How to Become One)

Paramedics respond to emergencies, usually via an ambulance, and provide medical care to patients on the scene and on their way to a nearby hospital or medical facility. In India, you also may use the terms emergency medical technician, emergency care assistant, or lifesaver.

A career as a paramedic can be exciting, rewarding, and fast-paced. If you're looking for a healthcare career that allows you to think quickly and provide life-saving care in the real world, then consider pursuing this important medical position. 

Explore the role of a paramedic and what it takes to become one, including education and training options, the human skills you'll need to possess to excel at the job, and what your career path in this field might look like.

What does a paramedic do?   

Paramedics are medical professionals who respond to emergent calls for medical assistance, provide life-saving care, and transport patients to medical facilities.

As a paramedic, when someone is sick, injured, or requires transportation to a hospital or other medical facility, you are a member of the emergency medical team that arrives first on the scene to provide care and ensure patients remain in stable condition. During an emergency, you must evaluate the situation, provide any necessary medical care, and then, if needed, continue to provide care in an ambulance or other emergency vehicle to help their patients get to the right medical professionals who can help them further. As a result, this role requires you to possess medical and health care knowledge and be physically capable of safely transporting patients to emergency vehicles.

As a paramedic, you may treat all sorts of patients, ranging from those who have trouble breathing to those in a serious car accident. In many cases, a person's life may be at stake. Most paramedics drive or ride along in an ambulance, but you might also work with critically ill patients in helicopters and airplanes. 

What is paramedical in India?

Paramedical in India is a growing sector comprised of hospitals, medical devices, telemedicine, medical tourism, health insurance, clinical trials, and more. By studying paramedical sciences, you can learn in-demand skills related to disease diagnosis, the use of diagnostic medical tools, therapeutic techniques, and the analysis of physical evidence. 

What are the primary duties and responsibilities of a paramedic?

Paramedics respond to medical emergencies, meaning your primary duties and responsibilities revolve around responding to emergency calls, providing medical assistance, and transporting patients to centres for additional treatment. This encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, and for most paramedics, each day will bring something new. Where you work can also impact your daily duties and responsibilities. On average, your duties may include:

• Responding to emergency calls 

• Providing first aid as necessary 

• Providing life support as necessary

• Transferring patients from the scene to a stretcher and into an ambulance

• Transporting patients to hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities 

• Communicating with doctors and nurses about a patient's condition 

• Keeping comprehensive notes on a patient's condition

• Cleaning and maintaining supplies inside an ambulance  

• Evaluating patients at various scenes (such as car accidents, in their homes, or in public places) 

Paramedics may face various medical or trauma situations daily when providing medical care. These might include: 

• Performing CPR and other cardiac support

• Taking vital signs

• Helping someone with a blocked airway by performing quick respiratory procedures

• Setting up an IV

• Stabilising head, neck, and back injuries, as well as broken bones 

• Cleaning and bandaging wounds 

• Delivering babies in emergencies 

• Administering medication 

• Treating an allergic reaction

• Using digital health technologies to improve patient care

What qualifications and certifications are required to become a paramedic?

To start your journey toward becoming a paramedic, you'll typically need to pass 10+2 with a science stream, such as physics, chemistry, and biology. After graduation, you will complete a certificate or diploma course in paramedical sciences or a paramedic training programme.

An emergency care assistant certificate or diploma course typically includes classroom training, practical experience, and on-the-job training. You will learn how to respond to emergencies and provide critical care to patients who have been injured, suffering from a medical condition, or in a medical emergency, such as childbirth. 

You might also opt for an emergency medical technician or paramedic training course offered by a healthcare institution or private organisation. You will typically learn medical terminology, patient assessment, first aid, and trauma care to equip you to work as a paramedic.

Getting into good physical condition while training to become a paramedic is also important. After all, you'll need to be fast, and you'll potentially lift people daily.  

To advance in your career within the paramedical field, you could pursue a Bachelor of Paramedical Technology (BPMT). In this course, you will typically choose a specialty, such as:

• Laboratory technician

• Radiographic technician

• Cardio technician

• Blood transfusion technician

• Optometry technician

• Perfusionist

• Community medicine/health inspector/emergency medical services

What is a paramedical course?

Paramedical courses train students to diagnose and deliver patient care in emergency medical situations. When you take a paramedical course, you can expect job-oriented training that prepares you to successfully enter into a career as a paramedic. You can choose between several types and levels of paramedical courses depending on your interests, including certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses.

How long does it take to train as a paramedic?

A paramedical training course typically takes one to three years, depending on whether you earn a certificate, diploma, undergraduate, or postgraduate degree. Paramedical certificate and diploma courses often take between one to two years (with some certificate courses taking only six months), while undergraduate and postgraduate degrees can take you three years to complete.

What other skills do I need to become a paramedic?

In addition to medical training, you must possess certain human skills to become a paramedic, like working under pressure and making quick decisions. The job is physically and mentally demanding, so you must be strong. Look below at some other essential skills you'll need to possess. 

Compassion

Compassion is a trait required to work in health care, but it's crucial for a paramedic career. The role of a paramedic is to assess what is often an emergency and determine what type of medical care is required. However, you'll also find that you're dealing with patients and their families who are often scared and upset. The more compassionate you are when working with them, the better they'll feel.  

Communication 

Communication is vital for paramedics. First, you'll be working with a team, which might include other paramedics and medical personnel. You may also encounter firefighters, police officers, and other first responders on the scene of an accident. You'll need to be able to communicate with them effectively. You'll also need to listen to and communicate clearly with your patients and their loved ones. Finally, when you transport a patient to the hospital or other medical facility, you'll often have to communicate their condition to the doctors and nurses on the scene.

Problem-solving 

Problem-solving is crucial because you will often find someone's life is in your hands. When you take inventory of their symptoms or injuries, you'll need to think quickly and determine the best treatment to keep them stable or even save their lives.

Where can I work once I’m qualified as a paramedic?

Paramedics often work on ambulances. Within the country, a variety of ambulance providers employ paramedics. You might work for:

• Privately funded hospitals

• Government hospitals

• Charities

• Self-help groups

• Political institutions and parties

• Religious institutions

• Private clinics

• Trauma centres

• Air ambulance services

What is the Para Medical Board of India?

The Para Medical Board of India oversees the training of paramedical professionals in India, including awarding all diplomas and certificates in this field. The goal of this organisation is to provide high-quality, affordable, career-focused training that prepares students in India to meet the growing demands of the paramedical industry. The Para Medical Board of India is able to establish Institutes of Para Medical Science and allied medical sciences around India under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.

How much do paramedics earn? 

According to Glassdoor, paramedics in India earn an average annual salary of ₹1,45,488 as of August 2024 [1]. Where you work can also impact your salary. For example, paramedics who work in urban areas may make more than in rural communities. Your experience level and the type of employer you work for can also impact how much you earn. 

Is paramedic a good career in India?

Becoming a paramedic in India is widely considered a good career choice due to the rising demand, attractive salary, and wide range of roles included in this field. As a paramedic, you can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and other health care facilities. Plus, if you decide to switch roles, you’ll likely have a wide range of related career paths to choose from, including work as a nurse, EMT, medical assistant, phlebotomist, or radiologic technologist. 

Career progression

After working as a paramedic, you might advance your career into a related position within the paramedical or medical fields. Typically, you will need further training or education. A few of the many career paths you might pursue include:

• Operation theatre technician

• Medical laboratory technician

• Hospital administrator

• Radiography technician

• Physiotherapist

• Perfusion technician

• Respiratory therapist

Working as an EMT and paramedic provides you with the human skills and medical background needed to advance in almost any direction in the healthcare field.

Learn more about becoming a paramedic on Coursera

Paramedics are skilled emergency medical professionals who provide life-saving care for patients. Start your path to an exciting, in-demand paramedic career by gaining foundational knowledge in a cost-effective, flexible course on Coursera. In the University of Colorado's Become an EMT Specialisation, you'll learn to care for stable and unstable patients before they get to a hospital, how to identify time-sensitive diseases, and medical and traumatic conditions that affect both adults and pediatric patients.