Thank you for considering a career in pre-hospital emergency care.
South Africa has a great need for skilled, qualified emergency care providers. The profession has grown enormously over the last 25 years. It can no longer be considered a job, but rather a professional calling. A commitment to patient care, professional integrity, and lifelong learning is vital to success in this career.
Employment in Emergency Medical Services
There are two major employers in the emergency services industry, namely the government and private emergency services. Minimum requirements are typically HPCSA registration as a BAA / BLS (Basic Ambulance Assistant), a valid driver’s license, and a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) for Goods and Passengers.
There is currently an oversupply of BLS providers in the country. BLS practitioners may need perseverance and commitment to secure full-time employment in the industry.
Should you already meet the minimum requirements mentioned above, please register on our careers portal.
Please note that ER24 does not offer any commercial training to members of the public or corporate institutions.
University education
Certain universities offer a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Care (BEMS). Graduates of this program are qualified as Emergency Care Practitioners and able to provide the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care available.
Contact the university of your choice for further information on costs as well as entrance requirements.
A two-year Diploma in Emergency Medical Care is available. This qualification is also offered by accredited institutions and graduates will register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Paramedic. Mediclinic offers the Diploma in Emergency Medical Care in Cape Town. For more information on the program, please visit the Mediclinic website.
Diploma and Certificate level qualifications
Diploma and Certificate level qualifications are industry-specific qualifications that allow students to enter the healthcare profession.
A Diploma level qualification will allow you to work in a particular field. The duration of diploma-level qualifications is usually 2 – 3 years.
A Higher Certificate level qualification will enable you to enroll for a higher level qualification, for example, an advanced certificate or diploma course in the same field of study. The duration of a Higher Certificate level qualification is 1 year