You could do a college course to give you some of the skills and knowledge you need to become an emergency care assistant.

Courses include:

• health and social care
• T Level in Health

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

You could apply to do an Ambulance Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship with an ambulance service.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

You'll find it helpful to get some health or social care experience before applying for a job. For example, you could volunteer with:

• the NHS
• the British Red Cross
• St John Ambulance

You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do IT.

You can apply directly to become an emergency care assistant. You'll usually need:

• driving experience
• experience in patient care, ideally in the NHS
• a first aid certificate

Some ambulance services may ask for 3 or 4 GCSEs, including English and maths at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent qualifications.

You'll need:

• sensitivity and understanding
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• excellent verbal communication skills
• knowledge of public safety and security
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• have a full driving licence
• pass enhanced background checks
• have a good level of fitness

You may need a Category C1 licence or C1 provisional to drive an ambulance, depending on when you passed your original driving test. Check with the ambulance service you're applying to for details.

As an emergency care assistant, you could:

• drive ambulance vehicles
• respond to medical emergencies and accidents
• support paramedics to carry out essential emergency care
• monitor patient health during ambulance journeys
• maintain radio contact with the control room
• complete a patient handover report at the hospital
• maintain stocks of medical supplies and equipment

You could work on an ambulance or in an NHS or private hospital.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.