We recognise the current drive for non-ambulance practice-based learning within pre-registration paramedic education and training programmes.
We have produced an information sheet for education providers to enable consideration of our regulatory requirements and standards when developing in this area.
Our standards
Our paramedic standards of proficiency (SOPs) set out safe and effective practice in the paramedic profession. Newly qualified paramedics must meet all of the SOPs to register with us.
The current version of the paramedic SOPs became effective in September 2023. From this date, all education programmes needed to deliver this version of the SOPs to new cohorts of learners.
Emerging areas of practice within paramedic roles are reflected within the current version of the SOPs. There are now references to ‘primary and community care’ within two standards (SOPs 12.10, and 13.13), and many other SOPs may also require broader skills, knowledge and / or understanding, due to the diversification of settings within which paramedics can practice.
12.10 understand the following aspects of clinical science:
- pathological changes and related clinical features of conditions encountered in emergency and urgent care and primary and community care
13.3 analyse and critically evaluate the information collected
Our standards of education and training (SETs) require that the “structure, duration and range of practice-based learning must support the achievement of the learning outcomes and the standards of proficiency” (SET 5.2).
Views of other organisations
Other organisations, such as the College of Paramedics (COP), have more clearly defined their expectations for non-ambulance practice-based learning. This is reflected in the COP’s sixth curriculum guidance, published in April 2024, and in the requirements / expectations of other organisations such as Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), NHS Education Scotland (NES), and NHSE.
Our requirements
Where we consider it best practice for pre-registration paramedic programmes to include non-ambulance practice-based learning, we are not setting a formal requirement that all paramedic programmes must include non-ambulance practice-based learning. Instead, we are asking education providers to consider this area, and how they deliver the revised paramedic SOPs with this in mind.
We will review the approach of education providers through their next performance review submission (from the 2025-26 academic year), and will continue to monitor intelligence and data related to the performance of institutions and paramedic programme(s).
You can view the full information sheet below.