Pre-Paramedic Studies

INTRODUCTION:

If you want a career that guarantees challenges and variety every day, if you think saving lives and caring for people is your calling, if you are the one who wants to run into the burning building when everyone else is running out, then this is the course for you.

Working closely with industry means that we have put together a course that provides students with more of the skills and qualifications required in the area. Many of our students began their career in voluntary services before going on to complete Emergency Medical Technician training.

This course is ideally suited to those who are calm and work well under pressure and who would like to work in the Fire Service, Gardaí, Defence Forces or as a Paramedic.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

• Practical experience with a voluntary group is desirable but not essential, Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
• All applicants are interviewed, and places are awarded on suitability.
• Mature students without formal qualifications are also welcome to apply.

DURATION:

This is a one-year course.

FEES:

See fees & payment for details.

DRIVING LICENCE:

Once qualified to work with The National Ambulance Service, a Full Driving Licence is required.

CERTIFICATION:

• QQI Level 5 in Nursing Studies (5M4349).
• QQI Component Maths (5N1833) – available as an option in the evening for learners requiring Maths for progression.
• Optional Certification on completion of course: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) which is hosted in June.

COURSE CONTENT:

The following subjects may be offered:

ADDITIONAL TRAINING / WORKSHOPS:

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) courses is an extra course that will be offered when you have completed the course, met the attendance requirement and were successful in core modules. This extra course costs  €1,850 and will be paid for by the college.  

Additional Certification in:  First Aid Responder, Fire Warden, Hazardous Substances and Breathing Apparatus.

• People Moving and Handling Certification (requirement for work experience): This workshop teaches safe and effective techniques used in the safe moving and handling of people in a variety of settings. This training is mandatory for persons involved in manual handling and people moving and handling tasks. It is required by legislation under The Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulation 2007 Part two chapter four. The training involves the theory module which is completed online (HSELanD.ie) and the practical module which is classroom based. The certificate obtained is valid for three years. 
• HSE Safeguarding Adults at Risk of abuse Certificate (requirement for work experience): Its primary focus is to inform learners on the guiding practice and procedures to keep vulnerable adults safe in the community and residential settings. The content includes learners being informed of their safeguarding responsibilities, the different types of abuse and neglect and how to recognise them and how to report concerns in line with HSE guidelines. All students receive a certificate on completion at the end of the course.
• First Aid Workshop (online): This First Aid workshop will introduce the learner to the principles of First Aid. The workshop includes identifying the role and responsibilities of the first Aider, understanding the principles of infection control. In addition, learners will describe and demonstrate how to assess a casualty- by conducting an initial check, physical examination, by obtaining a SAMPLE history, assessing levels of Response (AVPU) and identifying problems that are an immediate threat to life. Finally, learners will describe the requirements for a handover to other health care practitioners. A certificate of completion from Morrison’s Island Campus is issued on successful completion of the workshop.
• AMRIC Hand Hygiene (HSELand): Effective hand Hygiene is the single most effective thing that you can do to protect the people you care for and yourself from healthcare acquired infections. HCAI’s. But knowing is not enough – it’s important to apply what you have learnt and believe that it can be done. By the end of this course, you should know: Why hand hygiene is important:
  – When to practice hand hygiene.
  – How to perform hand hygiene in line with the WHO 5 Moments.
  – How to take care of your hands.
• AMRIC Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (HSELand): This course on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will enable and empower you to make an assessment on the selection of PPE for a task and to put on and remove PPE correctly. By the end of the course, you will be able to: Identify why you need to wear PPE and where you need to wear it.
  – Recognise the appropriate PPE to wear to protect the body, face and eyes, and hands in different situations.
  – Put on and remove all PPE in acute and non-acute setting.
  – Dispose of used PPE safely.
  – Reflect on your own actions and behaviours in relation to PPE and infection prevention and control.
• AMRIC Infection Prevention and Control (HSELand): Practical programme which includes specific measures for prevention of infection in all healthcare facilities, how to identify hazards and carry out a well-informed risk assessment. How to control the sources and prevent onward transmission of infection.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:

This course provides students with a solid foundation in the paramedic sector, enabling progression to specialised training programmes such as the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) qualification with the National Ambulance Service. Graduates may pursue careers in public services, including fire and ambulance roles, as well as positions within private ambulance services and event medical support.

There is strong demand for qualified personnel across state ambulance and fire services, private ambulance companies, and intermediate care ambulance providers. Additional opportunities are available with emergency response teams at Cork Airport, the Port of Cork, pharmaceutical and chemical companies in the region, the Whitegate oil refinery, local on-call services, and direct employment as EMTs.

Training in fire safety and emergency response further broadens employment prospects in various sectors where such expertise is highly valued, including roles as caretakers, safety officers, and duty managers.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Each student will gain practical experience while working in areas such as voluntary ambulance and private ambulance services, industrial fire services and related industries. Relationships can be built up between employers and students, which can lead to full-time employment on completion of the course.

The Emergency Services course incorporates a mandatory, 150 hour placement, therefore prospective students need to be aware that some aspects of this course are physically demanding and should satisfy themselves that they are physically fit enough to undertake it.

EDUCATION PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES:

Some of our popular progression opportunities include:

• UCC: Paramedicine (CK708).
• UL: BSc. Paramedic Studies (LM103).
• University of Central Lancashire: Fire Safety & Risk Management B.Sc. Hons.
• MTU Cork: Social Care Work (MT573).
• Paramedic Science in many UK Universities.
• All Nursing and Midwifery degree programmes in Ireland.
• Nursing degrees in England (including Kingston University, Southampton University).
• Nursing degrees in Wales (including Swansea University, University of South Wales).
• Nursing degrees in Scotland (including University of Stirling, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh).

Excellent progression opportunities to UCC and other Higher Education colleges. Special arrangements in place with MTU Cork, MTU Kerry and SETU (Waterford & Carlow) for preferential entry for students of Morrisons Island locations for some courses.

Excellent progression opportunities in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Go to our progressions database for exact requirements on progressions for this course.