To work as a paramedic in South Africa you must complete a training programme accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and register with its Professional Board for Emergency Care. Registration, not your employer, determines the category you may practise in.
The board registers several categories, so “paramedic” is one of a family of emergency care qualifications. Check which category your chosen course leads to before you enrol.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
The legal requirements are set by the HPCSA; everything else is set by the employer or the training institution.
- A programme approved and accredited by the HPCSA Board, offered by an institution the Board has accredited
- Registration with the Professional Board for Emergency Care in the right category, with the annual fee paid
- For the university route, the institution’s own admission requirements (see below)
- Employer criteria such as a driving licence, fitness and a medical assessment: these differ by employer, so read the advert
Education and Subject Requirements
The Professional Board for Emergency Care registers Basic Ambulance Assistants, Ambulance Emergency Assistants, Operational Emergency Care Orderlies, Emergency Care Assistants, Paramedics, Emergency Care Technicians and Emergency Care Practitioners. See the full list on the HPCSA emergency care board page.
To register in any of them you must have completed a Board-accredited programme. The HPCSA says short courses can only enhance skills within a category in which you are already registered, so a short course on its own does not make you a paramedic. Confirm a provider’s accreditation with the HPCSA before paying.
For the university route, admission is set by each institution. As an example, the University of Johannesburg’s four-year Bachelor of Health Sciences in Emergency Medical Care (NQF 8, 480 credits) asks for a minimum APS of 27 for the 2027 intake, with English at level 5 (60%+) and Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences at level 4 (50%+). Mathematical Literacy, Technical Mathematics and Technical Science are not accepted, and graduates may register with the HPCSA as Emergency Care Practitioners. Applications for 2027 at UJ run until 31 October 2026; see the UJ programme page. Other institutions set their own scores.
The national minimum for admission to a bachelor’s degree is an NSC with at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching and an achievement rating of 4 (50-59%) in four 20-credit subjects. Institutions may, and for this programme do, ask for more.
Age, Fitness, Licence and Background Requirements
The HPCSA pages do not set an age limit, a driving licence requirement or a police clearance requirement for registration. Those are employer matters, for example in a provincial emergency medical service advert, so check the specific post.
Selection at university can include physical and medical checks. UJ’s selection for its programme includes a structured interview, a phobia evaluation, a Class II Aviation or equivalent medical examination and a physical preparedness evaluation.
Documents and Evidence Required
The HPCSA lists registration forms on its emergency care registration page, including Form 23 (application for registration), Form 53 (students), Form 315 (foreign-qualified) and Form 19 (additional qualification). Download the current form from the HPCSA rather than from a third party, and ask the HPCSA what supporting documents it wants for your category.
Employers usually ask for your ID, qualification and HPCSA registration proof, and may ask for a driving licence or clearance depending on the post.
Application and Selection Process
Study route: apply to an accredited institution in its application window, complete the programme, then apply to the HPCSA for registration. Job route: apply to employers such as provincial emergency services or private ambulance operators once registered, following each employer’s own process.
Registration carries an annual fee. For 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 the gazetted fee is R1 295 for Paramedics, Emergency Care Practitioners, Emergency Care Technicians, Ambulance Emergency Assistants and Operational Emergency Care Orderlies, and R1 065 for Basic Ambulance Assistants and Emergency Care Assistants. Check the HPCSA fees page for registration and examination fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to become a paramedic in South Africa?
An HPCSA-accredited emergency care programme and registration with the HPCSA Professional Board for Emergency Care in the matching category. Employers add their own criteria.
What registration categories are there?
Basic Ambulance Assistant, Ambulance Emergency Assistant, Operational Emergency Care Orderly, Emergency Care Assistant, Paramedic, Emergency Care Technician and Emergency Care Practitioner.
Are short paramedic courses enough?
No. Short courses only enhance skills within a category you are already registered in. Registration requires a Board-accredited programme.
Do I need a professional driving permit?
The HPCSA does not list one as a registration requirement. Whether you need one depends on the employer and the vehicle you will drive, so check the job advert.
Does registration need to be maintained?
Yes, an annual fee is payable to the HPCSA (R1 295 for Paramedics in 2026/27). Ask the HPCSA about continuing professional development requirements for your category.
Confirm accreditation, categories and fees with the HPCSA. See job requirements and browse all career requirements.