To work as a paramedic in South Africa you complete an accredited emergency medical care qualification and register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The qualification you choose decides the category you register in. For example, CPUT’s two-year Diploma in Emergency Medical Care leads to registration as a Paramedic (ANT).
Entry requirements are set by each university, not by one national rule. The figures below come from CPUT and DUT; check the CPUT Emergency Medical Sciences page and the DUT Study Opportunities 2027 guide for the intake you want.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Based on CPUT and DUT, you can expect the following.
- An accredited emergency medical care qualification at the level you want to register
- A National Senior Certificate with the subjects and points the institution sets for that level (see below)
- A selection process that can include an interview, a physical and medical assessment, a height and claustrophobia test and job shadowing (CPUT)
- Medical, physical and environmental fitness evaluations (DUT)
- HPCSA registration after you qualify
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
There are three levels at CPUT, and each leads to a different registration:
- Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care (one year): registration as an Emergency Care Assistant (ECA).
- Diploma in Emergency Medical Care (two years): registration as a Paramedic (ANT).
- Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (four years): registration as an Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP), with an advanced scope of practice.
Note that the degree sits above the Diploma. A Paramedic (ANT) is not the highest registration level.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
CPUT lists these minimum entrance requirements (the page does not state an intake year, so confirm the current figures):
- Higher Certificate: APS 26, with Mathematics (3), Mathematical Literacy (6) or Technical Mathematics (4).
- Diploma: APS 28, with Mathematics (3).
- Bachelor: APS 30 to 34, with Mathematics (4), Life Sciences (4), Physical Sciences (4) and English (4).
- Bachelor Extended Curriculum Programme: APS 35 or more.
For the 2027 intake, DUT considers applicants for its Emergency Medical Care programme with 30 points or more. You need English (4), Mathematics (4) and Life Sciences and/or Physical Sciences (4), plus two 20-credit subjects at 4, of which not more than one may be a language. The DUT CAO code is DUDHS4.
Documents and Application Requirements
DUT applications go through the Central Applications Office (CAO). CPUT applications are made through cput.ac.za. Each institution publishes its own list of supporting documents, so use the application guide of the institution you are applying to.
Medical and fitness requirements are part of the process. DUT applicants must pass medical, physical and environmental fitness evaluations. CPUT requires a physical and medical assessment and a height and claustrophobia test.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Places are limited. DUT states that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place, and CPUT’s final selection considers your overall performance as well as the interview, assessments and job shadowing.
Be careful with short courses marketed as paramedic training. Only an accredited qualification leads to HPCSA registration, so confirm accreditation before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What registration levels are there?
At CPUT the Higher Certificate leads to Emergency Care Assistant (ECA), the Diploma to Paramedic (ANT) and the Bachelor to Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP).
Do I need Mathematics?
Yes for the Diploma and Bachelor at CPUT (Mathematics 3 and 4 respectively) and for DUT (Mathematics 4). CPUT’s Higher Certificate also accepts Mathematical Literacy (6) or Technical Mathematics (4).
What APS do I need to study emergency medical care?
CPUT asks for APS 26 (Higher Certificate), 28 (Diploma) and 30 to 34 (Bachelor). DUT considers applicants with 30 points or more for its 2027 intake.
Do I need a driving licence?
DUT requires accepted applicants to obtain a driver’s licence by the end of their first year. CPUT’s page lists no licence requirement, so ask the institution you are applying to.
Are short paramedic courses enough?
Only accredited qualifications lead to registration. Confirm accreditation with the HPCSA before paying for any course.
Confirm requirements and intake dates with the university you are applying to. See paramedic courses requirements, admission requirements and browse all education requirements.