Unisa’s undergraduate and short learning programme lists do not show a paramedic or emergency care qualification, so there is no Unisa paramedic course to apply for. The closest Unisa offering is the Programme in Disaster Management (72532), which names paramedics among its target groups but is a disaster management programme, not paramedic training.
Becoming a paramedic means registering with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), through its HPCSA Professional Board for Emergency Care. Check Unisa’s current listings and the HPCSA before you enrol anywhere.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
For the Unisa programme that mentions paramedics, the admission requirement is a Senior Certificate or an equivalent NQF level 4 qualification. That programme is a short course on disaster management and does not lead to registration as a paramedic.
For an accredited emergency care qualification, entry requirements are set by each institution. Ask the institution you are considering for its current requirements and intake dates.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
To register with the HPCSA, a practitioner must have completed a training programme approved and accredited by the relevant board, and the training institution must itself be accredited by the board. Short courses can only enhance or maintain skills in a category in which you are already registered, so they cannot be a route into registration.
Before you pay for any study, check with the HPCSA that the programme is accredited and which register it leads to.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Unisa’s Programme in Disaster Management asks for a Senior Certificate or NQF level 4 equivalent, with no APS score stated. Subject and APS requirements for accredited emergency care programmes differ between institutions, so check each institution’s admissions page for the year you plan to start.
The HPCSA 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. The qualification you need depends on which of these registers you are aiming for.
Documents and Application Requirements
Documents are set by the institution you apply to, so use its current application checklist. For your HPCSA registration, use the forms on the HPCSA emergency care registration page rather than a third-party list.
The HPCSA lists separate forms for students, for registration in the different emergency care categories, for additional qualifications and for foreign-qualified applicants. Choose the one that matches your situation.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Selection and intakes belong to the institution that offers the accredited programme, and Unisa has no paramedic intake to apply for. Once you are registered, the HPCSA charges annual fees. For 2026/27 these are R1 295 for Paramedics, Emergency Care Practitioners and Emergency Care Technicians, and R1 065 for Basic Ambulance Assistants and Emergency Care Assistants.
Confirm the full fee schedule and any registration fees with the HPCSA Professional Board for Emergency Care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a paramedic course at Unisa?
Not that Unisa’s published undergraduate and short learning programme lists show. Its Programme in Disaster Management names paramedics as a target group, but it is not paramedic training and does not register you with the HPCSA.
What do I need to register as a paramedic?
Completion of a board-approved programme at an accredited institution, then registration with the HPCSA. The HPCSA emergency care board page and registration forms are the place to start.
Can a short course get me registered?
No. According to the HPCSA, short courses can only enhance skills in a category you are already registered in.
How much does HPCSA registration cost each year?
For 2026/27 the annual fee is R1 295 for a Paramedic and R1 065 for a Basic Ambulance Assistant or Emergency Care Assistant. Confirm the current schedule with the HPCSA.
How do I verify a qualification?
Ask the HPCSA which qualifications lead to which registration categories before you enrol.
Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa is required before you may practise, and only a qualification from an accredited programme leads to registration. Confirm accreditation with the council before enrolling. See paramedic courses requirements. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.