Apprenticeship ยท Level 8 ยท Healthcare

Paramedic

A four-year degree apprenticeship that makes you a qualified paramedic while you work. It suits quick-thinking people who communicate well and can lead in an emergency.

How apprenticeships work: you are hired by an approved employer and paid while you learn, mixing work with blocks of training in a college or training centre. You don't apply through the CAO and you don't need CAO points.

Key facts

How long
4 years
Award
NFQ Level 8 Honours Degree in Paramedicine
Where you train
  • University College Cork (UCC) manages the programme
Pay
Employer pays a salary at the paramedic apprentice rate.
Costs
Student contribution of EUR 2,750 plus EUR 210 capitation fee; employers have agreed to cover this for September 2026 entrants.

Entry requirements

  • Aimed at people with a related qualification or considerable industry experience
  • Full criteria are in the Paramedic Apprenticeship Handbook

How to apply

You must be hired by an approved employer. Contact UCC using the details on the page or search the Apprenticeship Jobs page.

Official page on apprenticeship.ie โ†—

What you'll learn

  • Emergency medical care and life-saving treatment
  • Safely transporting patients
  • Assessing patients and reporting to healthcare teams
  • Using equipment like ECGs and oxygen systems
  • First aid education

Where it can lead

  • Qualified paramedic

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Biology

These help with the content of the programme; they are not entry requirements unless listed above.

Other Healthcare apprenticeships

Tertiary degrees in Health

Not sure which route suits you?

Our CAO Interest Test matches you to course areas, and now shows apprenticeships and tertiary degrees in your strongest areas too.

Take the CAO Interest Test โ†’ Try the free 3-minute test

Information from apprenticeship.ie, checked November 2026. Details can change, so always confirm on the official page before applying.