Following a public consultation last year, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) agreed that the threshold level for paramedics should change from ‘Equivalent to Certificate of Higher Education’ to ‘Bachelor degree with Honours’. It was agreed that this change was necessary to ensure that paramedics in the UK were trained to the depth required for contemporary practice.
This change is about the level of education and training for entry to the profession going forward. This is no criticism of the essential contribution the existing workforce makes, and will continue to make, to patient care.
We have provided guidance on the impact of this change, including a series of FAQs and the flow chart designed for registered paramedics, student paramedics and prospective paramedic students, which is available on the HCPC website.
But what are the SETs?
As the name implies, standards of education and training (SETs) are standards that programmes of education and training must meet before they can be approved. These standards ensure that individuals who complete a programme meet the standards of proficiency for their profession, and are therefore eligible to apply to register with us.
The first of the standards of education and training (‘SET 1’) sets out the threshold level of qualification for entry to the Register for each of the professions. Until 21 March 2018, the threshold for paramedics was ‘Equivalent to Certificate of Higher Education’.
Key facts on the changes
All existing registrants will be able to remain registered with the HCPC
It is important to highlight that this change does not directly affect existing registered paramedics, or students' part way through preregistration education and training programmes. This change applies only to preregistration education and training programmes— and not to individuals.
Therefore, existing registered paramedics who have not completed a degree-level qualification will continue to be registered by us and no top-up education will be required of paramedics in order to remain registered.
If you have an HCPC-approved qualification, you can still apply
The change to SET 1 does not affect your ability to apply for registration with HCPC, even if you decide not to apply for registration until after SET 1 has changed. This is because SET 1 is about the contemporary level of education and training required for entry to the Register. It applies to approved programmes going forward and is not applied retrospectively.
If you have been out of practice since you qualified, you may need to meet our returners-to-practice requirements before you register. You can find out more information in the registration section of our website.
You can still apply if you are completing an approved diploma
Any student who is currently enrolled on an approved programme (now or when the change is fully implemented on 1 September 2021) will be eligible to apply for registration with us when they complete their programme. Enrolled students do not need to have completed their approved programme by 1 September 2021. They can graduate after this date and still be eligible to register.
You may have to complete a degree to train as a paramedic in future
We will be implementing the change to SET 1 as a phased approach. Students will still be able to start approved certificate, diploma and foundation degree-level programmes up until 31 August 2021 and will graduate with eligibility to apply for registration when they finish their studies.
From 1 September 2021, only education programmes delivered at degree level or above will be approved to take on new students. From this date, you will need to enrol onto a degree-level programme if you want to train to be a paramedic. We anticipate that education providers will phase out their certificate, diploma and foundation degree-level programmes between 2018 and 2021. Individual education providers will decide when to close approved certificate, diploma and foundation degree-level programmes to new entrants. We expect the timelines to vary from provider to provider. We strongly recommend that you contact any providers you are considering applying to as soon as possible to find out their specific plans.
If you are waiting to start an approved course, you will be eligible to join the Register on completion
There is no requirement for education providers to close approved certificate, diploma and foundation degree-level programmes immediately. Individual education providers will decide when to close approved certificate, diploma and foundation degree-level programmes to new entrants. We anticipate that education providers will phase out this provision at different times between now and September 2021. If you are considering deferring your place, we strongly recommend that you contact the provider as soon as possible as there may not be any guarantee that the programme will run in the next academic year.
