Do you want to become a Paramedic? If yes, this article will be of help to you. This step-by-step career guide has been crafted keeping the needs of paramedic training aspirants in mind. This article focuses on the topic – how to become a paramedic in India.
Paramedics form an integral part of the healthcare sector. A paramedic is a healthcare professional who works under the directions of the Doctor. Depending upon his/her qualifications, a paramedic may also be able to make autonomous decisions. Also check – Paramedical courses in India.
Paramedics are capable of working in emergency medical services, pre-hospital, hospital and out-of-hospital setups. The kind of work they do depends upon the training and specialization that they possess.
The healthcare sector needs skilled paramedics to function smoothly. They assist Doctors in various stages of treatment (depending upon their qualification) such as – diagnosis, treatment, operation, rehabilitation and patient education.
Here are some of the roles donned by paramedics (depending upon their qualifications and specializations) –
Lab technician
Operation theater technician
Optometrist
Occupational therapist
Medical imaging technician
Emergency medical technician
To thrive in this profession, one must possess the following qualities –
Compassion and helping nature
Good communication skills
Confidence
Ability to work in a team (comprising of Doctors and Nurses)
Stamina to work in long shifts
Willingness to work at odd hours
Mental and emotional strength
Ability to deal with ‘difficult’ patients
Sound moral values and work ethics
Eye for detail
Common tasks performed by paramedics include (depending upon their qualifications) –
Operate diagnostic equipment/carry out diagnostic procedures
Carrying out instructions provided by Doctors (Assisting Doctors)
Rehabilitation of patients
Monitoring patient’s condition
Educating patients and their relatives
Taking care of patients’ medications
Carry out emergency (first aid) medical procedures
Operate medical imaging equipment
To become a Paramedic in India, one must complete a relevant paramedical training course from a recognized institute. There are Degree, Diploma and Certificate courses available in India, when it comes to paramedical training.
I’d suggest my readers to pursue a good Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma course. Such courses would help one get decent jobs. Further, after pursuing these courses, it is relatively easier to go for higher education (advanced courses).
The first step is to choose a relevant paramedical course. Here are some of the best Degree and Diploma paramedical courses in India –
B.Sc. in Operation Theatre Technology
B.Sc. in X Ray Technology
B.Sc. in Radiography and Medical Imaging
B.Sc. in Dialysis Technology
B.Sc. in Medical Record Technology
B.Sc. in Medical Laboratory Technology
B.Sc. in Ophthalmic Technology
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Bachelor of Physiotherapy
B.Sc. in Speech Therapy
BASLP Course
B.Sc. in Audiology
B.Sc. in Anaesthesia Technology
B.Sc. in Audiology and Speech Therapy
B.Sc. in Optometry
Diploma in Operation Theatre Technology (DOTT)
Diploma in X Ray Technology
Diploma in Radiography and Medical Imaging
Diploma in ECG Technology
Diploma in Dialysis Technology
Diploma in Medical Record Technology
Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT)
Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology
Diploma in Physiotherapy
Diploma in Anaesthesia Technology
Diploma in Nursing Care Assistant
Diploma in Sanitary Inspector
Diploma in Hearing Language and Speech (DHLS)
Diploma in Dental Hygienist
Diploma in Audiometry Technician
Diploma in Audiology and Speech Therapy
2 Satisfy the eligibility criteria
Each course has its own eligibility criteria. To secure admission, you must be academically eligible to pursue that particular course. 10+2 passed is the eligibility criteria in cases of most of the paramedical courses. Depending upon the course, this criteria may vary!
3 Secure admission
Reputed institutes rely on merit based admission process. Deserving candidates are allotted seats based on the marks scored by them in relevant entrance test / board exam / a combination of both.
4 Complete the academic program
Paramedical courses boasts a holistic mixture of classroom lectures and practical sessions.
Career prospects
Paramedics have both Government and private job opportunities available in front of them. Prime recruiters are –
