This apprenticeship has been developed in collaboration with employers within the region and beyond and complies with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Education and Training (2022) and the College of Paramedics Curriculum Guidance (2017), which means apprentices will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
End Point Assessment (EPA)
The EPA is the Examination Board for the Paramedic Apprenticeship standard. The examination board will be constituted in line with the HCPC Approved Education Provider’s academic assessment regulations and must have an external examiner present when considering achievement of the Paramedic degree.
Independence of the EPA will be assured through:
- The examination board, which will include the external examiner, being responsible for the final decision on the award of the qualification that confirms the apprentice has met the education outcomes required for registration with the HCPC.
The EPA will determine the overall apprenticeship standard and grades of:
End Point Assessment Gateway
Apprentices will typically spend 36 months on-programme working towards the occupational standard.
It is expected that the gateway will be reached on completion of the final module and before the Approved Education Provider’s examination board.
The EPA period should only start, and the EPA be arranged, once the employer and HCPC Approved Education Provider are satisfied that the apprentice is consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard and all the pre-requisite gateway requirements for EPA have been met.
The apprentice’s employer, in conjunction with the University will confirm that the apprentice is eligible to progress to the EPA. Eligibility is confirmed once the apprentice has met the below criteria for progression to EPA:
- Apprentice has met the knowledge, skills and behaviours
- Achieved Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving Course (This is an Ofqual qualification and is the only mandated qualification that meets regulatory requirements. Individuals would have to complete the Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving Course unless they have already passed either the legacy Institute of Health Care Development (IHCD) Driver training programme or Chief Ambulance Officer approved internal programmes with high speed driving component where candidates can demonstrate current and relevant driving experience. Previous driver training programmes must meet the criteria set out by the Department for Transport for high speed driving in the Road Safety Act)
- The apprentice must have achieved English and maths qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
- Achieved all required modules, taking into account any recognition of prior learning (RPL) of the Paramedic degree but before the Approved Education Provider’s examination board
- Practice Assessment Document (PAD) completed and signed-off by their practice and academic assessor
The Apprenticeship Standard
The Apprenticeship Standard (ST0567) can be found here Paramedic / Skills England