How to become a Critical Care Paramedic

Also called: Intensive Care Paramedic

Provides specialised health care to critically ill or critically injured persons in an out-of-hospital environment.

Main tasks

• Attends accidents, emergencies and requests for medical assistance when there is an immediate risk to life
• Assesses health of critically ill patients, need for assistance, specialised needs, and factors affecting patients' conditions
• Conducts diagnostic tests and interprets results to aid in patient assessment
• Administers emergency medical treatment and life support interventions to stabilise patients
• Monitors and manages critically ill patients' vital signs and responses to treatment
• Resuscitates and defibrillates patients and operates life-support equipment
• Prepares written reports on the state of critically ill patients' injuries and treatment

Ways in

• University: Allied Health degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport (HLT31120)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $148,304 a year
• About 28,200 people work in this job group now, and about 34,500 are projected by 2035. (+22.6%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Critical Care Paramedic?

Ways in include: Allied Health degrees; Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport.

How much does a Critical Care Paramedic earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $148,304 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Critical Care Paramedic a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 23% by 2035, from about 28,200 to about 34,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Critical Care Paramedic?

Usually. 74% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Critical Care Paramedic?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04