How to register as a Paramedic in Ireland

Written for SA2Eire by a Member

Some of you have asked how I moved to Ireland, as a Paramedic, what is the process, how does it work, etc.

Please note, I am not nearly an expert!

This is just some of the things I have figured out, and some of the steps I have taken so far. 

Hopefully this will help you start the process, this will help.

Step 1: Get your qualification recognised

The Irish equivalent of the HPCSA is the PHECC (Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council). They are very active in the recognition of international qualifications and South Africans I know, myself included, have had good results so far.

Once recognised to practice in Ireland, you pay the annual licence fees in the same way you would at HPCSA, and your licence card and certificate will be issued.

Everything is explained on the PHECC website: www.phecit.ie

The process takes roughly 12 weeks from submission. How long it takes you to gather all your documents depends on you. The cost is currently €350, but please verify the current fee directly with PHECC as these do get updated.

They have 4 qualifications registered to the PHECC:

• As a HPCSA ALS (CCA / NDIP / BTECH / ECP) you should be awarded PHECC Advanced Paramedic status
• As a HPCSA AEA / ECT you should be able to obtain PHECC Paramedic status

Regardless of qualifications, they weigh their decisions very heavily on the following:

• Your academic transcript (subjects with examination and assessment methods)
• Your experience as written by yourself. Read through their qualification requirements carefully and make sure you mention every single relevant item. For example, they have a section on solo-response, so make sure to mention that you have experience in solo-response. Think of this as a portfolio of evidence of what you have done and can do clinically.
• References must be from current line managers, so be aware that by the time you reach this step you will need to have informed them of your intent to register with PHECC.
• Focus on the clinical content. For those of you with managerial roles, add those in as secondary items, but put your clinical experience and work front and centre.
• Additional courses such as BLS for HCP, ACLS, ATLS etc. are advantageous, although some people do get through without them.

Good news on document submission: From January 2026, PHECC no longer requires original signed applications to be couriered in hardcopy to their offices. Applications are now submitted electronically. Always check the current submission requirements at www.phecit.ie before you start your application as processes do get updated.

Step 2: Find work

You cannot apply for a work permit without a job offer or work contract in place.

In Ireland, like in South Africa, there are a lot of private companies. Some are easier to get work from than others, depending on where you want to work or live and what financial means you have. Some will do a telephonic interview, others might want you to travel to Ireland at your own cost.

There is also the National Ambulance Service (NAS), which is the state ambulance service. Unlike in South Africa, working for the NAS is most people’s dream here. They have much better hours, salaries, benefits and growth opportunities.

Unfortunately, while not impossible, it is very difficult to get in with them directly. They have a recruitment process similar to a government system, which means local residents will always have first preference and they typically prefer some local experience. That is why I went to a private company first, with the goal of moving to NAS later once settled.

The easiest starting point is often to go somewhere you know someone. Beyond that, do your research and send your CV to multiple private companies.

At this stage make sure your CV is updated and formatted for the Irish market. You can do it yourself or invest in a professional CV service. Ireland is also very active on LinkedIn, so update your profile and make sure it is presenting you well. It is also worth tidying up your general social media profiles as companies in Ireland are known to research candidates thoroughly, especially those coming from abroad.

Step 3: Your eligibility to work in Ireland

Important: South African passport holders no longer have visa-free access to Ireland. If you hold only a South African passport you will need to apply for a visa to enter Ireland and a work permit before you can work here.

If you hold an Irish/ EU or British passport, you have no restrictions and can come over and seek work freely. Your SA family members will need visas and there could be separation times or limitations so please make suree you have checked before jumping.

If you hold only a South African passport, you will need to apply for an employment permit through the DETE (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment).

Work permits are subject to a list of skills required by the country. This list changes regularly. There are three categories:

• Ineligible means that even with a job offer, you will not get a work permit. You cannot work in Ireland in that career.
• Critical Skills means your career is in very high demand. Subject to meeting the terms and conditions, your spouse and children can join you immediately, and your spouse can also apply for their own work permission.
• General means you can get a work permit subject to a number of conditions. Your spouse and children can join you 12 months later, but they cannot work without their own separate work permit.

At the time of writing, both Advanced Paramedics and Paramedics fall under the Critical Skills list, which is great news as Paramedics were previously ineligible. However, please verify this directly with DETE at www.enterprise.gov.ie before making any plans, as the list changes based on demand.

One important note on the Critical Skills permit: it does require a degree qualification. If you do not hold a degree, you may need to apply for a General Work Permit instead.

How this affects your family:

• General Work Permit: Only you can come over initially. Your immediate family may only follow after 12 months, and your spouse and older children cannot work without their own separate work permit.
• Critical Skills Work Permit: Your immediate family can apply to join you at the same time. Your spouse will be able to work without needing their own permit.

Deciding to pack up your entire life is a daunting and scary experience. From my own experience it really is a rollercoaster, from pure excitement at the opportunity to utter fear of leaving everything behind and starting over.

Once you have made this decision and start moving, there are so many variables that no one person can give you a fixed list of what to do and how. Your move will depend on a million things: what passports do you hold? Are you bringing family and if so when and how? Are you bringing pets? Are you financially stable enough to make the move and potentially support family in South Africa at the same time?

I hope this very basic document has helped you at least get started, because really that is all it is.

It looks simple on paper, but do not be fooled. This is a long process that requires real effort and research.

Do your own homework based on your circumstances and what will work for you.