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The main role of National Ambulance Service (NAS) is to provide emergency medical care to patients in the community.

Our staff work in a dynamic, fast moving environment providing a demand-led service for the whole population. We work alongside the Dublin Fire Brigade, Irish Air Corps, An Garda Síochána, Irish Coast Guard, Irish Community Rapid Response and, at a community level, with Community First Responder teams.

Role of the Paramedic

Paramedics play a vital role in the provision of emergency care to the community and are involved in life saving work at the scene of incidents and while working on ambulances.

The top of the salary scale for a qualified paramedic is €45,439 (LSI), in addition staff also receive shift and weekend premia payments (where applicable to shift pattern worked).

Given the nature of emergency services, paramedics need to be available for duty outside of the rostered hours as and when the need may arise. Rosters and periods of duty will involve working at weekends, nights and during public holidays. Shift patterns are normally 12 hours in duration.

There are a variety of promotional opportunities within the National Ambulance Service such as management roles, getting involved in the education of paramedics and also in clinical analysis work.

Student Paramedic

Paramedics are trained at the National Ambulance Service College which has three campuses in Tallaght (Dublin), Ballinasloe (Galway) and Tullamore (Offaly) with more campuses planned. Our Paramedic course is a degree level programme and takes three years. NAS maintains a panel of candidates who are invited twice a year to take up available places at the National Ambulance Service College.

There are some very attractive benefits on offer to Paramedic trainees including the following:

• Paramedic trainees are paid while they are attending the 3 year course at the National Ambulance Service College (commencing salary in year one of 3 year training is €33,542)
• Successful completion of the course leads to the awarding of a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree
• Successful candidates will be able to apply to apply for full time Paramedic vacancies at the end of their training

The National Ambulance Service in conjunction with the HSE National Recruitment Service (NRS) maintains a panel of candidates who are invited once/twice a year to take up available training places at the National Ambulance Service College. Recruitment campaigns are advertised on HSE Jobs https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs/job-search/

NAS Post Graduate Student Bill Nolan said: “I enjoy helping people and having an impact in their lives. It’s very rewarding looking after patients making them feel a bit better and secure.”

There are a variety of promotional opportunities within the National Ambulance Service such as further specialisation in paramedicine, becoming a manager, getting involved in the education of other paramedics and also in clinical analysis work.

Role of the EMT

The Emergency Medical Technicians, or EMT, post is designed to provide a comprehensive and dedicated Patient Transport/Intermediate Care Service within the National Ambulance Service.

Emergency Medical Technicians may be tasked occasionally to higher acuity calls. In this role, the primary purpose will be:

• In advance of an EMS resource as a First Responder
• Simultaneously, alongside an EMS resource as additional responders/practitioners, e.g. Cardiac Arrest
• As the primary resource to low acuity calls not appropriate to Paramedic service provision, i.e. Omega Calls
• In any role deemed appropriate during a Major Emergency.

Role of the EMC 

The Emergency Medical Controller (Emergency Call Taker), or EMC, post is designed to operate in a communications command and control centre environment in order to control efficiently and effectively the emergency ambulance, intermediate care and first responder services for service users and to cater for the communications needs of the Health Service. Full training is provided to all EMC’s when they join the service and EMC’s complete a specialised certificate as part of the initial 12 weeks training program.   

EMC’s are responsible for the efficient and effective call taking of EMS, ICS and related calls and requests in order to meet service user’s needs in a timely manner and within the framework of policies, procedures and guidelines. The Emergency Medical Controller has a key role in delivering an effective response to emergencies within an established set of performance indicator response times. Additionally, the Emergency Medical Controller (Emergency Call Taker) will have a key role in the future operation of alternative referral pathways.

The top rate of the current salary scale for an EMC is €49,385 (LSI). The normal hours of attendance are 39 hours per week calculated over a predetermined period of time which involves shift work, EMC’s who work shift patterns receive a shift allowance when applicable. You will be expected to be available for duty outside of the rostered hours as and when the need may arise.  Shift patterns are normally 12 hours in duration.

Community First Responders

At a local level, the NAS is also supported by Community First Responder (CFR) schemes, responding to particular types of medical emergencies where it is essential for the patient to receive immediate life-saving care whilst an emergency response vehicle is on route to the patient. You can find more information on volunteering your time and becoming a CFR by clicking here.

Recruitment Campaigns

National Ambulance Service recruitment campaigns can be found under 'Patient and Client Care' on hse.ie/jobs for positions including: Student Paramedic, Paramedic and Intermediate Care Operative.  If you are interested in applying for a position with the National Ambulance Service in one of these roles please click here for more information.

The National Ambulance Service also recruits for Administrative, Business Support and Management positions.  If you are interested in applying for a position in one of these roles please click here for more information.

The Public Appointments Service recruits for senior positions in the HSE as well as specialist healthcare positions.  You should check out their job pages and log into their website to sign up for job alerts.  Click here to register with publicjobs.ie for vacancy alerts with the National Ambulance Service.

If you don't see a post that you are interested in applying for, please visit careerhub.hse.ie to find further support and information on joining the HSE.

Diversity Equality and Inclusion

HSE Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Statement 

Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation. The HSE is committed to creating a positive working environment whereby all employees inclusive of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependents, age, physical or mental disability, civil status, membership of the Traveller community, and geographic location are respected, valued and can reach their full potential. We aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives, ultimately resulting in improved service-user experience. 

Find out more here.

Working and Living in Ireland

The HSE is the largest employer in the state, with over 100,000 employees. More than 67,000 are direct employees, the remainder are employed by agencies funded by the HSE. The HSE aims to be an Employer of Choice, and offers a wide range of challenging career opportunities that enable our staff to make an important contribution to the health services, to public service and to the lives of everyone living in Ireland.

For overseas candidates looking to work for the National Ambulance Service from outside the European Economic Area please click here for more information.