Critical Care Paramedicine - Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice
Train to become a critical care paramedic and lead advanced high-acuity emergency care, from ambulances and air transport to emergency departments and ICU.
The Critical Care Paramedicine specialisation in the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice is for registered paramedics who want to develop advanced skills in pre-hospital and inter-hospital care for critically ill or injured patients.
Equipped with advanced medical technologies and pharmacological knowledge, critical care paramedics perform complex interventions including advanced airway management, cardiac monitoring, intravenous therapy and medication administration. They operate from ambulances, helicopters and hospitals, collaborating with emergency teams to deliver life-saving care. This specialisation opens pathways to advanced clinical roles in critical care paramedicine.
This is part of the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice.
This programme brochure will be available soon.
The Critical Care Paramedicine specialisation prepares registered paramedics for high-acuity roles in dynamic, high-pressure environments, including air and road transport, emergency departments and intensive care settings.
Your courses focus on the advanced assessment and management of critical and trauma patients, and include 270 clinical practice hours throughout the programme. This specialisation includes training in high-risk procedures such as sedation and intubation, supported by additional simulation hours to ensure safety and competence.
Full-year courses
- PARA805 Contemporary Critical Care Paramedicine (30 points)¹, ²
- PARA809 Paramedic Practice for Registered Health Professionals (30 points)¹
Semester 1 course
- PARA804 Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning in Specialist Paramedic Practice (30 points)²
Semester 2 course
- PARA806 Advanced Resuscitation (30 points) ²
1 Includes clinical practice hours
2 Includes simulation and skills
Graduates are eligible to apply for specialist registration with Te Kaunihera Manapou Paramedic Council as a critical care paramedic.
Clinical settings you could work in include:
- Emergency ambulance services
- Hospitals
- Rapid response vehicles
- Air transport
Other specialisations in the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice
- Prepares registered paramedics for advanced practice roles in critical care paramedicine
- Focuses on advanced skills in pre-hospital and inter-hospital care for critically ill patients
- Includes 270 clinical practice hours
- AUT is the only university provider of paramedicine education New Zealand
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.