Course duration
12 months
(May reduce depending on study load)
Mode of study
Online, with in-person intensive Clinical Workshop.
Pathways
Pathway to the Certificate IV or Diploma, or straight into work as a Patient Transport Officer (PTO).
Course overview
The HLT31120 – Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport will qualify you to become a patient transport officer (PTO) and is the ideal first step into a career in healthcare.
Patient transport is a service provided for patients whose condition is non-life threatening and who cannot transport themselves to and from their home to a medical facility. The interactions that a patient has with their patient transport officer can make a huge difference in their medical care experience, putting them at ease and ensuring they feel cared for.
If you have a positive, outgoing personality, enjoy driving and connecting with a range of people from different generations, cultures and backgrounds, this could be an extremely rewarding career.
No experience is necessary to start this patient transport course, you’ll learn all the theory online and build your practical, hand-on skills in a 5-day clinical workshop.
What you’ll learn
- This course is specifically designed to help you gain employment as a Patient Transport Officer (PTO) when you graduate. It can also be used as a pathway into further healthcare studies.
- You’ll learn how to communicate with patients and medical teams, and transport patients effectively in non-emergency settings.
- Through online study and a clinical workshop, you’ll gain advanced first aid skills and the practical ability to provide advanced resuscitation and oxygen therapy.
How it works
Learn online, at your own pace and gain hands-on clinical skills with a 5-day intensive workshop.
Why study this certificate with APC?
Flexible study
Choose your own schedule and fit study into your lifestyle or work roster
Practical experience and skills
Get hands-on skills with nationwide clinical workshops and real-world work placements.
Developed and delivered by experts
Learn from expert instructors with decades of experience as paramedics or industry medics.
Course details
To apply:
- Age: Be at least 16 years of age (parental consent required if under 18)
- Education: At least year-10 high-school or equivalent
- Residency: Be an AUS/NZ citizen, AUS PR, or hold an approved temporary visa
- Driver’s license: Hold a current driver’s license*
- Technology: Have regular access to a computer and internet, and be comfortable with online study and assessments
*You may apply and enrol holding your learner’s (L) licence however you will need a provisional licence (P) before attending workshop 1 (approx. 12 months into your course).
Pre-intake checks:
- Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Short quiz to check basic English and math skills, and help us better support you through your course
- Health: Medical declaration to ensure you are fit to study
- BSBMED301 – Interpret and Apply Medical Terminology Appropriately
- HLTAAP001 – Recognise Healthy Body Systems
- HLTOUT010 – Communicate in Complex Situations to Support Healthcare
- HLTOUT007 – Transport Non-emergency Patients Under Operational Conditions
- HLTWHS002 – Follow Safe Work Practices for Direct Client Care
- HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid
- HLTOUT001 – Implement Safe Access and Egress
- HLTAID014 – Provide Advanced First Aid
- HLTWHS005 – Conduct Manual Tasks Safely
- HLTAID015 – Provide Advanced Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy
- CHCDIV001 – Work with Diverse People
- HLTWHS006 – Manage Personal Stressors in the Work Environment
- HLTINF006 – Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
Studying for a career in healthcare can be rewarding and engaging, but we also know it’s not always easy. Here at APC, you have a whole support team with you every step of the way.
- Student success team: provide help with everything from platform logins to study tips
- Trainers and assessors: ensure you understand the training material and guide you through your clinical workshops
- Other students: connect with our strong student community on our private Facebook group. Ask questions, share tips and encourage each other!
During the patient transport course, you’ll complete a 5-day clinical workshop.
Our clinical workshops are one of the highlights of the course for our students. It’s your chance to put everything you’ve learnt into practice, and meet your trainers and fellow students in person.
Workshops can be taken at the Australian Paramedical College HQ in Queensland, or in dedicated training locations in NSW, or VIC.
Clinical workshops are conducted in small groups and can include:
- Clinical practice environments
- Equipped, used state Ambulance/s
- An in-house, life-sized simulator ambulance (QLD only)
- Scenario and medical emergency simulation facilities
- The latest paramedical equipment
- Dedicated stations for self-directed medical learning
- Fully-equipped lecture rooms
Watch the video sneak-peek on Certificate III Workshops
To review the out-of-pocket expenses for a student’s Clinical Workshop, please click here.
Graduates of the HLT31120 – Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport (level 3) will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning.
Knowledge: Graduates at this level will have factual, technical, procedural and some theoretical knowledge of a specific area of work and learning.
Skills: Graduates at this level will have a range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, tools, materials and information to:
- complete routine activities
- provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems
Application of knowledge and skills: Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy and judgement and to take limited responsibility in known and stable contexts within established parameters.
Start your life-saving career now
Fill in a short application form and one of our Career Advisors will give you a call to discuss the course and your goals in more detail. They’ll also answer any questions you might have.