CQUniversity - CM12
Master of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice) Online
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Master's
Advance your critical care paramedic expertise through flexible online study, building advanced clinical leadership, retrieval medicine and evidence-based practice capabilities supported by residential schools and simulation-based learning.
Course overview
The Master of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice) is a fully online postgraduate qualification that can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time. Designed for registered paramedics who have completed CQUniversity's Graduate Diploma of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice) or an equivalent qualification, the course enables you to extend your expertise in advanced critical care practice while balancing professional commitments.
Throughout the course, you will develop advanced capabilities in diagnostics, critical care practice, trauma management, retrieval medicine, transition to practice and human performance optimisation in complex operational environments. Learning is supported through residential schools, clinical skills laboratories and simulation scenarios, while your studies culminate in an evidence-based practice project that strengthens your ability to evaluate, apply and contribute to research-informed paramedic practice.
On successful completion, you will graduate with the Master of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice). The qualification supports advanced critical care paramedic practice and clinical leadership in increasingly complex operational environments.
Key facts
What you will study
To earn the Master of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice), you must successfully complete units totalling 48 credit points as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 6 credit points.
Core units
- Advanced Critical Skills Application
- Advanced Assessment, Diagnostic Interpretation and Management
- Human Performance Optimisation in Complex Environments
- Critical Care Management in Trauma
- Retrieval Medicine
- Transition to Practice
- Evidence-based Practice Project (12 credit points)
Entry requirements
Applicants for this course must meet all of the following:
- Successfully completed CC70 Graduate Diploma of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice) with CQUniversity or an equivalent Graduate Diploma in the Paramedic Science discipline area.
- Current registration as a paramedic with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Must hold a minimum of 2 years of unsupervised clinical operational experience.
Letters of employment must be presented on company letterhead and be signed and dated by a delegated authority. Please ensure that the letter contains your full name, position title, duties performed, hours per week, and length of service.
English language requirements
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or the United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University. Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
- A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent).
- Or an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma-level qualification.
- Or bachelor-level qualification study for a period of at least two years full-time with a minimum overall GPA of 4.0
Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or the United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:
- An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subset.
- Or a test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall and minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test).
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46.
- Or an occupational English test with grades A or B only for each of the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between the final examination date and the date of commencement of study and must appear on a single result certificate.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
The Master of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice) supports graduates to operate in the increasingly complex environment faced by paramedics on a daily basis. This qualification provides a pathway for registered paramedics who have completed Graduate Diploma of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice (or equivalent) who wish to deepen and broaden their knowledge in critical care paramedic practice.
Fees and CSP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $30,200 (domestic full-fee paying place)
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 48 credit points (normally eight units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.