now is a good time to apply as many ambulance services are currently recruiting more front line staff (our response times have been reduced thus need loads more staff)... most people go the ambulance tech route when joining, this give you basic training and then on the job development before being further trained as a para, this is the route i would recommend, however some areas - such as london - now have a paramedic degree which you can register, which i believe is funded so you can qualify as a para within 3 years.