Level 4 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (RQF)
Course Overview
The Qualsafe Level 4 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (RQF) forms part of the QA Prehospital Care suite and is aligned to key national frameworks, including the Resuscitation Council UK, Skills for Health Assessment Principles, and the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (RCS Ed) guidance.
This qualification provides learners with an intermediate level of prehospital care knowledge and competence, enabling them to assess, treat and manage a wide range of emergency and urgent care presentations. It is mapped to Skill Set E of the FPHC Prehospital Provider Competencies and is designed to evidence a learner’s readiness to practise professionally within emergency and prehospital roles.
Learners develop advanced patient assessment skills, clinical decision-making, and the ability to respond safely and effectively in diverse out-of-hospital environments. The qualification demonstrates the learner has completed structured training and assessment to a standard suitable for gaining employment and a ‘licence to practise’ as designated by employers.
Intended Audience
This qualification is ideal for individuals who have a defined responsibility to deliver prehospital emergency and urgent care in professional, voluntary, or community settings. It is particularly suitable for those progressing toward or currently working as:
- Emergency Care Assistants
- Associate Ambulance Practitioners
- Intermediate Ambulance Personnel
- Event medical providers
- Healthcare assistants involved in emergency care
- Military, police, or fire service personnel in specialist medical roles
It is also designed for learners seeking advancement within the NHS or private ambulance services.
Topics Covered
Learners will gain competence and underpinning knowledge across a wide range of intermediate prehospital care areas, including:
- Advanced patient assessment and clinical decision-making
- Recognition, management, and treatment of illness and injury
- Use of physiological measurements and diagnostic tools
- Emergency care interventions within scope of practice
- Safe, evidence-based care aligned to JRCALC and FPHC guidance
- Managing patients requiring urgent or emergency treatment
- Working autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary emergency response team
(Topics reflect the 3-component mandatory unit and 180 TQT requirements.)
Entry Requirements
Learners must:
- Be at least 18 years old on the first day of training.
- Hold a valid Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF) or a QA-recognised equivalent.
- Provide a CPD portfolio demonstrating 118 hours of study and/or contextualised practice as specified by Qualsafe.
It is recommended that learners have literacy skills at Level 2 or equivalent to fully benefit from the programme.
Progression
Achievement of the Qualsafe Level 4 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (RQF) supports progression to higher-level qualifications and enhanced clinical roles. Learners may advance toward:
- Level 5 and Level 6 prehospital care qualifications
- Specialist ambulance service roles
- Further development within emergency, urgent, and out-of-hospital care pathways
The qualification contributes significantly to professional practice portfolios and career advancement.
Requalification Requirements
This qualification remains valid while the learner:
- Maintains an up-to-date continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio, and
- Completes annual refresher training, including updates in:
- Cardiorespiratory arrest management
- Life-threatening illness and injury
- Relevant Immediate Life Support (ILS) competencies
Failure to maintain CPD or annual refreshers may result in loss of recognised competence.