FOI 26-096 NQP Driving License Requirements
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 26-096 NQP Driving License Requirements
- Request Date
- 20 Feb 2026
- Response Date
- 20 Mar 2026
- Information Requested
Under FOISA 2002, please provide any current SAS policy/guidance/recruitment criteria stating whether Category C1 with DVLA code 78 (automatic-only) is acceptable for Newly Qualified Paramedic (NQP) posts, or whether unrestricted/manual C1 is required
- Response
The requirement for ambulance clinicians - including Newly Qualified Paramedics (NQPs) - to hold a full manual driving licence is an operational requirement. Although a large proportion of SAS emergency response vehicles are automatic, the operational fleet still includes vehicles with manual gearboxes. Staff who hold an automatic‑only C1 entitlement would be unable to drive these manual vehicles, which could limit their ability to support operational demand, cover the full range of vehicle types, and respond flexibly across the service.
This operational expectation is reflected within recruitment adverts and role profiles, which set out the licence requirements applicable to each campaign, rather than through any dedicated policy or internal standard.
