FOI 26-356 Final HNC Ambulance Technician Program Documents

Freedom of Information Request

Reference
FOI 26-356 Final HNC Ambulance Technician Program Documents
Request Date
27 Aug 2026
Response Date
16 Sep 2026
Information Requested

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I would like to request information relating to the development and outcome of the proposed HNC Ambulance Technician programme. 
 
To help identify the work I am referring to, SAS records include a presentation titled “NGHNC Tech visual update AW & SJ”. This contains a “Technician Learner Journey”, references to “HNC START”, “HNC END” and “Award HNC”, approximately 120 SCQF credits, and a “Potential future ACA step on step off point at WBL Block 1”. 
 
Please provide the following information: 
 
1. Copies of any final or approved project brief, programme specification, curriculum document, business case, options paper or implementation plan relating to the proposed HNC Ambulance Technician programme. 
 
2. Recorded information confirming: 
   • when development of the programme commenced; 
   • which organisations were involved; 
   • whether the proposed HNC was approved or validated; 
   • whether it was piloted or implemented; and 
   • its eventual status or outcome. 
 
3. Copies of completed or final documents showing how Ambulance Technician education and training was mapped to SCQF levels and credits, including the proposed allocation of approximately 120 SCQF credits. 
 
4. Copies of any final submission made to SQA, or another awarding or educational organisation, for approval or validation of the proposed HNC, together with the recorded decision or outcome. 
 
5. Copies of the final recorded decision concerning whether the HNC programme would proceed. 
 
If the programme did not proceed, or was subsequently discontinued, please provide any final decision record, report, minute or other document recording that decision and the reasons for it. 
 
6. Copies of any completed report, assessment, recommendation or formal proposal considering whether the HNC, its individual units, its associated SCQF credits, or existing Ambulance Technician learning could be recognised through: 
 
   • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL); 
   • articulation; 
   • advanced standing; or 
   • other recognised progression arrangements, 
 
towards further education, particularly Paramedic education. 
 
7. Copies of any final report, briefing, submission or other formal record showing whether the HNC work, its SCQF credit mapping or its outcome was considered during the subsequent Technician-to-Paramedic Options Study. 
 
For clarity, I am primarily seeking completed or final documents, factual information and recorded decisions, rather than informal discussions or individuals’ opinions. 

Response

The Scottish Ambulance Service's involvement relates to exploratory work associated with the development of a proposed Next Generation Higher National Certificate (NGHNC) healthcare pathway. 

The programme was initiated by the Scottish Government Chief Nursing Officer Directorate (CNOD), which requested Qualifications Scotland (formerly the Scottish Qualifications Authority) to develop NGHNC training and education pathways for healthcare professions. The initiative was initially focused on Nursing and Midwifery before being expanded to include three Allied Health Professions: Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy and Paramedicine. 

 

The Scottish Ambulance Service participated in discussions led by Qualifications Scotland regarding the potential design of an "earn as you learn" Paramedicine pathway. As part of this exploratory work, consideration was given to how such a pathway might support entry and exit points for Ambulance Care Assistants. The proposed NGHNC pathway was anticipated to carry 120 SCQF credits. 

The governance of this work sits with a steering group chaired by the Scottish Government. Qualifications Scotland leads the development activity, with support from Public Services Delivery Scotland and other stakeholders. The Scottish Ambulance Service's role has been limited to supporting discussions and potential curriculum design. 

 

  1. Copies of any final or approved project brief, programme specification, curriculum document, business case, options paper or implementation plan relating to the proposed HNC Ambulance Technician programme.The Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold any final or approved project brief, programme specification, curriculum document, business case, options paper or implementation plan relating to the proposed HNC Ambulance Technician programme.

  2.  Recorded information confirming:    • when development of the programme commenced;    • which organisations were involved;    • whether the proposed HNC was approved or validated;    • whether it was piloted or implemented; and    • its eventual status or outcome.

This programme of development was initiated with Qualifications Scotland by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold any documentation related to the commencement of this project; this development may sit with the steering group chaired by Scottish Government. 

Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) formerly NHS Education Scotland (NES) and National Support Services (NSS) are also involved in the steering group for this development chaired by Scottish Government. 

 

  1. Copies of completed or final documents showing how Ambulance Technician education and training was mapped to SCQF levels and credits, including the proposed allocation of approximately 120 SCQF credits.

N/A there are no final or completed documents – this remains a scoping/developmental exercise which includes the exchange of ideas and related discussions  
4. Copies of any final submission made to SQA, or another awarding or educational organisation, for approval or validation of the proposed HNC, together with the recorded decision or outcome. 

N/A, there has not been a final submission made to the SQA and no final decisions have been made.  
5. Copies of the final recorded decision concerning whether the HNC programme would proceed. 

N/A, this project is still in development stage and no final decisions have been made.  
If the programme did not proceed, or was subsequently discontinued, please provide any final decision record, report, minute or other document recording that decision and the reasons for it. 

N/A, this project is still in development stage and no final decisions have been made.  
6. Copies of any completed report, assessment, recommendation or formal proposal considering whether the HNC, its individual units, its associated SCQF credits, or existing Ambulance Technician learning could be recognised through:    • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL);    • articulation;    • advanced standing; or    • other recognised progression arrangements, towards further education, particularly Paramedic education. 

N/A – there is no complete HNC and therefore no formal accreditation or articulation arrangements 

  1. Copies of any final report, briefing, submission or other formal record showing whether the HNC work, its SCQF credit mapping or its outcome was considered during the subsequent Technician-to-Paramedic Options Study.

The Scottish Ambulance Service has not identified any final reports, briefings, submissions or formal records identifying the information requested. 

 

The information identified by the Service relates to ongoing exploratory and developmental discussions and does not constitute an approved programme, validated qualification, completed curriculum, or final organisational decision. 

 

For assistance, you may wish to contact the Scottish Government and/or Qualifications Scotland, as governance records, minutes and programme development documentation associated with this work may be held by those organisations. 

 

Additional Information 

The presentation slides referred to within document 14 of Scottish Government FOI reference 202600520647 were informal discussion materials used to support a meeting between the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Government Chief Nursing Officer Directorate regarding the progress of the NGHNC development work. The slides were used to communicate potential concepts and development ideas and should not be interpreted as representing an approved, validated or implemented programme. 

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