In the US when I was younger all you needed was a HS diploma or equivalent & then EMS training. I had several friends that went that way right out of HS. I think ability to follow procedures, being quick on the bounce (not tripping out on the scene) & having decent people skills were the most important to them as they described it. Not much in the way of life sciences/biology et al, procedures take care of much of that. Their patients are going to go through another triage by an RN or nurse practitioner when they get to the hospital anyway.

More like firefighter/nurse than nurse, & hard work. I don't have the stones for it being lazy and all, but it seemed like rewarding work, not much moolah.