Combat medics now have easier access to civilian medical employment and medical education

Combat medics save others in war, though many acquired life-saving skills without professional medical education. Meanwhile, the experience gained on the battlefield is invaluable and can be applied in civilian healthcare after their return, serving as a pathway to a new profession. Accordingly, the Government has designated the development of reintegration programs for combat medics as one of the objectives of the 2025 Action Program.

“Our duty is to ensure that the heroes who saved lives at the front can also apply their knowledge and experience in civilian healthcare. This reflects respect and recognition and marks an important step by the state toward all those who aspire to pursue a professional medical career after military service,” stated Minister of Health Viktor Liashko.

To enable combat medics, whether still serving or already discharged, to transition into civilian healthcare after completing their service, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Science, with the support of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, introduced the necessary changes to the regulatory framework. 

“Every day, combat medics save the lives of wounded comrades. Thanks to their professional training and experience in delivering medical care under extreme conditions, each of them has a solid foundation for further professional development in this field. However, not all of them hold medical degrees. Easier access to specialized education will make it possible for experienced combat medics to carry on this honorable mission in civilian life,” stated Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Defence of Ukraine. 

Henceforth, combat medics may pursue a new specialty in healthcare and begin studies under a simplified procedure. They can pursue medical education at one of two levels. The first option involves pursuing higher education in Nursing at the bachelor’s level, with a specialization in Emergency Medicine, to qualify as a paramedic. The second option consists in pursuing professional pre-higher education in Nursing to qualify as a nurse or feldsher (mid-level medical practitioner). In addition, the professional standards of ‘Emergency Medical Technician’ and ‘Paramedic’ have been approved. They simplify access for combat medics to employment within emergency medical services and disaster medicine.

“Combat medics have unique experience gained under the extremely difficult conditions of war. Recognizing and integrating this experience into the civilian healthcare system not only enhances our country’s human resource capacity but also opens a dignified pathway for veterans to reintegrate into civilian life. Each of them gains the opportunity to continue serving society in a new professional role, while Ukraine receives dedicated and highly motivated specialists,” said Natalia Kalmykova, Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.

Combat medics currently serving at the front will have the opportunity to pursue education remotely through accelerated programs lasting two and a half years. They can pursue higher education to qualify as paramedics: for those holding a combatant status, admission is conducted through an interview without taking the National Multi-Subject Test (NMST). Professional pre-higher education is also available to qualify as a nurse or feldsher (mid-level medical practitioner), with admission likewise not requiring the National Multi-Subject Test (NMST). Upon completing professional pre-higher education, a combat medic may be employed as a paramedic in the emergency medical service and, within two years, confirm the qualification by either passing an exam or completing a specialization course lasting up to three months.

Combat medics who have already completed their military service may be immediately employed in the emergency medical service as emergency medical technicians, even if they do not yet hold this qualification. Within a year, they need to pass a qualifying exam to obtain the emergency medical technician qualification, and within two years, obtain a driver’s license if they do not already have one. Those who, during their service, performed the duties of a tactical medicine instructor or senior combat medic of a company or battery can immediately take up the position of a first-class emergency medical technician, with the same requirements for passing the exam and obtaining a driver’s license. Demobilized medics can also study remotely while working, either obtaining higher education as paramedics under an accelerated program (those who hold combatant status are admitted by interview, without the National Multi-Subject Test) or training as nurses or feldshers (mid-level medical practitioners). Upon completing their professional pre-higher education, they can immediately begin working as paramedics and, within two years, confirm their qualification by either passing an exam or completing a three-month specialization course.

“It is important for combat medics to have a well-defined and transparent pathway to integration into the civilian education and healthcare systems. Acknowledging their unique experience and providing simplified access to education create opportunities to pursue a new profession. At the same time, we are working to update the standards of professional pre-higher medical education to ensure that educational programs meet the current needs of the market,” said Dmytro Zavhorodnii, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization.  

While the educational changes will be fully in place in 2026, a pilot project launched this year allows combat medics to begin their studies now without losing a year.

“We have recently adopted a new Law on Vocational Education, which expands opportunities for acquiring new professions and enables the integration of experience gained at the front into the education system. Qualification centers already operating in Ukraine are becoming a bridge for recognizing the skills acquired in combat. This invaluable experience deserves recognition, and the least the state can do is give our veterans a clear route to education, a career, and dignified civilian employment. This is also a significant step for medical education: combat medics will be able to contribute their unique knowledge, and some will go on to serve as educators, preparing a new generation of specialists,” said Serhii Babak, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation.