Beginning January 1, 2013 all initial Paramedic applicants seeking National Registry's National EMS Certification at the Paramedic level must have successfully completed education from an accredited program or one that is seeking accreditation sponsored by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

 

Guidelines for Policy Implementation:

Accreditation of paramedic programs is granted by CAAHEP. The National Registry Board of Directors has identified CAAHEP as the single National EMS Accreditation agency which is consistent with language outlined in the EMS Education Agenda for the Future: A Systems Approach. The Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) (Formerly known as CECBEMS) recommends accreditation by CAAHEP.

This policy refers to accreditation of a paramedic program, not institutional accreditation. "Seeking accreditation" means a paramedic program that has submitted a self-study to the CoAEMSP.

Paramedic applicants who are enrolled in non-CAAHEP accredited programs that began prior to January 1, 2013 are eligible for National Registrys National EMS Certification at the Paramedic level, provided all other requirements for National Registry certification are met.

State licensed Paramedics and those who graduated from non-CAAHEP accredited programs prior to January 1, 2013 will remain eligible for National Registrys National EMS Certification at the Paramedic level throughout their careers, provided all other requirements for National Registry certification are met.

Paramedic applicants who graduate from a non-CAAHEP accredited program in states that commit to CAAHEP accreditation by January 1, 2018 may take a National Registry Paramedic examination but those applicants will not be awarded National EMS Certification as a Paramedic.

Paramedic applicants from any state who are graduates of a CAAHEP-accredited program are eligible for National Registry National EMS Certification at the Paramedic level, provided all other requirements for National Registry certification are met.

After December 31, 2012, Paramedic applicants from programs in states that do not commit to requiring CAAHEP accreditation prior to January 1, 2018 and who successfully completed a non-CAAHEP accredited program will not be eligible for any National Registry Paramedic examination. For example, a Paramedic applicant who successfully completed a non-CAAHEP accredited program in 2014 but lives in a state where the regulatory authority has not committed to accreditation by 2018 would not be eligible to take any Paramedic examination offered by the National Registry.