MEMORANDUM

TO: 		All MA Accredited EMT Training Institutions, All MA Ambulance Services
CC:		EMCAB Members
FROM:		Iyah Romm, Director of Policy, Health Planning, and Strategic Development 
Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality
DATE:		November 14, 2012
RE:	New Student Disclosure Requirement for Paramedic-Level MA Accredited Training Institutions Regarding National Accreditation
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Beginning January 1, 2013, all initial paramedic applicants for National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) paramedic credentials must have successfully completed their paramedic training at a program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), through its Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (COAEMSP), or one that has at least initiated the process to obtain such accreditation, by having a Letter of Review. Only students currently enrolled in paramedic programs who apply to NREMT after January 1, 2013 are exempt from this requirement.

Because NREMT credentials are the basis of inter-state reciprocity of certification for EMTs with the vast majority of the states, it is imperative that all students applying to initial paramedic programs that will start January 1, 2013 and thereafter be clearly notified, in writing, about this requirement and whether or not the paramedic program to which they are applying has CAAHEP/COAEMSP accreditation or has applied for such accreditation, as documented at minimum by a Letter of Review. 

This is to notify you that effective immediately, the Department is requiring all Massachusetts accredited paramedic-level training institutions to inform all prospective students seeking information about, or entry into initial paramedic training programs beginning January 1, 2013 or thereafter, in writing, about this requirement. This disclosure shall clearly state whether or not the training institution holds CAAHEP/COAEMSP accreditation or has applied for this accreditation and received a Letter of Review. This notice shall clearly explain to students the implications relative to national accreditation on a student’s future certification/licensure if the student seeks NREMT certification or state licensure/certification outside of Massachusetts.

For all paramedic programs starting after January 1, 2013, OEMS will require that records be maintained by Massachusetts accredited paramedic-level training institutions, providing evidence that such disclosure has been made. 

In addition, the Department will shortly be posting a notice about this requirement on the accredited training institutions page of its website, and alerting such prospective students of the need to check with any training institution to which they consider applying about their status with respect to this accreditation.

If you have any further questions in this regard, please contact me at iyah.romm@state.ma.us, or at 617-753-7303 or Jamie Pianka at Jamie.Pianka@state.ma.us or 617-753-8016.