Well if AREMT does not fit into the same caliber as you say!! why is it accepted by the HCP in the UK through the international route for reg as a state reg'd paramedic!! Each case is done individually but it is accepted. does that mean that the HPC have lowered their standerds because some one is registered with AREMT!! why when i contacted the college of paras in canada did they say that AREMT would be accepted!! here found this off an other medic website, Happy reading.
I have been asked many times over the last couple of months “How do I tell a genuine course from a bull:censored::censored::censored::censored: one?” or “How do I tell real accreditations & approvals from dodgy diploma mills?”
Well, this can be a thorny problem..
There area few that are quite obviously legitimate - IHCD, Edexcel, City & Guilds, Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh / England, British Association for Immediate Care and Basics Scotland, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, College of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, Wilderness Medical Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Association of EMTs, Australasian Registry of EMTs, Emergency Care and Safety Institute, American Safety and Health Institute, Health & Safety Executive, American Heart Association, British Heart Foundation, Resuscitation Council UK, European Resuscitation Council, University Certificate/Diploma/Degree. This isn’t a complete list but you get the idea.
However having these logos on a website or promotional material doesn’t make it legitimate. A short time ago a UK training provider was offering an “EMT Advanced” course which consisted of Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and Advanced Medical Life Support run over two weekends with First Aid at Work as the entry requirement. This training provider was not approved or accredited to run either course. In addition to this PHTLS + AMLS does not an EMT-A make.. We have also seen news stories and articles about Diploma Mills and illegitimate Universities so this just muddies the water even further.
There are also a few that are quite obviously dodgy. Terms such as “ Course Certificate”, “you can use the letters Dip.*** after your name” and “NAME OF TRAINING PROVIDER Certificate” should give you some kind of warning.
There are also quite a few less obvious ones. The University of Berkley/The University of Berkley Online, Almeda University, St. Regis University, Belford High School, Cranston University, Templeton University, Trident University of Technology, Vancouver University Worldwide, Westmore University and Lee Community College are just a few of the recent headline names for diploma mills that have been exposed and closed. Those who are purchasing these bits of worthless paper are also getting exposed:
“In July 2009 the Registered Counselor and Chemical Dependency Professional Programs indefinitely suspended the credentials of David Charles Larsen (RC.RC.00021390, CDP.CP.00000530). Larsen purchased a Doctor of Psychology degree from St. Regis University, an online "diploma mill". He misrepresented his education and training on a resume he submitted for a counseling position.” From the Washington State Department of Health.
As with all things, if it looks too good or gives you even a second of doubt check it out. It is not difficult to email or call local and national bodies responsible for schools, colleges, and universities. Many have external awarding, approving, or accrediting bodies listed in their site which can be a smoke screen but also acts to help weed out the trash.
What about International Courses and Training Providers?
Many international / foreign awards and qualifications are accepted in the UK and beyond so shouldn’t be rejected out of hand. In the UK if it is accepted by the HPC or recognised by UK NARIC you can be pretty sure that it is legitimate. If it isn’t listed as accepted/recognised then it doesn’t mean that it isn’t, just that it hasn’t been checked yet.
For example AREMT & Aussie Diplomas, these have been looked at with suspicion or talked down in the recent months but without good cause. AREMT Registration as a Paramedic is accepted by the HPC as suitable for registration application via the international route.
Training from Australasia, the US, Canada, and many other countries is accepted by the HPC for Paramedic application, however, each case is dealt with individually and they look at training, competencies, experience, and clinical, health, and character references of each applicant before making a decision. If you are in any doubt check it out.
So who is legitimate?
I am not daft as to get into a list of naughty and nice and to leave myself open to legal action. However, I can tell you about those I know and those who are listed as legitimate by the genuine awarding, accrediting, and approving bodies. I will include training providers outside of the UK as I have had enquiries looking for courses all over the world. Again this is far from a complete list.
The NHS - A bit obvious I know
The Military - even squadies get training..
Team Sasha - England
Response Training Consultants - England
International SOS MEA - Dubai UAE
Prometheus Medical - England
Deployment Medicine International - England, US, & Germany
ex+med Uk Ltd - England
Basics - Scotland & England
PPA International - Denmark
Glenmore Lodge - Scotland
ASHI Korea - South Korea
ICBME - Dubai UAE
Medic One Medical Response Center - Indonesia
AREMT (M) SDN BHD - Malaysia
Institute of Emergency Specialist - Singapore
SMEDEX - Swiss Medical Excellence GmbH i.G. - Switzerland
Global Medical Rescue Services - Belize
Paramedic SA - South Africa
The Emergency Medicine Institute - Saudi Arabia
Clinical Skills Centre (PGEC) Nottingham City Hospital - England
Capita Health Solutions - Scotland
TÜV Rheinland Akademie - Germany
But this training provider has / claims no approvals or accreditations..
In general I would advise that you avoid suggest training providers but there are a few which, although having no logos to add to their paperwork are excellent trainers offering fantastic courses - Kev The Med for example. The only way to know with such courses is to ask around and get recommendations from ex-students that you know or know what they are talking about.
I don’t want to be a Paramedic, just gain more medical skills & knowledge..
For those not wanting to go as far as becoming a Paramedic there are lower level courses, First Responder, EMT- B and EMT-I for example, offered in the same countries by the same training providers. There are also specialist courses such as Tactical Medic, Wilderness Medic, Diver Medic, etc which also carry legitimate awards, approvals, and accreditations and may be more appropriate for particular tasks or working environments.
So which training provider should I use?
I am not going to tell anyone which training provider to use as there are too many variables to consider - cost, location, length of training, type of course, all classroom v part distance learning, with/without driving, remote medic / UK ambulance work, and many more.
The best advice that I can give is to research as many options as you can. Check out the awards, accreditations and approvals with the bodies involved, and then check out the bodies if you are not sure. Get advice and further information via forums and other online resources including Companies House if you want to go that far.
This is from a uk paramedic. seems the UK think that AREMT are a legitimate body.