Does an accredited program matter?

Por Vida

Por Vida

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hey all,

Looked through the threads didn’t see much conversation on it. But looking to get in to medic school this year and was wondering if it matters whether I use an accredited school or a non accredited program? Pros and cons of both

Thanks
 
There are no pros of going to an unaccredited school/program.

The cons are: you may complete the program but have your state and/or county say “that school is not accredited which does not meet our educational standards so you are not able to be licensed until you show a course completion from an accredited program”

Your not likely to find a lot of threads on it because it’s a question and answer that pretty much answers itself.
 
DesertMedic66 said:
There are no pros of going to an unaccredited school/program.

The cons are: you may complete the program but have your state and/or county say “that school is not accredited which does not meet our educational standards so you are not able to be licensed until you show a course completion from an accredited program”

Your not likely to find a lot of threads on it because it’s a question and answer that pretty much answers itself.
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Right on thanks!
 
When I went through my medic program, due to recent changes there were literally only 2 accredited programs in the state, so the program I went to had a "letter of review". I think this meant I was eligible to sit for the NREMT if the program stayed on track and did all the right things. It worked out for me, though it's definitely a risk. It's a safer bet to go to an accredited school, but depending on the circumstances consider that you could also attend a school with a letter of review (ie they're in the process of gaining accreditation).

All that said, do your own research on the laws and policies too before jumping into something.

https://www.caahep.org/Students/Find-a-Program.aspx
 
Gurby said:
When I went through my medic program, due to recent changes there were literally only 2 accredited programs in the state, so the program I went to had a "letter of review". I think this meant I was eligible to sit for the NREMT if the program stayed on track and did all the right things. It worked out for me, though it's definitely a risk. It's a safer bet to go to an accredited school, but depending on the circumstances consider that you could also attend a school with a letter of review (ie they're in the process of gaining accreditation).

All that said, do your own research on the laws and policies too before jumping into something.

https://www.caahep.org/Students/Find-a-Program.aspx
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Definitely will do it’s a really well known program here in AZ so I’m hoping that it will all go smoothly. Thanks for the advice
 
Given the option, an accredited program seems like an absolute no brainer. If they offer a degree as well, double bonus.
 
Por Vida said:
Definitely will do it’s a really well known program here in AZ so I’m hoping that it will all go smoothly. Thanks for the advice
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What is their accreditation status on the caahep website?
 
Alan L Serve said:
How can a state allow an unaccredited medic program to operate? Why wouldn't the state shut them down?
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A fair question. let me ask another one: if your state has been running paramedic programs for 30+ years without accreditation, why should it care (or have to pay money to an outside company) in order to get accredited? I guess the better question is, if you don't plan on taking the NRP exam, and your state doesn't require accreditation, does it really matter? And unless you plan on moving to a state that requires it, does it really affect you as long as you meet your state's requirement?

It's similar to the argument in the fire service over accreditation. NJ wasn't accredited by anyone until 2015ish. does that mean their training was no good? FDNY still isn't accredited by anyone. You want to tell an FDNY firefighter their training is no good? Some states are proboard, while others are ifsac..... is one better than the other? does the accreditation process do anything? What if your school was accredited by the wrong entity? Does that mean it is no good?
 
NomadicMedic said:
Non accredited program = no NREMT.

Look to see where your prospective program is in the process. https://www.caahep.org/Students/Find-a-Program.aspx
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This should really sum it up. And while it might be possible to still get your NR cert once you become state certified, there are many states that require NR for initial certification. I cannot find the NREMT map that shows who needs what, but best look into your state's certification process. An accredited program may also be required for grant funding. Pell grants and the like are not going to fund non-accredited/non-credit courses. Other grant programs may not either. Passing the NRP exam was a condition of me receiving grant funding for my paramedic program. Your mileage may very.
 
DrParasite said:
A fair question. let me ask another one: if your state has been running paramedic programs for 30+ years without accreditation, why should it care (or have to pay money to an outside company) in order to get accredited? I guess the better question is, if you don't plan on taking the NRP exam, and your state doesn't require accreditation, does it really matter? And unless you plan on moving to a state that requires it, does it really affect you as long as you meet your state's requirement?

It's similar to the argument in the fire service over accreditation. NJ wasn't accredited by anyone until 2015ish. does that mean their training was no good? FDNY still isn't accredited by anyone. You want to tell an FDNY firefighter their training is no good? Some states are proboard, while others are ifsac..... is one better than the other? does the accreditation process do anything? What if your school was accredited by the wrong entity? Does that mean it is no good?
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Are these programs licensed by their respective states but lack CAAHEP accreditation? If that is the case then I understand why states wouldn't care and instead shift the onus onto the student. However if someone has a valid state medic license and wants to take the NREMT medic exam then I am at a loss to explain why they shouldn't be allowed to.
 
Ok so I’ve done some more research mostly talking to people who have actually completed the program. No one has had any problem taking the NREMT or working or transferring out of state. The only thing accreditation does is allow the schooling to be transferred from one to the other, like if you wanted a degree.
 
Por Vida said:
No one has had any problem taking the NREMT or working or transferring out of state. The only thing accreditation does is allow the schooling to be transferred from one to the other, like if you wanted a degree.
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that might have been accurate in the past, but it's not longer the case. Forget people who went through the program, lets get the information directly from the horse's mouth. From the NREMT website:
Beginning January 1, 2013 all initial Paramedic applicants seeking NREMT'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).
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and
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 NREMT 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 NREMT.
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So I finally found it on the CAAHEP and it has a letter of review. So I’m assuming that’s why the people I spoke with have been able to get their NREMT.
 
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