National Registry Resolution Proposes Changes to Program Eligibility Criteria

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) announced June 17, 2022, that during its June 2022 meeting, the National Registry Board of Directors provided updates on distributive education, updated eligibility criteria for initial EMS education, remote proctoring and the ALS practice analysis.

Among the resolutions are “updated eligibility criteria” for initial EMS education at all levels (EMR, EMT, AEMT, and paramedic) that would allow the option of state EMS offices to approve paramedic education programs that have not completed eligibility criteria from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). According to the National Registry resolution:

“Updates the eligibility criteria for all levels (EMR, EMT, AEMT, and paramedic) to include successful completion of an EMS education program that meets or exceeds the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards and: 

• Has been awarded CAAHEP accreditation, or 
• Has been issued a CoAEMSP “Letter of Review,” or 
• Has received state EMS office approval.

Furthermore, this resolution allows for the use of the paramedic examination for state licensure until this resolution is fully implemented to include development of a pathway leading to national certification for graduates of paramedic programs.”

The full resolution can be viewed here.

“The National Registry of EMTs recognizes that alternatives to delivering and independently ensuring quality EMS education exist and are worthy of exploration,” the resolution states in part.

A CoAEMSP response authored by Executive Director George W. Hatch, Jr., and board chair Paul Berlin, MS, NRP, says CoAEMSP is “highly concerned” with this direction:

“The CoAEMSP is highly concerned with the direction the NREMT is taking. CoAEMSP serves to advance the quality of EMS education through accreditation, which serves to ensure paramedic programs meet minimum educational standards and best practices. In doing so CoAEMSP advocates in the best interest of patient safety, ensures competent entry-level paramedic graduates, and advances the profession as a key member of the health care continuum.”

A link to the CoAEMSP position statement is here.

“In the event that this resolution passes, paramedic candidates completing a program approved by their state office of EMS would have the option to take the NREMT exam and become a practicing paramedic without graduating from a CAAHEP-accredited or CoAEMSP LoR-designated program,” the CoAEMSP statement reads.

The National Registry has provided a 60-day stakeholder comment period to solicit feedback on the resolution. The comment period will end on August 17, 2022 and can be accessed here.