HUDSON, NC (September 29, 2016)…Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic program has earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
CAAHEP is the largest programmatic accreditor in the health science field. In collaboration with its Committees on Accreditation, CAAHEP reviews and accredits more than 2,000 educational programs in 28 health science occupations. CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CAAHEP is also a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).
CCC&TI is now one of 16 accredited EMT-Paramedic programs in the state. The program is a 1,160-hour course designed to train individuals to provide advanced emergency medical care in the pre-hospital setting. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the North Carolina OEMS Paramedic exam and/or the National Registry Paramedic exam. Successful completion of the exam results in receiving a certification in EMT Paramedic from either NC OEMS or the National Registry. Certification with the National Registry qualifies Paramedics to work in any state.
According to Reid Roper, CCC&TI Instructor and Coordinator of Fire, Rescue and EMS, the accreditation is good news for the students as well as local emergency services and the community. “First of all, this accreditation will allow graduates of our program to maintain both a state certification and a national registry certification. Students have to complete a CAAHEP accredited program just to sit for the national registry exam,” said Roper. “The accreditation also serves to show the community and the local industry that our program is on par with programs around the nation and that our graduates are receiving the highest level of training and education possible.”
Roper says that having a local program that is nationally certified can also translate into confidence from the community in the skills of local emergency personnel. “Knowing that you’ll get a highly-trained, competent professional to help take care of you or a loved one in an emergency situation, is really what drives us to make this the best program it can be,” said Roper. “We’re very happy to now be counted among some of the best in the nation.”
For more information on CCC&TI’s EMT-Paramedic Program, call 828-726-2242 or visit www.cccti.edu.