We don’t want to dwell too much on the negative, but we think it’s helpful to share some of the more common CoAEMSP citations so you can work to avoid them.
1. Program Directors Must Have a Bachelor’s Degree
It’s a requirement that all program directors must, at a minimum, have a bachelor’s degree. This is non-negotiable. At one time, the CoAEMSP was granting some leniency for people who had contacted them about completing a bachelor’s well before the January 1, 2013 deadline for becoming accredited. (This is the date that the NREMT began enforcing the stipulation that paramedic candidates could only take the Registry exam if they had graduated from an accredited program.) At this point in time, though, this appears to be a firm standard.
2. Medical Director Involvement
Dr. George Hatch has a fondness for the expression “milk carton medical director.” This refers to a medical director, who, if you held up a picture of him/her to the students, they wouldn’t know who that missing person was. In other words, an absent medical director who is not involved.
If you don’t think your students would be able to pick their medical director out of a crowd, see what steps you can take to bring the medical director into the classroom or run a scenario.
While you’re at it, be sure you can provide documentation of the medical director reviewing your exams and curriculum.