Oregon Requires an AAS to be a medic. Any other states going this way?

[NUEMT]

http://public.health.oregon.gov/Pro...n/Documents/ParamedicEducationRequirement.pdf


From the state governing agency.

What do you think will happen to EMS if states make this more of a common practice? Is your state currently doing this or considering it?

 

[TransportJockey]

New MexicO was considering it. And Texas has a licensed paramedic level that is for degree holders. As for making it mandatory, I wish it would be a universal requirement.

 

[NomadicMedic]

It should be universal, but never will, thanks to the IAFF.

They've already fought to reduce the education standards for paramedics in several jurisdictions, stating the educational requirements are too rigorous to attain and maintain paramedic certification.

It's utter BS.

 

[NUEMT]

Ahhhhh the IAFF. 200 years of tradition .......You know the rest.

 

[EpiEMS]

New MexicO was considering it. And Texas has a licensed paramedic level that is for degree holders. As for making it mandatory, I wish it would be a universal requirement.

Interestingly, at least, from my brief review, looks like those of us with bachelors degrees or greater only need to have a paramedic certification - not necessarily a degree in paramedicine...quite interesting.

It should be universal, but never will, thanks to the IAFF.

They've already fought to reduce the education standards for paramedics in several jurisdictions, stating the educational requirements are too rigorous to attain and maintain paramedic certification.

It's utter BS.

BS...heh...I wish that were the requirement.

 

[Summit]

Interestingly, at least, from my brief review, looks like those of us with bachelors degrees or greater only need to have a paramedic certification - not necessarily a degree in paramedicine...quite interesting.

You can have a BA in Interpretive Dance and viola! You are Licensed instead of Certified!

In OR and WA, I don't think you have to even have an Associates in Paramedicine, just any associates.

 

[NomadicMedic]

No degree necessary in WA.

 

[WolfmanHarris]

By 2025 in Canada it is expected that for a Paramedic program to be accredited it will need to be a four year Bachelor's Degree. This doesn't guarantee that all the Provinces will immediately come in line, but for labour portability it will likely happen. This is per the Paramedic Association of Canada which will be taking over accreditation as the Canadian Medical Association has served notice that they will no longer accredit non-Physician education programs.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

I think if the NREMT made it a requirement for certification then it would start to make a large impact. You can also argue that less states would recognize the NREMT if that happened, but I think if it was implemented properly and a grandfathering process took place, it could be done easily. Maybe some states would drop the NRMET and more EMT's would be used... but overall I think the impact would be incredible. However, as others have stated I can not imagine that fire (IAFF) would ever support such a thing, so getting it passed at government level would be very difficult since the IAFF has deep pockets and lots of government support. The NREMT is an independent non-governmental certification agency, and as our nations EMS certification and registry, it could require such a thing if it wanted to (in my opinion). EMS would need to sell it to the right stakeholders and justify the reasoning and the benefits. Our biggest advocacy agency (at least in the U.S.) is the NAEMT. I have never herd them publicly advocate or make a recommendation for such a thing. However, it can be done as it has been done in some states and in most English speaking countries around the world. As the healthcare system in the U.S. continues to grow and change, EMS will become a bigger part of it (such as mobile integrated healthcare), and merit badges/2-3 day alphabet soup courses are not going to cut it.