(A)
Eligibility. A
training institution seeking Department accreditation shall be an organization
capable of providing programmatic and fiscal oversight of, and assuming
accountability for, the instruction, operation, performance and evaluation of
the training of EMTs and EMT-candidates. To be eligible to apply for
accreditation, the training institution must provide, either directly or
through contractual arrangements with a Department-accredited training
institution or postsecondary educational institution, a basic infrastructure
that:
(1) Employs quality assurance/quality
improvement procedures for assessing the institution's performance;
(2) Adequately assesses the performance of
instructors and assumes clear accountability for its instructors;
(3) Adequately assesses the performance of
its students;
(4) Provides its
students with adequate access to research and learning tools and materials
including, but not limited to, library facilities, computers, audio-visual
educational aids and other technology determined to be necessary by the
Department;
(5) Provides adequate
classroom facilities and practical skills training areas;
(6) Provides adequate opportunities for
students to complete clinical and field internships in a timely
manner;
(7) Provides adequate
administrative support; and
(8)
Institutions providing paramedic training programs must have current CAAHEP
accreditation of the paramedic training program, or a Letter of Review. Those
that have a Letter of Review must maintain such Letter in accordance with
CAAHEP Letter of Review process.
(B)
Level of
Accreditation. An applicant for accreditation shall specifically
seek, and the Department shall grant qualified training institutions
accreditation, at the BLS, ALS-Advanced and/or ALS-Paramedic level(s) of
training.
(C)
Application Process. An applicant for accreditation
shall:
(1) Complete and submit an application
form provided by the Department;
(2) Undergo an on-site evaluation by the
Department;
(3) Submit a
nonrefundable accreditation fee of $1,500.00 for the entire term of
accreditation.
(D) The
Department shall accredit an applicant training institution in either one of
two ways:
(1)
Full
Review: After receipt of a completed application, the Department
makes a finding, based on review of the applicant, that:
(a) The applicant is eligible, in accordance
with 105 CMR
170.946(A);
(b) The applicant is responsible and
suitable, in accordance with
105
CMR 170.948; and
(c) The applicant is capable of meeting the
duties and responsibilities of accredited training institutions, pursuant to
105
CMR 170.950.
(2)
Substantially Equivalent
Review: The Department confirms a training institution has current
accreditation in good standing that meets Department approval as substantially
equivalent to the Department's process.
(a) A
training institution may submit to the Department a letter of intent to seek
accreditation based on substantially equivalent accreditation and attesting to
its capability of, and commitment to, meeting the duties and responsibilities
for accredited institutions, pursuant to
105
CMR 170.950, and documentation of its current
accreditation.
(b) Accreditation on
the basis of substantially equivalent accreditation shall run concurrent with
the term of the substantially equivalent accreditation. The training
institution shall submit documentation of maintenance of such accreditation. If
such substantially equivalent accreditation is not maintained, the training
institution's Department accreditation expires, unless the training institution
submits an application and successfully meets the requirements of
105
CMR 170.946(D)(1) and the
Department's administrative requirements.
(E) Term. Accreditation by the Department
shall be for a term of no longer than three years. A complete renewal of
accreditation application and accreditation fee must be filed with the
Department six months prior to the expiration of accreditation.
