CoAEMSP News | May 2025

CoAEMSP Site Visitor Elected to CAAHEP Board of Directors

Thomas E. Platt, EdD, NRP, FAEMS, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). In addition to representing the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) on the CAAHEP Board, Dr. Platt is a CoAEMSP site visitor, self-study report reader, and Associate Dean overseeing the paramedic education program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Thank you, Dr. Platt, for all you do to advance EMS education! 

Distance Education: It's a Thing!

Methods of delivering education continue to evolve, and the restrictions caused by the pandemic ushered in convenient ways to interact with students. Gone are the expensive equipment and processes from the early days of teleconferencing. Now we all know how to spell ’Zoom’, which is often used as a generic term like ‘Kleenex’.  

The virtual method may be convenient, and it requires making the delivery and student engagement robust and meaningful. The U.S. Department of Education, CHEA, CAAHEP, and CoAEMSP recognize the need to provide institutions and programs with direction in conducting learning in non-traditional formats. Guidelines have been developed on expected processes to protect the student and to guide the educational institutions and programs. In 2021, CAAHEP released a position paper from their Distance Education Task Force, and in 2022, they enacted Policy 209 on Instructional Modalities. The policy identifies the CAAHEP Standard, considerations, and evidence that may be used in evaluating distance education programs. 

The CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in the Emergency Medical Services Professions identify the addition of a distance education program as a substantive change that must be reported. Until now, there has not been a process in place for reporting to the CoAEMSP. However, updates have recently been made to the CoAEMSP Policies and Procedures that complement the CAAHEP policies related to processes and requirements for programs offering distance education. In addition to CAAHEP and CoAEMSP policies, EMS educational programs must meet the requirements of institutional accreditors and their states as applicable. 

The process for notifying CoAEMSP that a program is offering a distance option is being phased in. If you are currently using this modality, you are encouraged to view the policies mentioned above. Additionally, a Distance Education Evaluation Tool is available in the CoAEMSP Resource Library. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Distance Education is also available.

Timelines

January 1, 2026

A tab will be added to the CoAEMSP Self-Study Report to include data on your distance education program. The information will be based on the Distance Education Evaluation Tool.

January 1, 2026

New LoR applications will provide information on distance education.

July 1, 2026

Programs submitting a Self-Study Report (SSR) after this date will be required to complete relevant information pertaining to distance education.

Programs currently offering a distance education model are exempt from notifying CoAEMSP. That information will be included in their next self-study report.

Distance education can raise questions about how, what, when, where, and other specifics relative to your program. You are encouraged to review the FAQ and Distance Education Evaluation Tool to determine if you comply. Now is the time to make any necessary modifications to your program. As always, please contact the CoAEMSP staff if you have a question.

Remember that the goal is to serve the students and provide the best EMS education.

Still time to join us in Anaheim!

Reasons to Attend ACCREDITCON

May 28-29: Pre-conference Workshops

May 30-June 1: Main Event

Hyatt Regency Orange Co

Garden Grove, CA

This collaborative will help elevate your AEMT and paramedic education program by providing details about the accreditation process and exploring the accreditation standards. This event is intended for educators with all levels of experience.

Guests will network with peers, share best practices, and interact with experts.

• interact with the CoAEMSP board and staff
• network with peers and colleagues
• plug into best practices
• learn about products and services to support your AEMT and paramedic educational program
• earn CE credit from CAPCE
• get answers to pertinent questions regarding initial and continuing CAAHEP accreditation for Paramedic educational programs

Annual Fees Now Due

The CoAEMSP Annual Accreditation fee invoice was sent to all program directors and deans by email on May 7, 2025.

To save time, streamline processes, reduce data entry, and eliminate additional processing fees, the CoAEMSP strongly encourages your program to pay invoices by ACH (Automated Clearing House). ACH payments are electronic payments that transfer funds directly from a checking account to the payee. Instead of writing out and mailing a paper check, the funds move automatically.

You may pay invoices by Automated Clearing House (ACH) or the View and Pay Invoice option, which will appear as a link in the emailed invoice. As a reminder, credit cards are now accepted. The CoAEMSP will accept checks this year; however, please note that we are moving toward requiring all payments via ACH or “View and Pay” in the future.

All programs selecting to pay by ACH should email payment advice to michelle@coaemsp.org. A payment advice provides the details on payment and provides advance notice to the recipient.

The advantages of paying via ACH or the “View and Pay” option are:

• Pay directly through the invoice
• Secure environment
• Payment processes in 3 days instead of 3 weeks (checks)
• Automatically applies to the invoice (less data entry errors)

Have questions? Please contact Michelle Esquivel at michelle@coaemsp.org for any questions regarding invoicing/payments.

As a reminder, credit cards are now accepted! 

Visit the CoAEMSP Fees page here.