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The National Continued Competency Program - 2018 NREMT Recertification

Judson S.

Judson S.

Healthcare Administrator

Over the last several years, state's have struggled with NREMT guidelines for recertification. Some states have completely opted out of the NREMT recertification process while others have followed and or have streamlined the NREMT recertification process to match their particular state recertification periods while either adding additional hours in categories they feel are necessary for their state Ems providers or taking away hours in other categories that may not be as relevant while at the same time trying to follow the national curriculum that seems to constantly change.

After many planning meetings and seemingly endless committee meetings at all levels in EMS throughout the country, the National Registry announced in 2011 that they would be introducing a new model of recertification that would seemingly feel like it was reducing the number of hours to recertify. The idea was to use the same methodology similar to what other healthcare professions use through the American Board of Medical Specialties. For EMS, it was identified that the new NCCP model would streamline the recertification process, allow more local control over the continuing education requirements and essentially put it in three different categories.

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The three categories that would make up the new NREMT recertification would be:

  1. National Content - This category within the new NCCP model would be known as the NCCR or the National Core Competency Requirement. In other words, it was the absolute must that every EMS provider based off your level of certification must complete as part of your recertification. It constitutes 50% of the new requirement and the topics are reviewed every four years and will reflect trends and science in EMS, evidence-based medicine and national scope of practice changes.
  2. Local Content - The local category of the new NCCP model will allow up to 25% of the new recertification requirement to be decided by local entities that include both regions, state and or other oversight bodies responsible for the delivery and education of EMS to local providers. Ideally, this area may be utilized for clinical competencies or regional specific types of patient encounters that are identified through QA/QI, medical director direction and or other methods to provide current continuing education through online education, monthly training, conferences, etc.
  3. Individual Content - This category within the new NCCP model allows up to 25% of the total requirement for each level of Ems certification. What does this mean exactly? It means that you, as an certified and or licensed EMS professional, can choose up to 25% of any type of EMS continuing education of your choice that you feel best benefits you as an EMS clinician providing you with the power to apply hours taken towards your recertification while at the same time staying up-to-date on the latest science and practice in areas you feel you would like and or need more knowledge base and practical skill level.

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Why are there fewer hours for NREMT recertification?

This is a question we hear all the time. Students call in and ask what do I need to take to re-certify? Why are the hours less? It is a question we as educators struggle with even after diving into this and asking questions at both the state and national levels.

Bottom line: Just because the NREMT has made the hours less does not mean that most states have adopted this. Georgia, Tennessee and even Texas as examples still have more hours for recertification than just the NCCP requirement. They require hours specifically in Pediatrics that the NREMT does not. We should not look at this as a reduction in education hours for recertification but a way to improve and take our own personal and professional ownership to the next level and get the continuing education you feel you need to stay up with the most current evidence-based science, the best emergency medicine practices and the most current set of skills to take the best care of the patients you encounter in the pre-hospital ground and or aeromedical setting.

Can I use the NCCP to Recertify?

This is another frequent question we get. The answer is fairly easy. It depends on which state you have selected as your "home state" in your NREMT profile. Many, but not all, states have adopted the NCCP recertification model.

  • Eight States have opted out of the NCCP requirement
  • Eight States have made it an option
  • 34 states have made it mandatory

To see if your state is an NCCP state, you can select your state from the State EMS Agencies Map, or view the NCCP map on the Maps & Data Page

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Can I take all of my education online?

Don't wait until March 15th to start your recertification for either your state or national registry. Give yourself some time. Find the right type of educational delivery model that best fits your needs and get it done! Remember, this profession is a never-ending learning process. You don't just need the "CEU", you need to refresh on the knowledge you haven't touched in a while. You need to refresh on skills you haven't performed in a bit. Don't wait until it's too late. Keep those credentials, keep expanding your mind!

See you in class!

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Judson brings more than 20 years of experience in fire and EMS with Fire/EMS and online education and operational management. Judson holds numerous EMS teaching credentials and founded one of the first virtual instructor-led EMS training programs in the United States in 2014. A critical care paramedic and former firefighter/paramedic and flight paramedic, Judson also serves as an officer in an Air Force Reserves aeromedical evacuation squadron. He holds a master's degree in Healthcare Administration and is currently pursuing a PhD in e-learning.

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