The Weber State University paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, CAAHEP (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions, CoAEMSP (www.coaemsp.org).
Accreditation, Licensure & Certification Accreditation Information
Accredited Paramedic Program
Paramedic Program Goals as Defined by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP
“To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.”
- Specific Goals
Specific Goal 1: Didactic
The program will maintain a 90% first time pass rate on the National Registry paramedic examination.
Specific Goal 2: Psychomotor
The program will maintain an 80% first time pass rate on all National Registry skills exam stations with a 95% pass rate on retest.
Specific Goal 3: Affective
The program will provide our clinical, field and potential employers, students that meet or exceed expected healthcare professions standards to include, empathy, communication, integrity, patient advocacy and safe practice.
- Paramedic Student Success, Retention and Employment Rates
Per the direction of CAAHEP, all paramedic programs must publish certification, retention and employment rates. Since January 1, 2007, 96% of the Weber State graduates passed the National Registry computer adaptive exam on first attempt. Three students passed on the second attempt, one on the third attempt. (Two students never retested). Thus, the overall nine year National Registry paramedic pass rate for Weber State University is 99%. For the National Registry skills exam, the first attempt pass rate is 85% out of 12 stations. With same day retest, the pass rate climbs to 99.6%.
The WSU paramedic program has never exceeded the accreditation threshold of 30% for attrition. For the cohorts in Academic Years 2010 through 2015 the average retention rate for paramedic students is 80%.
While exact employment numbers are difficult to obtain, all WSU graduates can find employment either in fire, EMS or police agencies. Additionally, students have found employment in medical facilities or have pursued additional education in nursing, as physician assistants, or medical school. Employment opportunities abound for any WSU graduate willing to move away from the I-15 (Wasatch Front - Salt Lake City) corridor.
- Licensure & Certification Requirements
In order to be recommended for certification test with the National Registry of EMT's, in addition to academic requirements, a graduate of the WSU program must meet these Paramedic Professional Requirements (or "terminal objectives")
- A background criminal investigation to include fingerprints and drug testing may be required by certification and clinical agencies
- Students that may need certification testing accommodations must contact the the National Registry of EMTs for both EMTs and Paramedics
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
In order to be certified as an EMT in Utah, applicants must be in conformity with Utah Bureau of EMS regulations. The Utah regulations are available online at:
https://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r426/r426-012.htmApplicants who have been convicted of a felony or treated for mental illness or substance abuse should discuss their eligibility status with the Utah State Bureau of EMS. The Utah Bureau of EMS makes final decisions on the issue of state certification. A Background Criminal Investigation (BCI) using digital fingerprints is required.
- Paramedic Certification Testing
Students graduating from the WSU paramedic program will certification test with the National Registry of EMT's. Upon successful completion of the NREMT they are then eligible for certification (licensure) by the Utah Bureau of EMS.
In order to be recommended to test for the National Registry, the student must prove they have applied to the WSU Graduation department for either the Institutional Certificate or AAS Degree. No student will be cleared to test with the NREMT until proof of that requirement has been met.
In order to be certified as an Paramedic in Utah, applicants must be in conformity with Utah Bureau of EMS regulations. The Utah regulations are available online at:
https://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r426/r426-012.htmApplicants who have been convicted of a felony or treated for mental illness or substance abuse should discuss their eligibility status with the Utah State Bureau of EMS. The Utah Bureau of EMS makes final decisions on the issue of state certification. Learn more from the Utah BEMS application information and requirements
The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) is an independent, free-standing, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. The NREMT provides a mechanism to assure the protection of the public by verifying achievement of the minimal competencies of EMTs by establishing and implementing uniform requirements for emergency medical technicians, their training, examination, and continuing education.
In order to be certified as a National Registry Paramedic, applicants must be in conformity with the National Registry of EMT's standards. The National Registry requirements are available online at nremt.org
Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or treated for mental illness or substance abuse should discuss their eligibility status with the National Registry. The Registry makes final decisions on the issue of certification. You can contact the Registry at The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Rocco V. Morando Building, 6610 Busch Blvd., P.O. Box 29233, Columbus, Ohio 43229, Phone: 614- 888-4484, Fax: 614-888-8920.
- Recertification
Information about EMT and Paramedic re-certification for Utah is available on line from the Utah Bureau of EMS at https://www.health.utah.gov/ems/