Information for possible students looking for waivers based on past experience. This applies to people like ARMY medics, MARINE/NAVY corpsmen, previously licensed EMTs, RNs, etc.


POLICY FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT OR ADVANCED PLACEMENT

 


PERCOM and its cooperative programs do not believe that applicants who have completed other training opportunities should automatically have to “redo” work. Based on that premise, there may be times when the Coordinator or Program Director may choose to grant advanced placement for existing licenses, certifications or completed courses obtained by applicants from other approved programs, educational institutions, or military programs. 


Any credit granted will require verification and documentation provided by the applicant, or through applicant acquisition methods, to be placed in the applicants file if he/she is accepted into the PERCOM EMS Academy. Not ALL “proofs” will be accepted as meeting the standards set by state and national authorities or by the PERCOM administrative staff. PERCOM reserves the right to approve or disapprove any request for advanced placement for a specific portion of training for any reason. Examples of potential placement based on produced documentation of proof of existing certifications, licensures or prior training and educational opportunities are listed below. 


Situations not covered in this document will be evaluated - curriculum to curriculum, and must have verifiable and accurate documentation for evaluation submitted by the applicant for possible approval. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will be reviewed and decided in coordination with the Lead Medical Director. Potential advanced placement will be worded as “waiver” in this document. 


Applicants who have successfully completed the entire didactic portion of another EMT or AEMT program or other CAAHEP accredited Paramedic program (up to final exam), and can provide documentation of such in the form of a transcript and/or written and signed letter or other documents (as requested by the PERCOM Program Director) from the prior program, MAY be granted a didactic waiver and possibly even rotations hours, contacts, and rotation skills credit toward PERCOM’s course completion requirements. If the EMT, AEMT or Paramedic program is not U.S. based, the curriculum and requirements must be evaluated and approved in coordination with the PERCOM Lead Medical Director to assure equity to minimum standards as established by NHTSA and NAEMSE. If these applicants pass the Challenge/Advanced Placement Exam(s) required by PERCOM, an applicant will also be required to successfully complete Skills Testing Session(s) as the second phase of the Challenge/Advanced Placement process. 


Applicants who fail the computer-based Challenge exam(s) or the Skills Testing Session(s) will be required to complete part or all of the PERCOM program, as applicable to course level (EMT, AEMT, Paramedic). NO applicant will be granted a waiver regarding either the computer exam(s) or Skills Testing. No Paramedic applicant will be granted a waiver regarding Final Field Internship or the Paramedic Graduate Scenario Summative Exam with a member of the Medical Director’s team (unless student is a prior PERCOM Paramedic student or a practicing EMS Medical Director). 


*NOTE: PERCOM DOES NOT ACCEPT TRANSFER “CREDITS” FROM OTHER SCHOOLS OR COLLEGES AND DOES NOT GRANT “CREDITS” FOR COURSES COMPLETED IN ITS ACADEMY. A TRANSCRIPT WILL BE GENERATED FOR PARAMEDIC GRADUATES OUTLINING HOURS GRANTED AS COMPLETED FOR EACH COURSE LEVEL AND WILL DELINEATE ANY ADVANCED PLACEMENT GRANTED AS “CR” ON THE TRANSCRIPT. 



EMT Program


Waiver of some or all homework assignments may be granted based on production of prior certification proofs as outlined in this document or equivalent documents to specific assignments (i.e., TIMS, NIMS 100, 200 and 700, Juris Prudence etc.) However, applicants remain responsible for the information presented over these items in the course and in text and may see testing of the information in the form of Research Exam questions, skills exam scenarios, Final Exam questions, or other methods. The Coordinator or Program Director will choose which, if any, assignments will be waived based on produced documentation. However, standard norms are also listed.  *Note: No applicants will be exempted from passing the Final Exam or Exit/Testing Skills Session under any circumstances.


Applicants for full Life Experience Waiver/Advanced Placement for EMT must produce one or more of the following:

  • Proof of prior EMT certification lapsed less than 5 years and a verifiable resume outlining some EMS experience (proof of prior certification greater than 5 years old may be considered, in coordination with the Lead Medical Director,  if a verifiable resume and other documentation produced by the applicant demonstrates at least one year life experience in EMS as an EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic)
  • Some applicants who have recently completed another EMT program (within the last 3 years) may be considered for Challenge/Advanced Placement if approved by the Lead Medical Director Copy of current RN, PA, MD, DO  licenses (other medical licensures MAY be accepted upon review)
  • Physicians with licenses other than U.S. MD or DO must be independently approved by the Lead Medical Director. Typically, MDs from Canada, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Germany, and Australia are accepted if the license and resume/CV is current and valid. MDs from other countries are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The Lead Medical Director maintains the ultimate approval authority for medical doctors with foreign credentials.


For  full Life Experience Waiver Advanced Placement, All Homework Assignments are Waived if one or more of the following documentation proofs are accepted:

  • Proof of prior EMT, AEMT/Intermediate, or Paramedic certification with a documentable resume outlining EMS 911 experience while certified for at least one year in the field AND proof from national or state certification or licensing authorities of expired prior certification/licensure claimed. However, applicants remain responsible for the information presented over these items in the course, and in text, and may see testing of the information in the form of skills exam scenarios, Final Exam questions, or other methods.

  • Applicants who are 68W, 4FX, 98D, or their equivalent in other branches of the military who allowed their civilian NREMT-EMT certification to expire are also waived under this requirement as listed, if the applicant is continuing to work in the “medic” environment in the military. Applicants who no longer work in that type of MOS or AFSC and whose NREMT certification has lapsed must meet the requirements in the previous paragraphs. Documentation must be provided to verify status for either scenario.

  • Proof of being U.S. Board certified emergency physicians (either M.D. or D.O)

  • Proof of holding U.S. license as an RN’s, PA’s, or healthcare provider who works/practices in the emergency environment (flight, ED)

For full Life Experience Waiver Advanced Placement, Clinical and Field Rotation  Waivers if one or more of the following documentation proofs are accepted:

  • Proof of prior EMT, AEMT/Intermediate, or Paramedic certification that is expired less than 5 years. If the certification is expired greater than 5 years but the applicant has continued in healthcare, the Lead Medical Director will be the final approval authority for those decisions.
  • Proof of completion of clinical or field rotations from another state licensed EMS education program for EMT, AEMT/Intermediate, or CAAHEP approved Paramedic within the last 3 years IF the applicant can produce proof of course enrollment in that school and copies of ALL clinical and field rotation records for review for potential credit. These records must meet State rule minimum requirements for credit in PERCOM’s program toward course completion. *NOTE: Applicant clinical or field rotations greater than 3 years old will NOT be granted exemption unless the applicant has prior or continuing healthcare experience in EMS or emergency care. Then the request will be reviewed for possible approval in coordination with the Lead Medical Director.

  • Proof of having testing NREMT EMT and failing the exam one or more times.

  • Proof of successful completion of another EMT program within the last 3 years.

  • For applicants whose EMT, AEMT/Intermediate, or Paramedic certification has been expired GREATER than 5 years, applicants must produce proof of prior EMT, AEMT/Intermediate, or Paramedic certification with a documentable resume outlining EMS 911 experience while certified for at least one year in the field. This will be reviewed with the Lead Medical Director who will be the final approval/denial authority.

  • Applicants with approved existing healthcare licenses, such as RN, who work in the hospital environment and have produced a verifiable resume that incorporates proof of ER and OB experience (even if that experience outlined was from nursing school rotations), may be exempt from “clinical” non-EMS rotations. The PERCOM Clinical Program  and Medical Director reserve the right to incorporate those hours into EMS exposure environments.

  • Applicants who are 68W, 4FX, or 98D or its equivalent in other branches of the military, who allowed their civilian NREMT certification to expire, are also waived under this  requirement as listed if the applicant is continuing to work in the “medic” environment in the military. Applicants who no longer classified as such in their MOS or AFSC and whose NREMT certification has been lapsed greater than 5 years, must meet requirements as listed in the previous paragraphs to be exempted from clinical and field rotations. Documentation must be provided to verify status for either scenario as described above.



AEMT/Paramedic 1 Program


Waiver of some or all homework assignments may be granted  based on production of the required documents or items. However, applicants remain responsible for the information presented over these items in the course and in text and may see testing of the information in the form of Research Exam questions, skills exam scenarios, Final Exam questions or other methods. The Coordinator or Program Director will choose which, if any, assignments will be waived based on produced documentation. However, standard norms are also listed. *Note: No applicants will be exempt from passing the Final Exam or Testing Skills Session under any circumstances.


Applicants for full Life Experience Waiver Advanced Placement for P1/AEMT 

must produce one or more of the following:

  • Proof of prior AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification that is expired less than 5 years and a verifiable work resume outlining some EMS experience at the AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic level (proof of prior certification greater than 5 years old may be considered, in coordination with the Lead Medical Director, if a verifiable resume and other documentation produced by the applicant demonstrates at least one year life experience in EMS as an AEMT or Paramedic)
  • Some applicants who have recently completed another AEMT program (within the last 3 years) may be considered for Challenge/Advanced Placement if approved by the Lead Medical Director.
  • Copy of current RN, PA, MD, DO licenses Proof of being U.S. Board certified emergency physicians (either M.D. or D.O)

    • Proof of holding U.S. license as an  RN’s, PA’s, or healthcare provider who works/practices in the emergency environment (flight, ED)

    • Physicians with licenses other than U.S. MD or DO must be independently approved by the Lead Medical Director. Typically, MDs from Canada,  Ireland,  England, Germany,  Japan  and Australia are accepted if the license and resume/CV is current and valid. Medical doctors from other countries  will be evaluated by PERCOM Lead Medical Director for equivalency, accuracy, reliability and verifiability. The Lead Medical Director maintains ultimate authority for review and approval of medical doctors  with foreign credentials.

  • For applicants whose AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification has lapsed GREATER than five years, applicants must present proof of prior AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification with a documentable resume outlining EMS 911 experience while certified of at least one year in the field. However, applicants remain responsible for the information presented over these items in the course and in text and may see testing of the information in the form skills exam scenarios, Final Exam questions, or other methods. Documents will be reviewed by the Lead Medical Director for individual approval or denial.

  • Applicants who are 68W, 4FX, or 98D, or its equivalent, in other branches of the military must provide documentation of successful completion of advanced training courses. The documentation that meets or exceeds the requirements set in curriculum are evaluated in order to determine if these courses are equivalent to the requirements for NHTSA AEMT education. This includes, but not limited to shock pathophysiology, treatment, and management, trauma pathophysiology, advanced field management of airway management and pharmacology, may be eligible for this waiver. Applicants must also produce curriculum outlines proving equivalency if they are not already on file in the PERCOM office and accepted.

For full Life Experience Waiver Advanced Placement, Clinical and Field 

Rotation Waivers if one or more of the following documentation proofs are 

accepted:

  • Proof of prior AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification that is expired less than 5 years and a verifiable resume outlining EMS experience at Paramedic level (unless as otherwise stated previously in this document)
  • Proof of completion of clinical or field rotations from another state licensed EMS education program for AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification within the last 3 years IF the applicant can produce proof of course enrollment in that school and copies of ALL clinical and field rotation records for review for potential credit. These records must meet State rule and PERCOM minimum requirements for credit in PERCOM’s program toward course completion. *NOTE: Applicant clinical or field rotations greater than 3 years old will NOT be granted exemption unless the applicant has prior or continuing healthcare experience in EMS or emergency care. Then the request will be reviewed for possible approval in coordination with the Lead Medical Director.

  • Proof of having testing NREMT AEMT and failing the exam one or more times.

  • Proof of successful completion of another AEMT program (or the portions of the Paramedic program consistent with PERCOM’s P1 phase) within the last 3 years.

  • For applicants whose AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification has been expired GREATER than five years, applicants must produce proof of prior EMT-Intermediate or Paramedic certification with a documentable resume outlining EMS 911 experience at that level while certified of at least one year in the field. This will be reviewed by the Lead Medical Director for individual approval or denial.

  • Applicants with approved existing healthcare licenses, such as RN (or certain military medical positions who are at least EMT certified), who work in the hospital or field environments and have produced a verifiable resume that incorporates proof of ER, emergency care and duties to include standard AEMT/Intermediate skills access such as IV therapy, phlebotomy and medication administration by various routes may be exempted from having to rotate in the hospital environment, with the exception of OR for the purpose of intubations if no proof of at least 5 intubations within the last year. However, the Clinical Program reserves the right to incorporate those hours into all EMS exposure environments. SOME of these applicants may be able to produce evidence of documented job experiences and exposures that meet or exceed any that he/she would receive in standard EMS education field or hospital rotation sites. These records will be individually reviewed for possible waiver of Paramedic1/AEMT clinical and field rotations. However, if the applicant is enrolled in Paramedic 1 (and is not planning to stop at the AEMT level in the PERCOM program), the Clinical Coordinator must also review the documentation and have a voice in the overall decision as many of these applicants will have OR time or other rotations “packed” into later Paramedic 2 – rotations phases. This will remain at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinator and Program Director.

  • Certified or licensed applicants from other healthcare disciplines who may be eligible for waiver of clinical and/or field rotations MUST work in an active healthcare environment and MUST have access to IV therapy, phlebotomy, and intubation as part of their skills set for their employment. This must be documented by a physician or administrator in the place of employment or duty station on letterhead and produced for approval by PERCOM administration. However, these applicants MUST hold an active EMT certification.


*Note:  All applicants listed above in this section may have experience and training that will allow them to  successfully demonstrate adequate minimum performance on skills testing by attending only a skills Testing Session. Applicants may do this at their option, or at their own peril, as applicants who fail that session will be required to attend one or more Practice Sessions and then another Testing Session. A rescheduling fee will be charged for each session over and above the budgeted amount prior to the applicant being allowed to participate in non-budgeted sessions, either Practice or Testing.


Applicants for military medic type waivers (68W, Navy Corpsman, etc.) MUST be working in an environment that allows them access as part of their job duties to IV therapy, phlebotomy and intubation and will be required to have these skills verified on live patients in their environment by a licensed RN, PA, NP, Anesthesiologist or CRNA, DO, or MD. This will not constitute as the applicant being a “clinical applicant”, and the applicant will be the responsibility of his/her employer.



Paramedic 2 Program


The Program Director, in cooperation with the Lead Medical Director for the Paramedic Program, reserves the right and has the ultimate responsibility for reviewing and providing final determinations regarding ANY waivers for any portion of the Paramedic 2 didactic, skills, or clinical and field rotation portions of the program. Any information received from potential applicants requesting waivers at this level will be forward to that Program Director for approval or denial. Approval or denial will be given by the PERCOM Program Director by message or email to the applicant or potential applicant and any approvals or denials for applicants who join the program will be kept documented in the applicant file. The Clinical Coordinator will NOT approve or disapprove any such requests for this level except as directed by the Paramedic Program Director.


Waiver of some or all homework assignments may be granted based on production of the following documents or items. However, applicants remain responsible for the information presented over these items in the course and in text and may see testing of the information in the form of Research Exam questions, skills exam scenarios, Final Exam questions, or other methods. The Coordinator or Program Director will choose which, if any, assignments will be waived based on produced documentation. However, standard norms are also listed. *Note: No applicants will be exempted from passing the Final Exam or Testing Skills Session under any circumstances.


Applicants for full Life Experience Waiver Advanced Placement for P2 must produce one or more of the following:

  • Proof of prior Paramedic certification that is expired less than 5 years and a verifiable work resume outlining some EMS experience at the Paramedic level (proof of prior certification greater than 5 years old may be considered, in coordination with the Lead Medical Director, if a verifiable resume and other documentation produced by the applicant demonstrates at least one year life experience in EMS as an Paramedic)

  • Some applicants who have recently completed another Paramedic program (within the last 3 years) may be considered for Challenge/Advanced Placement if approved by the Lead Medical Director.

  • Copy of current RN, PA, MD, DO licenses

    • Proof of being U.S. Board certified emergency physicians (either M.D. or D.O)

    • Proof of holding U.S. license as an RN’s, PA’s, or healthcare provider who works/practices in the emergency environment (flight, ED)

    • Physicians with licenses other than U.S. MD or DO must be independently approved by the Lead Medical Director. Typically, medical doctors from Canada, Ireland, England, Germany, Japan, and Australia are accepted if the license and resume/CV is current and valid. Medical physicians from other countries may or may not be accepted. The Lead Medical Director maintains ultimate authority for review and approval of medical doctors  with foreign credentials.

  • For applicants whose Paramedic certification has lapsed GREATER than five years, applicant must present proof of prior Paramedic certification with a documentable resume outlining EMS 911 experience while certified of at least one year in the field. However, applicants remain responsible for the information presented over these items in the course and in text and may see testing of the information in the form skills exam scenarios, Final Exam questions, or other methods. Documents will be reviewed by the Lead Medical Director for individual approval or denial.


For full Life Experience Waiver Advanced Placement, Clinical and Field Rotation Waivers if one or more of the following documentation proofs are accepted:

  • Proof of prior Paramedic certification that is expired less than 5 years and a verifiable resume outlining EMS experience at Paramedic level (or as discussed earlier in this document for those greater than 5 years)
  • Proof of completion of clinical or field rotations from another state licensed EMS education program for Paramedic certification within the last 3 years IF the applicant can produce proof of course enrollment in that school and copies of ALL clinical and field rotation records for review for potential credit. These records must meet State rule and PERCOM minimum requirements for credit in PERCOM’s program toward course completion. *NOTE: Applicant clinical or field rotations greater than 3 years old will NOT be granted exemption unless the applicant has prior or continuing healthcare experience in EMS or emergency care. Then the request will be reviewed for possible approval in coordination with the Lead Medical Director.

  • Proof of having testing NREMT Paramedic and failing the exam one or more times.

  • Proof of successful completion of another Paramedic program (or the portions of the Paramedic program consistent with PERCOM’s P1/P2 didactic phases) within the last 3 years.

  • For applicants whose Paramedic certification has been expired GREATER than five years, applicants must produce proof of prior Paramedic certification with a documentable resume outlining EMS 911 experience at that level while certified of at least one year in the field. This will be reviewed by the Lead Medical Director for individual approval or denial.


*Note:  All applicants listed above in this section may have experience and training that will allow them to successfully demonstrate adequate minimum performance on skills testing by attending only a skills Testing Session. Applicants may do this at their option, or at their own peril, as applicants who fail that session will be required to attend one or more Practice Sessions and then another Testing Session. A rescheduling fee will be charged for each session over and above the budgeted amount prior to the applicant being allowed to participate in non-budgeted sessions, either Practice or Testing.


Regardless of how much rotation credit is granted based on applicant’s existing license, certification history, or documents produced from prior Paramedic school, NO applicant will be exempted from completing all Final Field Internship hours and requirements (with the exception of practicing EMS Medical Directors). NO applicant will be exempt from the Paramedic Graduate Scenario Summative Exam with a member of the Medical Director’s team (with the exception of practicing EMS Medical Directors.