Jan 31st, 2020
The paramedic program at Jackson State Community College was recently awarded continued accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the accrediting body for the program. The JSCC program received no citations and will be reviewed again in 2025.
According to Kenneth Oxford, JSCC's EMT/Paramedic Program Director, the 5-year review process in conjunction with the Committee on Accreditation for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP) and CAAHEP has been a regular occurrence since 1989 when the program received its first accreditation award.
"This is an ongoing process of analyzing information and data to provide a high-quality program for the students, community, and employers," said Oxford. "The process that just ended began in March 2018 with a 3-month self-study. That was followed up with a review and site visit by CoAEMSP and a subsequent review and affirmation by CAAHEP."
"The fact that we came through this process with no citations is remarkable and speaks volumes about the college's commitment to quality education," said Oxford.
The EMT/Paramedic program at JSCC is a multi-level certificate and degree program. There are three preliminary certifications that allow an individual to quickly enter the field as an Emergency Medical Technician. Those certifications include EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic.
JSCC also awards an applied associate of science (AAS) degree in Paramedic. The AAS degree is typically the entry-level degree for paramedics. According to Oxford, the demand for paramedics in West Tennessee and across the nation is high. "Most employers in this area say they have a shortage of both Paramedics and Advanced EMTs."
"Since most students in the Paramedic program are already employed as an Advanced EMT, the placement rate is 100% for students that complete the Paramedic degree and pass the national certification exam.
To learn more about the EMT-Paramedic program at JSCC, visit www.jscc.edu/emt or contact Kenneth Oxford at koxford@jscc.edu or 731-424-3520 ext. 50348.