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97ɫ��nical Community College is the first Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) education program in the nation to receive its voluntary accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the only nationally recognized accreditation organization for AEMT and paramedic education.

In addition, 97ɫ��’s Paramedic Program also received accreditation, marking dual accreditation for the College’s EMS pathway.

“We are thrilled to be the first accredited AEMT education program in the nation,” said Steven Wilson, director of 97ɫ��’s program. “Our goal is to ensure our AEMT students can efficiently and effectively provide emergency medical care at the advanced life support level. The accreditation process provides a valuable framework to do just that, and we are proud to be a part of the statewide effort in North Carolina to ensure all programs meet national standards for high-quality AEMT education.”      

The AEMT accreditation was pursued in conjunction with the College's paramedic program accreditation to establish program excellence and a commitment to EMS education. The 97ɫ�� EMS Paramedic Program has been accredited since 2015 and is now reaccredited until 2031.  

“We want to be the program students desire to enroll in because they are informed of our commitment to their success. This also demonstrates the quality of our programs and knowledgeable instructors who we’re fortunate to have as they educate the next generation of EMS providers,” Wilson said. “This couldn’t have happened without our relationships with our regional partners and the support of our medical director. The program is fortunate to have visionary leaders within the College who’ve allowed the EMS Program to strategically grow.”  

97ɫ�� has led the way for other programs to pursue accreditation with CAAHEP.

“97ɫ�� is the first of what we hope will be many AEMT education programs in the state to receive accreditation,” said Todd Messer, education manager at the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services. “In moving to require accreditation at the AEMT level, we are ensuring graduates in our state are well prepared for the demands of today’s workforce, and tomorrow’s. Looking ahead, we know accreditation will strengthen our EMS workforce and ultimately enhance patient care statewide.”  

An additional 12 programs received their Letter of Review from the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Profession in 2025, signifying that the programs are in the process of seeking accreditation by CAAHEP. Beginning June 30, 2025, North Carolina became the only state to require all AEMT education programs in the state to be in the process of becoming accredited. Eight of the programs that received a Letter of Review are in North Carolina.

“When we launched voluntary AEMT accreditation just one year ago, we were hopeful that programs would see the value,” said Dr. George Hatch, executive director of CoAEMSP. “We know that accreditation creates value – for educators, students, employers and their community. Heading into a new year, we are both excited and gratified to see so many programs take the steps necessary to achieve voluntary accreditation. Congratulations to 97ɫ�� for being the first in the nation. And we are confident that other programs will soon join them as part of a wave of innovation and excellence in AEMT education.”