CONGRATULATIONS! 
Accreditation Renewed for Three Years

30 August 2011
The Office of Emergency Medical Services worked with StarFire EMS program staff reviewing equipment and program records/activities for the accreditation period September 2008 - 2011.  Based on that review, StarFire EMS accredited training institution status was renewed for the September 2011 - 2014 period.

StarFire EMS will continue to conduct education programs at the Smiley School, 969 Main Street (Route 125/Plastow), Haverhill.

Congratulations to the staff of StarFire EMS for demonstrating once again that you continue to provide high quality educational program- ming that meets and exceeds standards.  Thank you.

Job well done everyone!

Program Accreditation

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health/Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) began a program of review and approval of Basic, Intermediate, and Paramedic program training institutions.  Each training institution completed an exhaustive application process to document  program staff qualifications, program content, program policies and procedures; OEMS verified program equipment, classroom space, etc.

Once the application was reviewed by MDPH/OEMS, a site visit was scheduled.  OEMS staff met with program staff from the training institution seeking accreditation.  After the site visit, OEMS either approved or recommended changes required before approval could be granted.  Training institutions meeting the requirements and completing a successful site visit received a three-year accreditation certificate. 

StarFire EMS applied for and was granted initial accreditation on 1 September 2005.  At the end of our three-year accreditation, we applied for - and were granted - accreditation for an additional three-year period beginning September 2008.  As you can see above, we reapplied in 2011 and have been granted a renewal for the three- year period ending 1 September 2014. 

A Cautionary Word

In Massachusetts, ONLY training institutions that have been awarded accredited training institution status may conduct initial education programs!  If an initial education program is offered by an institution that is not accredited by MDPH/OEMS, the program's graduates will NOT be eligible to take the State Certification Exam. 

Make sure, wherever you take your course, that the training institution has current Massachusetts OEMS accreditation status!