Section 170.946 - Accreditation of Training Institutions: General Provisions(A)Eligibility. A training institution seeking Department accreditation shall be an organization capable of providing programmatic and fiscal oversight of, and assuming accountability for, the instruction, operation, performance and evaluation of the training of EMTs and EMT-candidates. To be eligible to apply for accreditation, the training institution must provide, either directly or through contractual arrangements with a Department-accredited training institution or postsecondary educational institution, a basic infrastructure that:(1) Employs quality assurance/quality improvement procedures for assessing the institution's performance;(2) Adequately assesses the performance of instructors and assumes clear accountability for its instructors;(3) Adequately assesses the performance of its students;(4) Provides its students with adequate access to research and learning tools and materials including, but not limited to, library facilities, computers, audio-visual educational aids and other technology determined to be necessary by the Department;(5) Provides adequate classroom facilities and practical skills training areas;(6) Provides adequate opportunities for students to complete clinical and field internships in a timely manner;(7) Provides adequate administrative support; and(8) Institutions providing paramedic training programs must have current CAAHEP accreditation of the paramedic training program, or a Letter of Review. Those that have a Letter of Review must maintain such Letter in accordance with CAAHEP Letter of Review process.(B)Level of Accreditation. An applicant for accreditation shall specifically seek, and the Department shall grant qualified training institutions accreditation, at the BLS, ALS-Advanced and/or ALS-Paramedic level(s) of training.(C)Application Process. An applicant for accreditation shall:(1) Complete and submit an application form provided by the Department;(2) Undergo an on-site evaluation by the Department;(3) Submit a nonrefundable accreditation fee of $1,500.00 for the entire term of accreditation.(D) The Department shall accredit an applicant training institution in either one of two ways: (1)Full Review: After receipt of a completed application, the Department makes a finding, based on review of the applicant, that: (a) The applicant is eligible, in accordance with 105 CMR 170.946(A);(b) The applicant is responsible and suitable, in accordance with 105 CMR 170.948; and(c) The applicant is capable of meeting the duties and responsibilities of accredited training institutions, pursuant to 105 CMR 170.950.(2)Substantially Equivalent Review: The Department confirms a training institution has current accreditation in good standing that meets Department approval as substantially equivalent to the Department's process.(a) A training institution may submit to the Department a letter of intent to seek accreditation based on substantially equivalent accreditation and attesting to its capability of, and commitment to, meeting the duties and responsibilities for accredited institutions, pursuant to 105 CMR 170.950, and documentation of its current accreditation.(b) Accreditation on the basis of substantially equivalent accreditation shall run concurrent with the term of the substantially equivalent accreditation. The training institution shall submit documentation of maintenance of such accreditation. If such substantially equivalent accreditation is not maintained, the training institution's Department accreditation expires, unless the training institution submits an application and successfully meets the requirements of 105 CMR 170.946(D)(1) and the Department's administrative requirements.(E) Term. Accreditation by the Department shall be for a term of no longer than three years. A complete renewal of accreditation application and accreditation fee must be filed with the Department six months prior to the expiration of accreditation.Amended, Mass Register Issue 1257, eff. 3/28/2014.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1321, eff. 9/9/2016.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1486, eff. 1/6/2023.