Ep 51. NAEMT Radio – Raising the Bar on EMS Education: Understanding Accreditation with COA and guest Troy Tuke
Hosted by Rob Lawrence | Guest: Troy Tuke

In this edition of NAEMT Radio, host Rob Lawrence sits down with NAEMT Board Secretary and EMS educator Troy Tuke, who also serves as NAEMT’s representative to the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions—better known as CoAEMSP or simply COA.

Together, Rob and Troy take a deep dive into what accreditation really means for EMS education, how the process works, why it matters, and how it ultimately benefits students, programs, and the EMS profession as a whole. Troy also draws on his dual experience as an EMS leader and program director to walk listeners through how a new program gets accredited—from application to site visit—and how COA supports continuous improvement and excellence in paramedic education.

Key Topics Covered:

• What COAEMSP does and why accreditation is vital for the EMS profession
• The role of NAEMT in representing educators and practitioners at the national level
• Troy’s journey from EMS Chief to Program Director and COA board member
• How education standards are evolving with modern prehospital care, including ultrasound, video-assisted laryngoscopy, and mobile healthcare
• The importance of national accreditation for student mobility, including testing eligibility and EMS Compact transferability
• The future of EMS education and how programs can keep up with clinical innovation
• How EMS leaders and educators can begin the process of getting their program accredited

Key Quotes from the Episode:

1. “Accreditation… helps ensure you get the quality education that meets all of the most recently studied best practices.” – Troy Tuke
2. “Going to an accredited program gives you upward mobility… it’s a nationally recognized certification.” – Troy Tuke
3. “We are clinicians. We’re not just drivers. We’re treating patients where they are.” – Rob Lawrence
4. “There’s a synergy at COA that can’t be overstated—everyone brings their best to the table.” – Troy Tuke
5. “We want to provide consistent, high-quality, repeatable education at every level.” – Troy Tuke
6. “When we work together, the power and the synergy are great. There’s not much we can’t solve.” – Troy Tuke
7. “It’s not about stopping you from starting a program—it’s about helping you succeed.” – Troy Tuke

Resources Discussed

COAEMSP Website: CoAEMSP – Committee on Accreditation for the EMS Professions – Credible education through accreditation

NAEMT Annual Meeting 2025 Schedule: https://naemt.org/events/annual-meeting/2025-schedule

Join the NAEMT: https://www.naemt.org/join/join