The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) made a recommendation to withdraw Portage College's CMA accreditation last week. The reason this occurred was due to a lack of evidence in the validation of a competency standard surrounding documentation on practicums. The College's EMT and Paramedic Programs will seek immediate reapplication for the CMA accreditation.

"We have been responsive in addressing the issue and have reapplied immediately for the accreditation," said Mardere Birkill, Vice President Academic. "We are working with the CMA and expect to have the accreditation reinstated in due process."

Current students will not be affected by the reapplication process. All students currently enrolled in EMT or Paramedic programs at Portage College will graduate from a CMA accredited program. The College will continue to take applications and will continue to run their EMT and Paramedic programs.

Portage College will continue to work closely with the Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP), the CMA, Innovation and Advanced Education as well as the Justice Institute of B.C. to assist Portage College faculty in preparation for the re-application process. Despite the removal of CMA accreditation, Portage College will continue to be accountable to the ACP Education Program Approval Standards, and maintain their current program approval status.

"We are continuing to work with ACP to ensure that our EMT and Paramedic graduates will have access to the provincial registration exam and be enabled to transfer to other provinces through the labour mobility process," Birkill said.