Frequently Asked Questions

How many modules do I have to take to complete the refresher course?
The refresher course is a 48 hour course broken down into 24 two hour modules. The modules are labeled L-1 through L-24. You must complete each of the 24 modules to successfully complete the course.

Do I have to complete the modules in order?
You do not need to complete them in order.

How long does it take to complete the Paramedic Refresher course?
You can finish as quickly as one week or take as long as two years. You decide how long you would like to take. We run about 30+ hours a week in modules April thru October. As we get closer to the National Registry deadline of March 31 we start added more and more modules per week.

I don’t need a full 48 hours for recertification. Do I need to take the entire course to get credit?
You can take as many or as few modules as you like. Each two hour module is registered as a seperate course. You can print out your transcript at any time and submit just those courses.

Does Distance CME accept checks?
Yes! You can pay by e-check thru Paypal or you can mail a check. Checks by mail should be made payable to Distance CME LLC, and mail them to the address on the Contact page. You can also pay by PayPal or credit card and get instant access. If you are mailing a check please include your name, address, email address, and phone number. You will receive an email with a registration key to logon once we receive the check.

What if I don’t have a strong internet signal or poor bandwidth?
We found that some of the deployed paramedics are using satellite internet, and the signal sometimes comes and goes. The signal is generally strong enough to log into the class, but may not be strong enough to hear the lecture and talk back. We have a phone call in option. Log into the classroom. If you see that your bandwidth is insufficient for the class, let the instructor know using the chat box. He will give you a US based phone number and a code. Use a cell phone or your VOIP phone and you will listen to the lecture by phone and watch the PowerPoint on your computer. This doesn’t stress your bandwidth as much. There is an additional fee of $5 per hour to use the dial in feature which will be billed to you at the end of each module. If you would like to test your internet speed, click here and run a diagnostic test. You should have a consistant signal strength on a B or better.

How do I keep track of my CEUs?
We track all your credits for you! After you complete each module, you will input an Attendance Verification Code (AVC) that will be unique to each class and will be given to you during the course. Once the AVC is submitted, your online transcript will automatically be credited. You can track your credits from your online transcript as you complete modules. Once the modules are completed, you can print out your transcript and submit it to National Registry, your State, or your department.

Do I get a certificate?
After each module your online transcript will be credited and time stamped for that specific module.When you complete the entire course you should print out the transcript right from the website. The transcript has your name, certification number, exp. date, and all of the Distance CME information including contiuing education sponsor numbers.

Will I be able to access my transcript even after I complete the course?
Yes! Even after finishing your course you will have perpetual access to your transcript using the same log in. So if you need proof of completion any time in the future you will be able to log on and print out your transcript on demand.

I forgot my user name and password. How do I get this information?
At the login page there is a prompt that says,“Forgotten Username or password.” Click on this, and it will walk you through the process of getting signed in.

How long is my membership valid?
Two years! Your membership begins on the day you make the purchase and lasts for 24 months or the completion of the 48 hour course, whichever comes first.

What does the NREMT accept for online continuing education?
NREMT normally accepts only 10 hours of online education toward Paramedic Certification. This course, however, is 100% instructor led and 100% live. It is the same as being in the classroom with an instructor. The entire class may be submitted to National Registry in order to satisfy both the 24 hours of mandatory and 24 hours of flexible content. The refresher course is certified by CECBEMS as a F5 or Virtual Instructor Led Course(VILT). Therefore NREMT accepts all the hours as a live class without the time restrictions placed on other online courses. The refresher course ID is 11-DIST-F5-0001

Do I have to complete the modules in a specific order?
No. You choose the schedule and the pace. Classes are offered all times of the day, including overnights and weekends in order to accommodate varying shifts and time zones. Take the classes in no particular order, as long as all the modules are eventually completed.

Is my membership to Distance CME tax deductible?
We are told by our accountants that since the refresher course is mandatory for retention of your professional certification, that it is in fact tax deductible. Please check with your accountant to verify whether or not this applies to your particular professional circumstances.

Who accredits Distance CME?
We are a continuing education course provider accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board  for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. National Registry accepts all State certified courses and all CECBEMS accredited courses.

What time zone are the classes listed?
All classes are listed in Eastern Time Zone or GMT-5.  If you need help figuring out the class times for your time zone, use this free online time zone conversion tool. Time converter

What happens if I encounter technical difficulties?
Before you log onto your first class we recommend that you read the welcome package and all the FAQs. Check the Demo page and log onto one of our regularly scheduled free demonstration sessions. Although our system is simple and intuitive, we will teach you in those sessions how to use the system and how to adjust your speaker and microphone settings. You can log onto a class early and the instructor can help you with those settings. However, be mindful that if 20 students log on at the same time asking for assistance, it could be hectic. That is why we recommend trying a free demo session. We STRONGLY suggest using PC headsets. It will eliminate feedback and improve sound quality.

What happens if I lose my internet connection? What happens if your server goes down?
If you lose  your connection simply log back on after your connection comes back up, as long as the connection is only down for a few minutes. Since we are required to track your attendence, you will need to be present for the course. If you lose connection for a long time, don’t worry, all the modules are offered over and over on a regular basis, and you can just complete the module another time. Our system is professionally maintained on multiple dedicated servers. While there should be no instance where the entire server goes down , as with any techincal system, there may be downtime. In the unlikely event that the server is down during or prior to a module and prohibits you from completing the module, we will post the rescheduled times on the calendar page. All the modules are prescheduled repeatedly, as well.

Does Distance CME offer skills evaluation or testing as part of the paramedic refresher course?
NO. The paramedic refresher course is didactic only.

What are the technical/computer requirements?
 You will need a Windows or Apple computer with a high-speed internet connection. (DSL, cable, T1, Fios, etc.). We recommend you use a PC headset for asking questions. You can use the built in microphone in your computer, but they tend to have a lot of feedback and interference. You do not need a webcam, but you will have the option of using one to interface “face to face”.  Adobe Flash Player 10.0+ is required and can be downloaded for free at Adobe Downloads. When you join a session you will be prompted to download a small Java or Active-X patch that will run the session. 

Is There a Money Back Guarantee?
If you are not satisfied after your 1st class but with in 1 week of signing up for a program, send an email to Billing@distancecme.com and we will process a refund request subject to the user terms.

The new Transition Program from NREMT, How does that effect my certification?

he NREMT Board of Directors is committed to implementation of the EMS Education Agenda for the Future: A Systems Approach. Included within this agenda is the National EMS Scope of Practice Model. Therefore, in order for NREMTs to maintain National EMS Certification, as outlined in the EMS Education Agenda for the Future, all NREMTs must meet the minimum requirements of knowledge and skills outlined in the National EMS Scope of Practice Model. Transition dates and processes which certified EMS providers must follow to obtain National EMS Certification vary according to the level of EMS provider and are outlined below.

Are you a transition or Bridge compliant program?
YES! We are Bridge compliant, our course has the latest material covering all of the new material. Our transition course is up and running and per the NREMT "must be state approved" does appear on the certificate. We are approved in many states, we recomend you check with your particular state as each has a new ruling on the bridge material, an example is Georgia, they have a recorded free version for their paramedics that needed to be done by 9/2012 where as other states say a CECBEMS Live F-5 accredieated course is accepted.