What is the difference between the terms "program," "course," and "class"

• Programs are departments within the school focusing on a specific area of study. Examples are: Phleobotomy, Paramedic, Certified EKG Technician
• Courses are the entire set of classes and any clinical or field work necessary to be certified. We number courses within programs sequentially. For instance the course ID for our 18th EMT-Basic course is B18.
• Classes are individual learning sessions such as a lecture or a lab. Course are comprised of a number of classes.

How do I access the course polices?
Applicants to any of our courses agree to the terms and conditions of that course as outlined in the course polices. They can be found on our website. From any page on our website, click FAQs from the navigation bar. You will see the link to course polices on the left.

How do I enroll in classes?
911Programs no longer uses a paper application. All enrollment is done through our secure online website. Click the yellow "Enter Online Classroom" button (you will be prompted to login if you haven't). On the left, click "Enroll in a course." Scroll down until you find the course you want - click "enroll." Follow the on-screen instructions.

When do I know if I am accepted into a course?
As soon as you complete enrollment you are accepted into the program. Some courses have limited enrollment and therefore available seats in any course are given on a first-come, first-serve basis to those applicants who pay in full. An applicant may hold a spot in a course by giving a deposit. Deposits will hold a spot in a course until 4 weeks before the course starts (admission date) at which point applicants will be accepted in the order in which payment is received in full. After the admissione date, applicants are accepted into the course only if there is room - even if a deposit is submitted. See the steps below for an understanding of the process.

• Step 1: Create an account with 911Programs (you are now a "user")
• Step 2: Enroll in a course, agree to all polices of that course, pay the application fee of $50 (you are now accepted into the program)
• Step 3: Pay a deposit of at least $100 (your spot in the course is now held for you until 4 weeks before the class begins)
• Step 4: Pay for the course in full no less than 4 weeks from the start date to secure your seat

What happens if the course I want fills up before I am able to pay in full?
You will be automatically enrolled in the next course pursuant to all the enrollment rules stated elsewher

What happens if I withdraw from the course?

• If you withdraw from the course before the admission date (4 weeks before the start date) you will get a full refund of you deposit but not your application fee
• If you withdraw after the admission date but before the first class you will get a full refund of you deposit/tuition minus $25 late withdrawal fee and minus the application fee
• If you withdraw after the first class, there is no refund of any tuition fess or expenses

Are financial aid or payment plans available? What about the GI Bill? What forms of payment are accepted?
911Programs is an approved Sallie Mae institution however no federal student loans are being disbursed at this time. 911Programs is also accepts the GI Bill. We do not offer internal payment arrangements however we do accept cash, checks, money orders, paypal, as well as Mastercard and VISA (through paypal).

Do I need to have a paypal account to pay with paypal or credit card?
No. We can invoice you, however there is a 2.9% paypal charge for this. For instance, if you are paying for a course that costs $1200, you end up paying $1235.84. To avoid paypal's surcharge, you can create a free paypal account and send the money rather than have us request it.

What is the difference between an internship and an externship?
Internships are clinical rotations that are required as part of a course. Externships are clinical rotations that students may opt to get some experience in the field. During internships and externships the intern is not considered an employee of the site, facility, service, or department and is not entitled to compensation or benefits of any kind.   In certain situations, the intern may have to compensate the site, facility, service, or department for the privilege of interning. 

When do clinical internships and externships occ?
Before students can enter clinical rotations, the following forms (each of which is discussed elsewhere) must be turned in:

• Proof of immunizations (most courses)
• Proof of personal professional liability insurance (most courses)
• Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) report

Clinical rotation availibility is dependent upon the ability of clinical sites to take students. This is cyclic and there can be lots of openings or there can be very few. Additionally, the clinical sites take students from many different programs and from different types of courses. For instance, a paramedic student seeking oral endotracheal intubation time in an operating room will be competing for time not only with students from other paramedic programs but also with students fron nurse anesthetist programs and medical school residents. Once a student is approved by the program to enter clincals and has submitted the documentation above, the typical time to get into clinicals is 4-6 weeks. Some students get in sooner while others get in within 2-4 months.

Where do clinical internships and externships occur?
We have contracts and agreements with many hospitals and other sites in Rhode Island. Depending on the course of study, students will have different options available. If a student chooses to decline a site that is available (for instance if travel time is an issue), then the placement goes to the next waiting student.

What immunizations do I need?
If the course you are taking requires a clinical internship at a facility that contacts patients, or if you desire to go on externships, you must acquire immunizations or document immunity as a health care provider. The immunizations you have as a non-healthcare-provider may not be sufficient. CLICK HERE to download the immunization form.

What is personal professional liability insurance and do I need it? Where do I get it and how much does it cost?
If the course you are taking requires a clinical internship at a facility that contacts patients, or if you desire to go on externships, you must acquire personal professional liability insurance. You can use any insurer you desire however our students have had great success with Healthcare Services Provider Organization. Their website is www.hpso.com. If you do not hold any medical license to practice, the annual cost for the minimum insurance ($1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate) is about $25 per year (student rate). If you hold a professional license (for example if you are an EMT taking a paramedic course) then you must be insured to the level of your licensure. Once the course is over, you can cancel your insurance. HPSO usually offers a pro-rated refund.

Is job placement assistance offered?
Yes. Our students are invited to go on 'externships' when available. An externship is an opportunity to volunteer as a professional (phlebotomist, EKG technician, etc.) at one of our participating hospitals, clinics, or laboratories. During the externship, the intern performs the duties of the assigned profession, sometimes under the supervision of a staff member from the externship site. Externships are availabe when one of our sites notifies us of a need for a potential applicant, however externships are not always available. During the externship, the intern may be evaluated as a potential candidate for employment. The Program also provides resume writing assistance. The Program will be happy to give a recommendation based on a student's performance during the program (such as attendance, academic ability, and teamwork).

Are there jobs out there for my chosen profession?
As a career and technical training school, we provide education that enables graduates to qualify for jobs. We do not employ nor guarantee employment to students. It is the responsibility of the student to explore the local job market before taking any course. However the job outlook for medical professions is very encouraging. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition"  the following represents the anticipated Job Outlook:

• Phlebotomist (clinical laboratory technologists and technicians category): "Rapid job growth and excellent job opportunities are expected. Most jobs will continue to be in hospitals, but employment will grow rapidly in other settings as well." To read more about this profession go to: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos096.htm
• EKG technician (cardiovascular technologists and technicians category): "Employment is expected to grow much faster than average. Technologists and technicians with multiple professional credentials, trained to perform a wide variety of procedures, will have the best prospects." To read more about this profession go to http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos100.htm
• Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics: "Employment for EMTs and paramedics is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2018. Job prospects should be good, particularly in cities and private ambulance services." To read more about this profession go to: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos101.htm
• Certified Medical Coding and Billing Specialists [also known as Health Information Technicians]: "Employment is projected to grow faster than the average. Excellent job opportunities are expected. Expected job growth is 20% through 2018. To read more about this profession go to: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm
• Certified Nursing Assistants (nursing and psychiatric aides category): "Employment is projected to grow faster than the average. Excellent job opportunities are expected. To read more about this profession go to: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos327.htm

 What forms of payment are accepted?
We gladly accept cash, checks, money orders, credit cards, and paypal. If your check is returned for non-sufficient funds, you expressly authorize your account to be electronically debited or bank drafted for the amount of the check plus any applicable fees. The use of a check for payment is your acknowledgement and acceptance of this policy and its terms and conditions.