A framework for articulation between the emergency care technician certificate and the emergency medical care professional degree

[摘要] English: The need to comply with the requirements of the SAQA Act necessitated areview of emergency care education and training in South Africa. The reviewand restructuring led to the creation of a formal two-year, 240-credit NQF level5 Emergency Medical Care Technician (ECT) Qualification. The NDoH views theECT programme as the Mid-Level Worker equivalent for the Emergency CareProfession. At the Higher Education level, the existing three-year NationalDiploma and one-year B Tech Programmes were collapsed to form a singlefour-year, 480-credit, NQF level 8 Professional Bachelor of Health SciencesDegree in Emergency Medical Care (B EMC).After the establishment of the two-year ECTand four-year B EMCprogrammes,the next challenge faced by the HPCSA,educators and educational providerswithin the emergency care field became that of facilitating articulation betweenthe two qualifications. This study aimed to critically analyse and compare thetwo-year ECT qualification with the four-year professional B EMC degree inorder to design a framework and bridging programme that may support andguide articulation between the two qualifications.An expository, retrospective analysis of existing documentation was followed by a focus group discussion with educators in the field in order to identify andexplore potential obstacles and challenges with regard to articulation betweenthe ECTand the B EMCqualifications. Finally, a detailed Delphi Questionnairewas sent to selected expert panel members.The study highlights a strong desire for articulation and academic progressionwithin the emergency care profession. Similarities and substantial differenceswere identified in the scope, level and depth of knowledge of the ECT and B EMC qualifications. A framework was designed that includes a bridgingprogramme to provide ECTgraduates with the necessary knowledge, skills andinsights required to enter directly into the third year of the Emergency MedicalCare Degree.

[发布机构] University of the Free State