DAVENPORT, Iowa - Kaplan Continuing Education (KCE), a leader in online continuing education, today announced the acquisition of National Paramedic Institute, Inc. (NPI), a South Florida-based company that provides online continuing education to firefighters and emergency services personnel. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"As the economy changes and evolves, Kaplan Continuing Education has expanded it’s offerings to meet the needs of today’s workforce. The NPI acquisition is the next step in our commitment to becoming the premiere provider of web-based, career education and training for professionals," said Ronald Trautman, President of Kaplan Continuing Education. "NPI’s online video series for first responders adds a new dimension to the suite of healthcare, business and information technology certificate programs already offered by Kaplan Continuing Education."
NPI offers a series of case-based courses that include situational videos that meet national continuing education standards for fire and emergency service personnel. NPI courses are accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS) and meet National Registry requirements. The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), a union representing more than 292,000 full-time professional firefighters and paramedics in the U.S. and Canada, has partnered with NPI to provide continuing education to their members.
NPI was founded in Boynton Beach, FL, in 2002 by Steven Katz, MD, an emergency physician, who will join KCE as its Chief Medical Officer. NPI’s staff will also join KCE, which operates out of Kaplan University’s online student support center in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
"This is an exciting time in NPI’s history," Katz said. "By joining Kaplan Continuing Education, we have the ability to offer more comprehensive educational solutions to our partners and students with expanded reach."
Kaplan Continuing Education provides online career education and training for professionals and job seekers looking for interactive, web-based learning. KCE’s self-paced courses are created by highly-credentialed industry experts who have a blend of both academic and professional experience. KCE certificate programs are developed with a focus on the practical needs of both employees and employers in professional settings. To learn more, visit www.kaplansolutions.com.
Kaplan Continuing Education is part of Kaplan University. The University, based in Davenport, Iowa, is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The University offers more than 100 academic programs and currently serves more than 41,000 online and on-ground students, with support centers in Fort Lauderdale, Chicago and Phoenix. To learn more, visit www.kaplanuniversitynews.com.
About Kaplan Higher Education
Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher Education, which serves more than 80,000 students through 70 campus-based schools across the United States and in Europe. It also has online programs through Kaplan Virtual Education and Concord Law School of Kaplan University. Kaplan Higher Education schools offer a spectrum of academic opportunities, from high school diplomas to graduate and professional degrees, including a Juris Doctor degree. Kaplan Higher Education is part of Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO). For more information, visit www.kaplan.com.