NORTH COAST EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Policy # 4302
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Page 1 of 4
Subject: Certification
EMT-I Certification Process and Requirements
Associated Policies:
I. Authority and Reference (incorporated herein by reference)
A. Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
B. California Code of Regulations, Title 22.
C. North Coast Emergency Medical Services Policies and Procedures.
II. Purpose
To establish EMT-I certification policy and procedure, including initial, recertification and challenge certification within the North Coast EMS region, consistent with California state regulations.
III. Initial Certification Procedure
A. General eligibility criteria:
1. California licensed paramedics and North Coast EMS certified EMT-IIs are automatically certified as EMT-Is without further training and/or testing.
2. Applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of submitting his/her request for EMT-I certification.
3. Applicant must document successful completion of a California EMS-approved EMT-I training program within no more than two (2) years prior to applying for EMT-I certification.
4. Applicant must document a score of 80% or above on the North Coast EMS EMT-I written and skills certification examinations within no more than one (1) year prior to applying for EMT-I certification.
5. Applicant must submit a completed North Coast EMS EMT-I certification application.
6. Applicant must complete a statement that (s)he is not precluded from certification for reasons defined in Section 1798.200 of the Health and Safety Code.
7. Applicant must submit detailed documentation of previous convictions of any crime other than a minor traffic violation.
8. Applicant must submit payment of the EMT-I certification fee, if applicable.
B. Certification as an EMT-I shall be for a maximum of two (2) years from the date the applicant satisfactorily completes the North Coast EMS EMT-I certification examinations. The effective date of certification shall be the date the applicant satisfactorily completes all certification requirements and has applied for certification. The certification expiration date shall be on the final day of the final month of the two (2) year period. The certification expiration date for California licensed Paramedics or North Coast EMS certified EMT-IIs is the same date as the paramedic license or North Coast EMS EMT-II certification expires.
IV. Recertification Procedure (when EMT-I certification is current)
A. General eligibility criteria:
1. Applicant must document current California EMT-I certification.
2. Applicant must document successful completion of all EMT-I recertification requirements. These recertification requirements are:
a. Successful completion of a California EMS agency-approved EMT-I refresher training program; OR
b. Successful completion of a North Coast EMS-approved forty (40) hour first responder training program which follows California state regulations regarding training structure, training staff, and testing as in normal North Coast EMS EMT-I training courses; OR
c Successful completion of twenty-four (24) hours of California EMS-approved continuing education (CE) sessions. The CE sessions should consist of classroom and laboratory instruction (not including recertification testing) in basic life support knowledge and skills, to include airway management and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
(1) CE must be within limitations set forth in the EMS Authority’s CE Guidelines and/or California state laws.
(2) CE attendance must be completed within the last twenty-four (24) months prior to application for certificate.
3. Applicant must document a score of 80% or above on the North Coast EMS EMT-I written and skills certification examinations every four (4) years.
4. Applicant must submit a completed North Coast EMS EMT-I certification application.
5. Applicant must complete a statement that (s)he is not precluded from certification for reasons defined in Section 1798.200 of the Health and Safety Code.
6. Applicant must submit detailed documentation of previous convictions of any crime other than a minor traffic violation.
7. Applicant must submit payment of the EMT-I certification fee, if applicable.
8. If applicant has obtained twenty-four (24) hours of CE to satisfy EMT-I recertification requirements, (s)he must submit a copy of his/her current CPR card which is equivalent to CPR for the health care professional.
9. If applicant is required to complete the certification examinations, successful testing must occur within one (1) year prior to applying for EMT-I recertification.
B. Certification as an EMT-I shall be for a maximum period of two (2) years. If recertification requirements are met within six (6) months prior to the expiration date, the effective date of certification shall be the expiration date of the current certificate. The certification expiration date shall be on the final day of the final month of the two (2) year period.
V. Reinstatement Procedure (when EMT-I certification is expired prior to North Coast EMS’ receipt of application and recertification documentation)
A. General eligibility criteria:
1. Applicant must document California EMT-I certification, which has been expired for no more than four (4) years.
2. Applicant must document successful completion of the EMT-I recertification requirements. These recertification requirements are listed in IV.A.2., above.
3. Applicant must document a score of 80% or above on the North Coast EMS EMT-I written and skills certification examinations within one (1) year prior to applying for EMT-I certification.
4. Applicant must submit a completed North Coast EMS EMT-I certification application.
5. Applicant must complete a statement that (s)he is not precluded from certification for reasons defined in Section 1798.200 of the Health and Safety Code.
6. Applicant must submit detailed documentation of previous convictions of any crime other than a minor traffic violation.
7. Applicant must submit payment of the EMT-I certification fee, if applicable.
8. If applicant has obtained twenty-four (24) hours of CE to satisfy EMT-I recertification requirements, (s)he must submit evidence of a current CPR card which is equivalent to CPR for the health care professional.
B. Certification as an EMT-I shall for a maximum period of two (2) years from the date applicant satisfactorily completes the North Coast EMT-I certification examinations. The effective date of certification shall be the date the applicant satisfactorily completes all certification requirements and has applied for certification. The certification expiration date shall be on the final day of the final month of the two (2) year period.
VI. Training Program Challenge Procedure
A. Eligibility to challenge the EMT-I certification level shall be determined by California state regulations.
B. Prior to taking the North Coast EMS EMT-I written and skills certification examinations, applicants wishing to challenge EMT-I certification must submit the following to North Coast EMS:
1. Documentation of eligibility to challenge EMT-I certification.
2. A copy of a current CPR card which is equivalent to CPR for the health care professional.
C. North Coast EMS will notify challenge candidates in writing regarding confirmation of eligibility to challenge EMT-I certification and take the certification examinations.
D. Challenge candidates may test only one time. If applicant fails to achieve a passing score on the EMT-I written and/or skills certification examination(s), (s)he shall successfully complete an EMT-I course to receive an EMT-I course completion record.
VII.Out-of-State or National Registry Certified Applicants Wishing California EMT-I Certification
A. Eligibility for out-of-state or National Registry certified applicants who want California EMT-I certification shall be determined by California state regulations.
B. Prior to taking the North Coast EMS EMT-I written and skills certification examinations, applicants wishing to be California EMT-I certified must submit documentation of his/her eligibility to be California EMT-I certified.
C. North Coast EMS will notify applicants in writing regarding confirmation of eligibility to take the EMT-I certification examinations.
PLEASE NOTE - AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ALLOWED TO FUNCTION AS AN EMT-I IN THE NORTH COAST EMS REGION UNLESS (S)HE HOLDS A CURRENT AND VALID CALIFORNIA EMS AGENCY-ISSUED EMT-I OR NORTH COAST EMS-ISSUED EMT-II CERTIFICATION CARD, OR IS LICENSED AS A CALIFORNIA PARAMEDIC. AN EXPIRED CERTIFICATE IS NOT CURRENT NOR VALID. FUNCTIONING WITHOUT A CURRENT AND VALID CERTIFICATE IS GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND IS A VIOLATION OF 1797.177 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.
Approved: Date:
Approved As To Form: Date: