(1) To apply for recertification, an EMS provider must:
(a) Meet the requirements identified in Table A of this section for EMS providers completing the CME method; or
(b) Meet the requirements identified in Table B of this section for EMS providers completing the OTEP method; and
(c) Submit to the department a completed certification application on forms provided by the department.
Table A
EMS Providers Participating in the CME Method of Recertification
REQUIREMENTS |
EMS Education Requirements: |
EMS providers participating in the CME method must provide proof of the following to the MPD or MPD delegate: |
• | Successful completion of the educational requirements at the level of certification being sought, as specified in this chapter and identified in WAC 246-976-162, Table A; |
• | Successful completion of skills maintenance required for the level of recertification being sought, as specified in this chapter and identified in WAC 246-976-162, Table B; |
• | Passing department-approved practical skill certification examination for the level of certification being sought, within twelve months before submitting the application. |
Recertification Examination: |
Provide proof of a passing score on the department-approved recertification examination for the level of recertification being sought. The EMS provider will have three attempts within twelve months of course completion to pass the examination. If the EMS provider is unsuccessful after three attempts, prior to subsequent attempts, refresher training must be completed as follows: |
• | EMR twelve hours. |
• | EMT twenty-four hours. |
• | AEMT thirty hours - Pharmacology review must be included in the refresher training. |
• | Paramedic forty-eight hours - Pharmacology review must be included in the refresher training. |
Certification application: |
Provide proof of identity - State or federal photo I.D. (military ID, driver's license, passport). |
Provide proof of EMS agency association - Active membership, paid or volunteer with: |
• | Licensed aid or ambulance service; |
• | Law enforcement agency; |
• | Business with organized industrial safety team; |
• | Senior EMS instructors or training coordinators, teaching at department-approved EMS training programs, who are unable to be associated with approved agencies above. |
Recommendation of county medical program director. |
• | The county MPD may require additional examinations to determine competency on department-approved MPD protocols prior to recommendation of recertification. |
• | Required - MPD must sign application. |
Background check - may be required. |
Table B
EMS Providers Participating in the OTEP Method of Recertification
REQUIREMENTS |
EMS Education Requirements: |
EMS providers participating in the CME method must provide proof of the following to the MPD or MPD delegate: |
• | Successful completion of the educational requirements at the level of certification being sought, as specified in this chapter and identified in WAC 246-976-163, Table A; |
• | Successful completion of skills maintenance required for the level of certification being sought, as specified in this chapter and identified in WAC 246-976-163, Table B; |
• | Successful completion of the OTEP knowledge and skill evaluations at the level of recertification being sought. |
Recertification Examination: |
The evaluations required under this section fulfill the requirement of department-approved knowledge and practical skill recertification examinations. |
Certification Application: |
Provide proof of identity - State or federal photo I.D. (military ID, driver's license, passport). |
Provide proof of EMS agency association - Active membership, paid or volunteer with: |
• | Licensed aid or ambulance service; |
• | Law enforcement agency; |
• | Business with organized industrial safety team; |
• | Senior EMS instructors or training coordinators, teaching at department-approved EMS training programs, who are unable to be associated with approved agencies above. |
Recommendation of county medical program director. |
• | Obtain the county MPD recommendation for recertification and endorsement of EMT specialized training. |
• | The county MPD may require additional examinations to determine competency on department-approved MPD protocols prior to recommendation of recertification. |
• | Required - MPD must sign application. |
Background check - May be required. |
(2) To voluntarily revert to a lower level of certification, an EMS provider must:
(a) For the CME method, complete the recertification education requirements identified in WAC
246-976-161 and
246-976-162, Tables A and B for the lower level of certification; or
(b) For the OTEP method, complete the recertification education requirements identified in WAC
246-976-161 and
246-976-163, Tables A and B at the lower level of certification; and
(c) Submit a completed certification application on forms provided by the department.
(3) An EMS provider may not provide EMS care with an expired certification.
(4) To apply for reissuance of an expired Washington state EMS certification:
(a) If a certification is expired for one year or less, the EMS provider must provide proof of the following to the county MPD or MPD delegate:
(i) Complete one additional year of annual recertification education requirements; and
(ii) For EMS providers completing the CME method, complete the requirements identified in Table A of this section; or
(iii) For EMS providers completing the OTEP method, complete the requirements identified in Table B of this section.
(b) If a certification is expired more than one year and less than two years, the EMS provider must provide proof of the following to the county MPD or MPD delegate:
(i) One additional year of annual recertification education requirements; and
(ii) Twenty-four hours of educational topics and hours specified by the department and the MPD; and
(iii) For EMS providers completing the CME method, complete the requirements identified in Table A of this section; or
(iv) For EMS providers completing OTEP, complete the requirements identified in Table B of this section.
(c) If a certification is expired for two years or longer, the EMS provider must provide proof of the following to the MPD or delegate:
(i) For nonparamedic EMS personnel:
(A) Complete a department-approved initial training program, and successfully complete department-approved knowledge and practical skill certification examinations;
(B) Complete the initial certification application requirements identified in WAC
246-976-141.
(ii) For paramedics whose certification has been expired between two and six years:
(A) Current status as a provider or instructor in the following: ACLS, PHTLS or BTLS, PALS or PEPPS, or state approved equivalent;
(B) Current status in health care provider level CPR;
(C) Completing a state approved forty-eight hour EMT-paramedic refresher training program or complete forty-eight hours of ALS training that consists of the following core content:
(I) Airway, breathing and cardiology - sixteen hours.
(II) Medical emergencies - eight hours.
(III) Trauma - six hours.
(IV) Obstetrics and pediatrics - sixteen hours.
(V) EMS operations - two hours.
(D) Successful completion of any additional required MPD and department-approved refresher training;
(E) Successful completion of MPD required clinical and field evaluations;
(F) Successful completion of department-approved knowledge and practical skill certification examinations;
(G) Complete the initial certification application requirements identified in WAC
246-976-141.
(d) A request for reissuance of a paramedic certification that has been expired greater than six years will be reviewed by the department to determine the disposition.
(5) Reinstatement of a suspended or revoked Washington state EMS certification.
(a) A person whose EMS certification is suspended or revoked may petition for reinstatement as provided in RCW
18.130.150;
(b) The petitioner must:
(i) Provide proof of completion of all requirements identified by the departmental disciplinary authority; and
(ii) Meet the reissuance requirements in this section.
(6) When EMS personnel change or add membership with an EMS agency, or their contact information changes, they must notify the department within thirty days of the change. Changes will be made on forms provided by the department.