| (a) Certification requirements. A candidate for emergency
medical services (EMS) certification shall:
(1) be at least 18 years of age;
(2) have a high school diploma or GED certificate;
(3) have successfully completed a Texas Department of
Health (department)- approved course; and
(4) submit an application and the following nonrefundable
fees as applicable:
(A) $50 for emergency care attendant (ECA) or emergency medical
technician (EMT);
(B) $75 for EMT-intermediate (EMT-I) or EMT-paramedic (EMT-P);
and
(C) EMS volunteer - no fee. However, if such an individual
receives compensation during the certification period, the exemption ceases
and the individual shall pay a prorated fee to the department based on the
number of years remaining in the certification period when employment begins.
The nonrefundable fee for ECA or EMT certification shall be $12.50 per each
year remaining in the certification. The nonrefundable fee for EMT-I or EMT-P
shall be $18.75 per each year remaining in the certification. Any portion
of a year will count as a full year; and
(5) pass the department's written examination or
the National Registry examination.
(b) Length of certification. A candidate who meets the requirements
of subsection (a) of this section shall be certified for four years beginning
on the date of issuance of a certificate and wallet-size certificate.
(c) Scheduling authority for certification examinations.
(1) The department has final authority for scheduling all
certification examination sessions.
(2) Examinations shall be administered at regularly scheduled
times in regional test centers.
(3) The candidate shall be responsible for making appropriate
arrangements for the examination.
(4) The department is not required to set special examination
schedules for a single candidate or for a specific group of candidates.
(d) Time limits for completing requirements.
(1) A candidate shall complete all requirements for certification
no later than one year after the candidate's course completion date.
(2) A candidate who does not complete all requirements
for certification within one year of the candidate's initial course completion
date must meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section including
the completion of another initial course to achieve certification.
(e) Retesting.
(1) A candidate who does not pass the department's written
examination may retest after:
(A) submitting an application to retest; and
(B) paying a nonrefundable fee of $25, if applicable.
(2) A candidate who does not pass a retest may
request a second retest after:
(A) submitting documentation that verifies completion of a
formal refresher course;
(B) submitting an application to retest; and
(C) paying a nonrefundable fee of $25, if applicable.
(3) A candidate who does not pass a second retest
must meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section which includes
completion of another initial course to achieve certification.
(f) Prolonged application process by the department. If the
application approval process is prolonged due to a felony/misdemeanor conviction
investigation or other administrative procedure within the department, the
time period for determination of certification eligibility will be extended
to reasonably accommodate the candidate and/or the department.
(g) Non-transferability of certificate. A certificate is not
transferable. A duplicate certificate may be issued if requested with a nonrefundable
fee of $5.
(h) Completion of higher level courses. Individuals who successfully
complete certification requirements for a higher level of certification are
considered certified only at the higher level. The completion of a course
at a higher level of certification shall satisfy the course completion requirements
for a lower level of certification, and the individual may apply for certification
at the lower level by following the procedure listed in subsections (a)-(c)
of this section.
(i) Voluntary downgrades. An individual who holds EMS certification
may be certified at a lower level voluntarily for the remainder of a current
certification by submitting an application for certification and the applicable
nonrefundable fee as required in subsection (a)(4) of this section;
(j) Recertification.
(1) A certificant shall meet the following requirements for
recertification. The certificant shall:
(A) complete the continuing education (CE) requirements for
recertification as required in this title (relating to Continuing Education)
prior to the expiration of the certificate and prior to meeting the requirement
in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph;
(B) submit to the department an application for recertification
and the nonrefundable fee as set out in subsection (a)(4) of this section;
and
(C) complete the department's CE evaluation which shall be
an attempt to measure the individual's knowledge necessary for the adequate
provision of emergency care for current level of certification. The department
has final authority for scheduling all written CE evaluation sessions.
(2) After verification by the department of the
information submitted by the certificant, a certificant who meets requirements
of this subsection will be recertified for four years commencing on the day
following the expiration date of the most recent certificate. A new certificate
and wallet-sized certificate signed by department officials shall be issued.
(3) The results of the CE evaluation along with information
relevant to interpretation of the scores will be issued to the recertifying
candidate, associated medical directors, providers, first responder organizations,
and/or employers.
(4) One re-evaluation may be taken. A fee of $25 shall
accompany the request for a re- evaluation. The re-evaluation results will
be issued as in paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(5) In conjunction with the certificant's two-year interim
CE reporting cycle, the certificant may elect to complete the CE evaluation
or the certificant's medical directors, providers, first responder organizations
and/or employers may mandate that the certificant complete the CE evaluation
and, if applicable, one re-evaluation. The first CE evaluation shall be completed
within 180 days after the deadline date of the interim two-year reporting
cycle. The re-evaluation may be completed after the 180-day period. The CE
evaluation results will be issued as described in paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(6) To take a two-year interim CE evaluation, the certificant
shall submit an application, and a nonrefundable fee as set out in subsection
(a)(4) of this section. A fee of $25 shall accompany the request for a re-evaluation.
(k) Reentry or late recertification.
(1) Reentry is the process for regaining EMS certification:
(A) after the certificate has been surrendered;
(B) during a period of inactive status;
(C) when an application for renewal is postmarked after the
expiration of the most recent certificate; or
(D) when all requirements for recertification are not met
prior to the end of the latest certification period.
(2) Late recertification.
(A) The candidate shall be considered as non-certified and
may not function in the capacity of an EMS certificant or represent that he
is EMS certified until recertification is issued.
(B) A candidate whose certificate has been expired for 90
days or less may renew the certificate by submitting an application and paying
to the department a nonrefundable renewal fee that is equal to 1 1/2 times
the normally required application renewal fee for that level as listed in
subsection (a)(4) of this section.
(C) A candidate whose certificate has been expired for more
than 90 days but less than one year may renew the certificate by submitting
an application and paying to the department a nonrefundable renewal fee that
is equal to two times the normally required application renewal fee as listed
in subsection (a)(4) of this section. A candidate shall submit documentation
that verifies completion of a formal refresher course.
(D) A candidate shall pass the department's written exam.
(E) A candidate whose certificate has been expired for one
year or more may not renew the certificate. The candidate may become certified
by complying with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section including
the successful completion of another initial course.
Cont'd... |
