| (A) all programs offered by the provider for EMS continuing
education will comply with the appropriate criteria defined in subsection
(h) of this section;
(B) the provider shall be responsible for verifying
successful completion by a participant of each program and shall provide
a certificate of completion to the participants; and
(C) the provider shall be responsible for verifying
that continuing education program(s) has physician medical oversight
when the education is involving patient care.
(4) The department may require applicants for approval
as continuing education providers to:
(A) demonstrate they possess the financial, administrative,
and educational resources necessary to provide the type(s) of educational
activities proposed; and
(B) provide evidence that they are capable of designing
and delivering educational activities that comply with the appropriate
criteria defined in subsection (h) of this section.
(h) Criteria for Acceptable Continuing Education Activity.
(1) The following criteria have been established to
guide EMS personnel in selecting appropriate programs and to guide
providers of EMS continuing education in planning and presenting activities.
The following criteria shall apply to all activities except those
involving self-directed study concluding in a published writing or
a presentation, as described in subsection (g)(3)(B) of this section.
(A) The program's content, teaching methodologies,
and evaluation methods shall be based on written learning objectives
which are specific, attainable, measurable, and descriptive of expected
learner outcomes.
(B) The target audience shall be identified and there
shall be evidence of program planning based on the needs of the potential
target audience.
(C) Content shall be relevant to emergency medical
services practice and/or health care, shall be related to and consistent
with the program's objectives, and shall provide for the professional
growth and/or maintenance of the certificant or licensee.
(D) Principles of adult education shall be used in
the design and delivery of the program.
(E) There shall be documentation of the program developer's
expertise in the content area.
(F) Learning experiences and teaching methods shall
be appropriate to achieve the objectives of the program.
(G) Time allotted for each activity shall be sufficient
for the learner to meet the objectives of the program.
(H) The program shall include activities to evaluate
participant achievement of the program's learning objectives with
clearly defined, stated criteria for successful completion.
(I) Participants shall complete a written evaluation
of the program and instruction. Regional, State and/or National conferences
may be exempt from this requirement.
(J) The continuing education provider shall timely
furnish each participant with a written record of the participant's
successful completion of the EMS educational activity. The record
shall specify the name of the continuing education provider, the title,
date and location of the educational activity, a description of the
content area, the number of contact hours awarded, and the name of
the organization granting approval.
(K) Program records of a continuing education provider
shall be maintained by the provider for a minimum period of five years
from the date of the program completion and shall include target audience,
objectives, and documentation of instructor qualifications, teaching
strategies and materials, evaluation instruments and results, and
a list of names of participants.
(2) Classroom Instruction. In addition to the criteria
listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, programs consisting of
or including a component of classroom or laboratory instruction shall
meet the following criteria.
(A) The program shall be at least one contact hour
in length.
(B) There shall be documentation of the instructor's
expertise in the content area.
(C) A schedule of the program shall be provided which
describes content with corresponding time frames.
(D) Facilities and educational resources shall be adequate
to implement the program.
(3) Clinical Instruction. In addition to the criteria
listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, programs consisting of
or including a component of clinical instruction shall meet the following
criteria.
(A) There shall be documentation of a formal relationship
between the program's provider and all facilities serving as sites
for clinical instruction.
(B) Facilities used for clinical instruction must provide
access to types of patients in sufficient variety and number to enable
students to meet the program's objectives.
(C) Individuals who possess appropriate expertise and
credentials shall provide clinical supervision and instruction.
(D) Continuing education student participants shall
possess appropriate insurance for professional liability while engaging
in clinical activities.
(E) Provide a name and contact information for the
designated infection control officer and document education for the
designated infection control officer based on U.S. Code, Title 42,
Chapter 6A, Subchapter XXIV, Part G, §300ff-136.
(4) Individualized Instruction. In addition to the
criteria listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, programs consisting
of individualized instruction, including programmed instruction, directed
study, or directed research shall meet the following criteria.
(A) Instruction shall follow a logical sequence based
on the program's stated learning objectives.
(B) Instruction shall involve the learner in an active
response to the educational materials presented.
(C) The amount of instructional time applied shall
be appropriate to the learning objectives specified.
(D) Provider shall insure that contact hours are awarded
to the actual certificant to whom intended.
(5) Individual submission by the participant of study
activity for review by the department. The following information must
be submitted for review.
(A) A course syllabus defining the content, the learning
objectives, the dates and times of presentation, and the number of
contact hours.
(B) A description of the presenters' qualifications
and expertise.
(C) Verification by the presenter of successful participation.
(i) Additional Criteria for Specific Continuing Education
Programs. In addition to those listed in subsection (h) of this section,
the following guidelines shall apply to the selection and/or planning
and implementation of specific CE programs.
(1) Semester or quarter credit hour courses.
(A) The course shall be within the framework of a curriculum
that leads to a degree in emergency medical services or any credit
hour course relevant to emergency health care.
(B) Certified or licensed EMS personnel, upon audit,
shall be able to present an official transcript or official evidence
indicating successful completion of the course with a passing grade.
(2) Certified or licensed EMS personnel, upon request
by the department, shall provide documentation on the accredited institution's
letterhead giving the name of program, location, dates, subjects taught,
and total clock hours of teaching or instruction for all continuing
education activity, including credit hour courses. Documentation may
include course completion certificates, diplomas, and/or transcripts.
(3) Authorship.
(A) Certified or licensed EMS personnel may receive
EMS continuing education contact hours for participating in an approved
self-directed study that results in the participant making written
findings and conclusions of the study which becomes published in an
EMS related textbook, or in a state or national EMS related journal
or magazine, or which results in the presentation of the findings
and conclusions of the study in a department approved workshop, seminar,
conference or class, and which is directed toward, or is applicable
to, the EMS profession.
(B) Continuing education contact hours shall be awarded
only once to the certificant or licensee making written findings and
conclusions that result from a department approved self-directed study
that becomes published or presented as described in subparagraph (3)(A)
of this paragraph.
(4) Out of state programs. A continuing education activity
successfully attended and completed or undertaken in a jurisdiction
outside Texas may be accepted for continuing education if all criteria
are met and if it is approved by the department.
(j) Responsibilities of certified or licensed EMS personnel.
Cont'd... |
