| (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:
(A) the high school diploma must be from a school accredited
by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or a corresponding agency from
another state. Candidates who received a high school education in
another country must have their transcript evaluated by a foreign
credentials evaluation service that attests to its equivalency. A
home school diploma is acceptable;
(B) an emergency care attendant (ECA) who provides
emergency medical care exclusively as a volunteer for a licensed provider
or registered FRO is exempt from paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(3) have successfully completed a Department of State
Health Services (department)-approved course; and
(4) The candidate has completed a state approved jurisprudence
examination to determine the knowledge on state EMS laws, rules, and
policies.
(5) submit an application, meeting the requirements
in §157.3 of this title (relating to Processing EMS Provider
Licenses and Applications for EMS Personnel Certification and Licensing),
and the following nonrefundable fees as applicable:
(A) $60 for emergency care attendant (ECA) or emergency
medical technician (EMT);
(B) $90 for AEMT 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 $15 per each year remaining in the certification. The nonrefundable
fee for AEMT or EMT-P shall be $22.50 per each year remaining in the
certification. Any portion of a year will count as a full year;
(6) provide evidence of current active or inactive
National Registry certification at the appropriate level. National
Registry First Responder certification is considered the appropriate
corresponding certification level for an ECA; and
(7) submit fingerprints through the state approved
fingerprinting service to undergo an FBI fingerprint criminal history
check.
(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. A candidate must verify current certification
before staffing an EMS vehicle. Certification may be verified by the
applicant's receipt of the official department identification card,
by using the department's certification website.
(c) Scheduling authority for certification examinations.
(1) Examinations shall be administered at regularly
scheduled times in various locations across the state.
(2) The candidate shall be responsible for making appropriate
arrangements for the examination.
(3) 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) An initial candidate for certification shall complete
all requirements for certification no later than two years after the
candidate's course completion date. The application will expire two
years from the date the mailed application is postmarked, or the date
a faxed, online submission or hand- delivered application is received
at the department.
(A) The National Registry certification described in
subsection (a)(5) of this section must remain current until the final
requirement for state certification is met.
(B) The applicant shall update the application if any
changes occur between the time of original submission and the time
the final requirement for certification is met.
(2) A candidate who does not complete all requirements
for certification within two years 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) Non-transferability of certificate. A certificate
is not transferable. A duplicate certificate may be issued if requested
with a nonrefundable fee of $10.
(f) A candidate may apply for a lower level than the
level of National Registry certification held.
(g) Voluntary downgrades.
(1) An individual who holds a current Texas EMS certification
or paramedic license may be certified at a lower level voluntarily
for the remainder of the certification period by submitting an application
for the lower level certification and the applicable nonrefundable
fee as required in subsection (a)(4) of this section.
(2) On the date the downgrade is final, the previous
higher level of certification/license shall be surrendered. To regain
the original higher level of certification, the candidate shall follow
late recertification procedures according to §157.34(e) of this
title (relating to Recertification), within one year after the surrender
date.
(h) Inactive certification. A certified EMT, AEMT,
or EMT-P may make application to the department for inactive certification
at any time during the certification period or within one year after
the certificate expiration date.
(1) The request for inactive certification shall be
accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $30 in addition to the regular
nonrefundable fee in subsection (a)(4)(A) and (B) of this section.
If the final requirement is completed during the one-year period after
expiration, the application fees listed in §157.34(e) of this
title will be required. Volunteers are not exempt from inactive fees.
(2) Period of inactive certification.
(A) The inactive certification period shall begin upon
date of issuance of the notice of inactive certification and remain
in effect until the end of the original active certification period
for those candidates who are currently certified. The candidate's
active certification is surrendered upon issuance of the notice of
inactive certification.
(B) If the candidate is within the final year of active
certification and chooses to renew with inactive certification, the
inactive certification begins on the first day after the expiration
of the current active certificate and shall remain in effect for four
years.
(C) If the candidate applies during and/or completes
the final requirement for inactive certification within one year after
the expiration of active certification, the inactive certification
period shall remain in effect for four years from the date of issuance
of the notice of inactive certification.
(3) While on inactive certification, a person shall
not practice other than to act as a bystander rendering first aid
or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or the use of an Automated
External Defibrillator in the capacity of a layperson. Practicing
in any other capacity for compensation or as a volunteer shall be
cause for denial of reentry and decertification.
(4) An individual shall not simultaneously hold inactive
and active certification.
(i) Reciprocity.
(1) A person who is currently certified by the National
Registry but did not complete a department-approved course may apply
for the equal or lower level Texas certification by submitting a reciprocity
application and a nonrefundable fee of $120.
(A) Applicants holding National Registry AEMT certification
may be required to submit written verification of proficiency of AEMT
skills from an approved education program.
(B) National Registry first responder certification
is not eligible for reciprocity at the ECA level.
(C) A candidate will not be eligible for reciprocity
if the National Registry certification expires prior to the completion
of all requirements for certification as listed in this section.
(D) A candidate who meets the requirements of this
section shall be certified for four years beginning on the date of
issuance of a certificate and wallet-size certificate.
(E) The candidate has completed a state approved jurisprudence
examination to determine the knowledge on state EMS laws, rules, and
policies.
(2) A person currently certified by another state may
apply for equal or lower level Texas certification by submitting a
reciprocity application and a nonrefundable fee of $120.
(A) The candidate must pass the National Registry assessment
exam.
(B) Applicants holding AEMT out-of-state certification
must submit written proof of proficiency on all of the AEMT skills
signed by a Texas certified EMS coordinator or instructor.
(C) All applicants shall submit fingerprints through
the state approved fingerprinting service to undergo an FBI fingerprint
criminal history check.
(D) The applicant has completed a state approved jurisprudence
examination to determine the knowledge on state EMS laws, rules, and
policies.
(E) Reciprocity is not allowed for the ECA level.
(F) A candidate will not be eligible for reciprocity
if the out-of-state certification expires prior to the completion
of all requirements for certification as listed in this section.
(G) A candidate who meets the requirements of this
section shall be certified for four years beginning on the date of
issuance of a certificate and wallet-size certificate.
(3) Personnel receiving department issued certification
through reciprocity must recertify prior to the expiration of the
certificate by following the requirements in §157.34 of this
title.
(j) Equivalency.
(1) Candidates meeting the following criteria may apply
for certification only through the equivalency process as described
in this subsection:
(A) an individual who completed EMS training outside
the United States or its possessions;
(B) an individual who is certified or licensed in another
healthcare discipline;
(C) an individual whose department issued EMS certification
or license has been expired for more than one year; or
(D) an individual who has held department issued inactive
certification for more than four years.
(2) A candidate applying for certification by equivalency
shall:
(A) submit a copy of the curriculum and work history
completed by the candidate to a regionally accredited post-secondary
institution approved by the department to sponsor an EMS education
program for its review;
(B) obtain a course completion document that verifies
that the program is satisfied that all curriculum requirements have
been met. Evaluations of curricula conducted by post-secondary educational
institutions under this subsection shall be consistent with the institution's
established policies and procedures for awarding credit by transfer
or advanced placement;
(C) the candidate may then apply for initial certification
with the department as described in subsection (a) of this section;
and
(D) The applicant has completed a state approved jurisprudence
examination to determine the knowledge on state EMS laws, rules, and
policies.
(k) For all applications and renewal applications,
the department is authorized to collect subscription and convenience
fees, in amounts determined by the Texas Online Authority, to recover
costs associated with application and renewal application processing
through Texas Online.
(l) Applicant immunization history.
(1) If the applicant's immunization history is included
in the immunization registry as defined by Health and Safety Code §161.007,
the department shall provide the applicant notice of the applicant's
immunization history using information from the immunization registry.
(2) If the applicant's immunization history is not
included in the immunization registry, the department shall provide:
(A) details about the program developed under Health
and Safety Code, §161.00707; and
(B) the specific risks to emergency medical services
personnel when responding rapidly to an emergency of exposure to and
infection by a potentially serious or deadly communicable disease
that an immunization may prevent.
(m) Responsibilities of the EMS personnel. During the
license period, the EMS Personnel responsibilities shall include:
(1) making accurate, complete and/or clearly written
patient care reports including documenting a patient's condition upon
the EMS personnel's arrival at the scene and patient's status during
transport, including signs, symptoms, and responses during duration
of transport as per EMS provider's approved policy;
(2) reporting to the employer, appropriate legal authority
or the department, of abuse or injury to a patient or the public within
24 hours or the next business day after the event;
(3) following the approved medical director's protocol
and policies;
(4) taking precautions to prevent the misappropriation
of medications, supplies, equipment, personal items, or money belonging
to the patient, employer or any person or entity;
(5) maintaining skill and knowledge to perform the
duties or meet the responsibilities required of current level of EMS
certification; and
(6) notifying the department of a current and/or valid
mailing address within 30 days of any changes.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §157.33 adopted to be effective August 31, 2006, 31 TexReg 6739; amended to be effective February 12, 2017, 42 TexReg 430; amended to be effective December 5, 2019, 44 TexReg 7396 |
