| (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.
Cont'd... |
