This page lists the requirements for enrollment in each of the various EMS training programs currently approved by the Virginia Office of EMS.\u00a0 These are divided into three categories:<\/p>\n
All Virginia approved initial certification training programs provide for a gradual increase in the complexity, depth and comprehensive breadth of EMS knowledge for the student.\u00a0 An individual may begin at either the Emergency Medical Responder or Emergency Medical Technician level.\u00a0 Each higher-level program reinforces basic skills and adds specific additional skills and lifesaving techniques.<\/p>\n
The EMS\u00a0Education Coordinator\u00a0program\u00a0is designed to\u00a0certify\u00a0\u00a0individuals who wish to become responsible for providing quality pre-hospital education.<\/p>\n
Since the inception of the first Emergency Medical Technician course in 1971, each of these programs have been developed and are constantly evaluated to keep up with the rapid evolving field of prehospital care.\u00a0 The programs listed below are based upon the National EMS Education Standards<\/a>\u00a0(VEMSES) which are a derived from the National EMS Education Standards<\/a> (NEMSES).<\/p>\n The following Basic Level EMS Programs are offered in Virginia:<\/p>\n The following Advanced Level EMS courses are offered in Virginia:<\/p>\n The following EMS Education Coordinator Program is offered in Virginia:<\/p>\n BASIC LIFE SUPPORT PROGRAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n Prerequisites for Basic Level Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n Eligibility to attend an Emergency Medical Responder or an Emergency Medical Technician course in Virginia requires that you must:<\/p>\n (1) Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the English language.<\/p>\n (2) Be a minimum of 16 years of age at the beginning date of the certification course.\u00a0 If less than 18 years of age, you must provide the course coordinator with a completed parental permission form with the signature of a parent or guardian verifying approval for enrollment in the course.<\/p>\n (3) Have no physical or mental impairment that would render them unable to perform all cognitive and psychomotor skills required for that level of certification.<\/p>\n (4) Hold current certification in an Office of Emergency Medical Services approved Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)<\/a> course at the beginning date of the course.\u00a0 This certification must also be current at the time of state testing.<\/p>\n (5) Not have been convicted of or found guilty of any crime, offense or regulatory violation, or participated in any other prohibited conduct identified in state EMS regulations as follows:<\/p>\n (A) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime involving sexual misconduct where lack of affirmative consent by the victim is an element of the crime.<\/p>\n (B) Have never been convicted of a felony involving the sexual or physical abuse of children, the elderly or the infirm.<\/p>\n (C) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime (including abuse, neglect, theft from, or financial exploration) of a person entrusted to their care or protection in which the victim is a patient or is a resident of a health care facility.<\/p>\n (D) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime involving the use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs except that the person is eligible for affiliation or enrollment five years after the date of final release if no additional crimes of this type have been committed during that time.<\/p>\n (E) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any other act that is a felony except that the felon is eligible for affiliation or enrollment five years after the date of final release if no additional felonies have been committed during that time.<\/p>\n (F) Are not currently under any disciplinary or enforcement action from another state EMS office or other recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body.\u00a0 Personnel subject to these disciplinary or enforcement actions may be eligible for certification provided there have been no further disciplinary or enforcement actions for five years prior to application for certification in Virginia.<\/p>\n (G) Have never been subject to a permanent revocation of license or certification by another state EMS office or recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body.<\/p>\n (6) All references to criminal acts or convictions under this section refer to substantially similar laws or regulations of any other state or the United States.\u00a0 Convictions include prior adult convictions, juvenile convictions, and adjudications of delinquency based on an offense that would have been, at the time of conviction, a felony conviction if committed by an adult within or outside Virginia.<\/p>\n (7) Be clean and neat in appearance.<\/p>\n (8) May not be under the influence of any drugs or intoxicating substances that impairs your ability to provide patient care or operate a motor vehicle while in class or performing clinicals, while on duty or when responding or assisting in the care of a patient.<\/p>\n Back to Top<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n Emergency Medical Responder <\/strong>(4 year certification)<\/p>\n Emergency Medical Responders<\/strong> provide immediate lifesaving care to critical patients who access the emergency medical services system. EMRs have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide immediate lifesaving interventions while awaiting additional EMS resources to arrive. EMRs also provide assistance to higher-level personnel at the scene of emergencies and during transport. Emergency Medical Responders are a vital part of the comprehensive EMS response. Under medical oversight, Emergency Medical Responders perform basic interventions with minimal equipment. [From the: National EMS Scope of Practice Model<\/em>]<\/p>\n This training is appropriate for professionals such as firefighters, law enforcement officers, school bus drivers, postal employees, and large segments of industry such as miners or factory workers and as an introduction to prehospital medicine.<\/p>\n Back to Top<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n Emergency Medical Technician<\/strong> (4 year certification)<\/p>\n Emergency Medical Technicians <\/strong>provide out of hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical services (EMS) system. EMTs have the basic knowledge and skills necessary to stabilize and safely transport patients ranging from non-emergency and routine medical transports to life threatening emergencies. Emergency Medical Technicians function as part of a comprehensive EMS response system, under medical oversight. Emergency Medical Technicians perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance. Emergency Medical Technicians are a critical link between the scene of an emergency and the health care system. [From the: National EMS Scope of Practice Model<\/em>]<\/p>\n The Virginia EMT program is based upon the National EMS Education Standards. Virginia certification requires successful completion of a standardized cognitive and psychomotor skills examination.\u00a0 This course is designed to train individuals to serve as a vital link in the chain of the health care team.\u00a0 This includes all skills necessary to provide emergency medical care as an attendant-in-charge with a basic life support ambulance service or other specialized rescue service.<\/p>\n For Virginia trained EMT, successful certification at the\u00a0National Registry EMT \u00a0level will automatically lead to a Virginia EMT certification.\u00a0 National Registry EMT certified technicians trained outside of Virginia must apply for Virginia certification before being allowed to practice at this level.<\/u>\u00a0 After receiving Virginia credentials, the\u00a0EMT has the option to maintain National Registry\u00a0EMT certification without affecting their Virginia certification; however, Virginia certification must be maintained in order to provide patient care at this level.<\/p>\n Back to Top<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT PROGRAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n Advanced EMT <\/strong>(3 year certification)<\/p>\n The primary focus of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician<\/strong> is to provide basic and limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician is a link from the scene to the emergency health care system. [From the: National EMS Scope of Practice Model<\/em>]<\/p>\n National EMS Education Standards for the AEMT is designed to educate the technician in the following areas of pre-hospital care:\u00a0 preparatory skills, airway management and ventilation, patient assessment, trauma, medical, special considerations and assessment based management.\u00a0\u00a0A minimum of 48 hours are\u00a0devoted to clinical rotations in the Emergency Department and in the field.<\/p>\n For Virginia trained AEMT, successful certification at the\u00a0National Registry AEMT \u00a0level will automatically lead to a Virginia AEMT certification.\u00a0 National Registry AEMT certified technicians trained outside of Virginia must apply for Virginia certification before being allowed to practice at this level.<\/u>\u00a0 After receiving Virginia credentials, the\u00a0AEMT has the option to maintain National Registry\u00a0AEMT certification without affecting their Virginia certification; however, Virginia certification must be maintained in order to provide patient care at this level.<\/p>\n Back to Top<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n Paramedic<\/strong> (3 year certification)<\/p>\n The Paramedic<\/strong> is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. The Paramedic is a link from the scene into the health care system. [From the: National EMS Scope of Practice Model<\/em>]<\/p>\n The Paramedic program is designed to educate the technician in all areas of pre-hospital patient care.\u00a0 These areas include instruction in: pre-hospital environments, preparatory skills, airway management and ventilation, patient assessment, trauma care, medical patient management, obstetrical\/gynecological conditions, pediatric patients, neonatal care, psychiatric and behavioral emergencies, special considerations, and assessment based management.<\/p>\n For Virginia trained Paramedics, successful certification at the NREMT \u2013 Paramedic (NREMT_P) level will automatically lead to a Virginia Paramedic certification.\u00a0 National Registry NRP certified technicians trained outside of Virginia must apply for Virginia certification before being allowed to practice at this level.<\/u>\u00a0 After receiving Virginia credentials, the Paramedic has the option to maintain National Registry Paramedic certification without affecting their Virginia certification; however, Virginia certification must be maintained in order to provide patient care at this level.<\/p>\n Back to Top<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Prerequisites for Advanced Level Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n To be eligible to attend an Advanced Level EMS course in Virginia you must:<\/p>\n (1) Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the English language.<\/p>\n (2) Be a minimum of 18 years of age at the beginning date of the certification course.<\/p>\n (3) Hold a current certification as an EMT or higher.<\/p>\n (4) Hold, at a minimum, a High School or General Equivalency Diploma.<\/p>\n (5) Have no physical or mental impairment that would render them unable to perform all practical skills required for that level of certification<\/p>\n (6) Not have been convicted of or found guilty of any crime, offense or regulatory violation, or participated in any other prohibited conduct identified in state EMS regulations as follows:<\/p>\n (A) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime involving sexual misconduct where lack of affirmative consent by the victim is an element of the crime.<\/p>\n (B) Have never been convicted of a felony involving the sexual or physical abuse of children, the elderly or the infirm.<\/p>\n (C) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime (including abuse, neglect, theft from, or financial exploration) of a person entrusted to their care or protection in which the victim is a patient or is a resident of a health care facility.<\/p>\n (D) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime involving the use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs except that the person is eligible for affiliation or enrollment five years after the date of final release if no additional crimes of this type have been committed during that time.<\/p>\n (E) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any other act that is a felony except that the felon is eligible for affiliation or enrollment five years after the date of final release if no additional felonies have been committed during that time<\/p>\n (F) Are not currently under any disciplinary or enforcement action from another state EMS office or other recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body.\u00a0 Personnel subject to these disciplinary or enforcement actions may be eligible for certification provided there have been no further disciplinary or enforcement actions for five years prior to application for certification in Virginia<\/p>\n (G) Have never been subject to a permanent revocation of license or certification by another state EMS office or recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body.<\/p>\n (7) All references to criminal acts or convictions under this section refer to substantially similar laws or regulations of any other state or the United States.\u00a0 Convictions include prior adult convictions, juvenile convictions, and adjudications of delinquency based on an offense that would have been, at the time of conviction, a felony conviction if committed by an adult within or outside Virginia.<\/p>\n (8) Be clean and neat in appearance.<\/p>\n (9) May not be under the influence of any drugs or intoxicating substances that impairs your ability to provide patient care or operate a motor vehicle while in class or clinicals, while on duty or when responding or assisting in the care of a patient.<\/p>\n Back to Top<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n EMS EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>\nBASIC LIFE SUPPORT PROGRAMS<\/h2>\n
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ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT PROGRAMS<\/h2>\n
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EMS EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROGRAM<\/h2>\n
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