Section 1023.31. Continuing education requirements

(a) EMSVOs. Beginning with the first full registration period an EMSVO begins following October 12, 2013, an EMSVO whose certification is currently registered shall, prior to the expiration of the registration period, successfully complete three continuing education credits if the registration is on a 3-year renewal cycle and two continuing education credits if the registration is on a 2-year renewal cycle in subjects regarding the scope of practice of an EMSVO regarding effective driving of a ground EMS vehicle, as specified in a notice the Department publishes in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The continuing education requirements imposed by this subsection for registration of an EMSVO certification are in addition to those imposed upon an EMS provider for registration of an EMS provider certification.

(b) EMRs. Beginning with the first full registration period an EMR begins following October 12, 2013, an EMR whose certification is currently registered and who elects to qualify for triennial registration of the certification by fulfilling continuing education requirements shall, prior to the expiration of the 3-year registration period, successfully complete the following:

(1) Sixteen credits in instruction in subjects related to the scope of practice of an EMR as set forth in § 1023.24(a) and (d) (relating to emergency medical responder) and which have been approved by the Department for continuing education credit. At least 12 of the credits shall be in clinical patient care and other core continuing education courses as specified in a notice the Department publishes in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. During an initial registration period that goes into effect on October 12, 2013, an EMR who has transitioned from a first responder certification to an EMR certification shall satisfy the continuing education requirements that had been imposed upon a first responder under rescinded § 1003.29(a) to renew a first responder certification.

(2) A CPR course completed or taught biennially.

(c) EMTs. Beginning with the first full registration period an EMT begins following October 12, 2013, an EMT whose certification is currently registered and who elects to qualify for triennial registration of the certification by fulfilling continuing education requirements shall, prior to the expiration of the 3-year registration period, successfully complete the following:

(1) Twenty-four credits in instruction in subjects related to the scope of practice of an EMT as set forth in § 1023.25(a) and (d) (relating to emergency medical technician) and which have been approved by the Department for continuing education credit. At least 18 of the credits shall be in clinical patient care and other core continuing education courses as specified in a notice the Department publishes in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. During an initial registration period that goes into effect on October 12, 2013, an EMT shall satisfy the continuing education requirements that had been imposed upon an EMT under rescinded § 1003.29(b) to renew an EMT certification.

(2) A CPR course completed or taught biennially.

(d) AEMTs. An AEMT whose certification is currently registered and who elects to qualify for biennial registration of the certification by fulfilling continuing education requirements shall, prior to the expiration of the 2-year registration period, successfully complete the following:

(1) Effective with the registration period beginning January 1, 2014, 36 credits in instruction in subjects related to the scope of practice of an AEMT as set forth in § 1023.26(a) and (d) (relating to advanced emergency medical technician) and which have been approved by the Department for continuing education credit. At least 27 of the credits shall be in clinical patient care and other core continuing education courses as specified in a notice the Department publishes in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, beginning with the first full registration period the AEMT begins following the initial registration period.

(2) A CPR course completed or taught biennially.

(e) Paramedics. A paramedic whose certification is currently registered and who elects to qualify for biennial registration of the certification by fulfilling continuing education requirements shall, prior to the expiration of the 2-year registration period, successfully complete the following:

(1) Effective with the registration period beginning January 1, 2014, 36 credits in instruction in subjects related to the scope of practice of a paramedic as set forth in § 1023.27(a) and (d) (relating to paramedic) and which have been approved by the Department for continuing education credit. At least 27 of the credits shall be in clinical patient care and other core continuing education courses as specified in a notice the Department publishes in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, beginning with the first full registration period the paramedic begins following the initial registration period.

(2) A CPR course completed or taught biennially.

(3) Prior to January 1, 2014, a paramedic shall satisfy the continuing education requirements that had been imposed upon a paramedic under rescinded § 1003.29(c) to renew medical command authorization.

(f) PHRNs. A PHRN whose certification is currently registered shall, prior to the expiration of the 2-year registration period, successfully complete the following:

(1) Effective with the registration period beginning January 1, 2014, 36 credits in instruction in subjects related to the scope of practice of a PHRN as set forth in § 1023.28(a) and (d) (relating to prehospital registered nurse) and which have been approved by the Department for continuing education credit. At least 27 of those credits shall be in clinical patient care and other core continuing education courses as specified in a notice the Department publishes in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, beginning with the first full registration period the PHRN begins following the initial registration period.

(2) A CPR course completed or taught biennially.

(3) Prior to January 1, 2014, a PHRN shall satisfy the continuing education requirements that had been imposed upon a PHRN under rescinded § 1003.29(d) to renew medical command authorization.

(g) PHPEs. A PHPE whose certification is currently registered shall, prior to the expiration of the 2-year registration period, successfully complete the following:

(1) Effective with the registration period beginning January 1, 2014, 36 credits in instruction in subjects related to the scope of practice of a PHPE as set forth in § 1023.29(a) and (d) (relating to prehospital physician extender) and which have been approved by the Department for continuing education credit. At least 27 of the credits shall be in clinical patient care and other core continuing education courses as specified in a notice the Department publishes in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, beginning with the first full registration period the PHPE begins following the initial registration period.

(2) A CPR course completed or taught biennially.

(3) Prior to January 1, 2014, a PHPE shall satisfy the continuing education requirements that had been imposed upon a paramedic under rescinded § 1003.29(c) to renew medical command authorization.

(h) PHPs. A PHP whose certification is currently registered shall, prior to the expiration of the 2-year registration period, successfully complete the following:

(1) Effective with the registration period beginning January 1, 2014, 36 credits in instruction in subjects related to the scope of practice of a PHP as set forth in § 1023.30(a) and (e) (relating to prehospital EMS physician) and which have been approved by the Department for continuing education credit. At least 27 of the credits shall be in clinical patient care and other core continuing education courses as specified in a notice the Department publishes in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, beginning with the first full registration period the PHP begins following the initial registration period.

(2) A CPR course completed or taught biennially.

(i) Conditional continuing education requirements. This section does not prohibit an EMS agency from requiring EMS providers or EMSVO to satisfy continuing education requirements it may choose to impose as a condition of employment, provided that the EMS agency may not excuse an EMS provider or EMSVO from meeting continuing education requirements imposed by this section.

(j) Proration of continuing education requirements. The continuing education requirements for EMS providers on a 2-year registration cycle will be prorated for the first registration period based upon the month in which the EMS provider became certified, with a fractional requirement rounded down. Proration of continuing education requirements will apply for the first registration period of an EMSVO certification of an EMS provider on a 2-year registration cycle.

The provisions of this § 1023.31 adopted October 11, 2013, effective April 10, 2014, 43 Pa.B. 6093.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 1023.22 (relating to EMS vehicle operator); 28 Pa. Code § 1023.24 (relating to emergency medical responder); 28 Pa. Code § 1023.25 (relating to emergency medical technician); 28 Pa. Code § 1023.26 (relating to advanced emergency medical technician); 28 Pa. Code § 1023.27 (relating to paramedic); 28 Pa. Code § 1023.28 (relating to prehospital registered nurse); 28 Pa. Code § 1023.29 (relating to prehospital physician extender); and 28 Pa. Code § 1023.30 (relating to prehospital EMS physician).