Summary Overview of Proposed EMS Rules Changes
This is a summary of the review of the proposed changes to the VT EMS Rules. While this summary is not all inclusive, it does represent our understanding of the substantial areas of change. There are numerous language, procedural, or minor technical changes that were updated or changed but will have minimal impact on providers or services. You can review the entire document by downloading it from our website.
EMS Certification for Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants, and Military Medical Personnel
There is a proposed rule to allow certain healthcare professionals with prior skills to obtain EMS certification by either
- Submitting a National EMS Certification (NREMT Certification); or
- Submitting proof of EMS knowledge and skills competency from their EMS agency and District Medical Advisor and then successfully complete the written and practical examinations for the level that they are certifying to; or
- Becoming eligible for EMS certification examination upon completion of an approved program specifically designed to instruct current healthcare providers on the skills needed to care for patients in the pre-hospital setting.
Essentially, this allows nurses, physician assistants and military medical providers to gain EMS certification by taking the necessary exam after proving to their EMS agency and medical director that they are competent with EMS skills and knowledge. This rule as the potential to add providers to our EMS agencies by acknowledging their prior medical training and not requiring them to take a full EMT course.
EMS Recertification without Examination
The proposed rules allows for recertification at all levels without the provider taking a written or practical examination. Since the proposal is to discontinue recertification testing, other changes had to be put into place to ensure that providers were maintaining an adequate skill level.
Continuing education hours will remain the same as in the current rules until March 1, 2012. Effective March 1, 2012, continuing education hours for EMT-B recertification will increase, adding 24 hours to the current requirement. This means that EMT-B and EMT-I providers will have to obtain an additional 24 hours of EMT-B continuing education but WILL NOT have to take a recertification exam.
Effective March 1, 2013, all provider levels will have to meet the NREMT recertification requirements for their provider level.
Without bi-annual testing of providers, there needs to be some means of ensuring that providers remain competent and skilled beyond simply obtaining continuing education hours. It appears that the rules are addressing this by requiring EMS agencies and District Medical Advisors to institute a process of credentialing. The language in the current rules, which calls for quality improvement programs is strengthened in the proposed rules. The proposed rule requires all EMS agencies to have a QI process in place and approved by the District Medical Advisor to include case review, aggregate data review, and feedback to EMS personnel.
Future Certification and Requirements
Language is proposed that will allow Vermont to move provider levels in line with the NHTSA National EMS Scope of Practice Model as soon as the NREMT begins testing in accordance with these levels. These levels will be Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (A-EMT), and Paramedic.
Change in ECA Scope of Practice
Effective January 1, 2012, an ECA will no longer be able to practice EMT skills as those modules are completed. Instead, the modules will only serve as a means for the ECA to advance to EMT-B certification. ECA providers will still be permitted to use an AED for the treatment of cardiac arrest after completing approved training for that skill.
Electronic Reporting
The proposed rules require that all VT Licensed Ambulance Services report PCR data electronically to the Department of Health by 1/1/2013. | 
