Article 4. Certification Testing
12VAC5-31-1454. Admission to certification test..
Article 4
Certification Testing
A. The person desiring to take the certification examination must present the following:
1. The Virginia certification eligibility letter.
2. Current government issued photo identification.
3. If a retest, the latest testing results.
B. The person desiring to take the certification examination must be registered for the test site.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1455. Certification testing requirements.
A. An Office of EMS written and practical examination process is required by the following:
1. Any candidate who completes an initial program at the following levels:
a. First Responder/EMR.
b. Emergency Medical Technician.
c. Emergency Medical Technician-Enhanced.
d. Advanced EMT.
e. Intermediate provided National Registry no longer tests at this level.
2. Any candidate who is challenging the certification level.
3. Any certified EMS provider who received his current certification through legal recognition.
4. Any candidate who is in reentry for First Responder or Emergency Medical Technician.
B. An Office of EMS written examination only is required for the following:
1. Any provider who recertifies prior to his certification expiration except those who received his current certification through legal recognition.
2. Any candidate who is in reentry for EMT-Enhanced, Advanced EMT, Intermediate and Paramedic.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1457. General description of certification examination.
A. Office of EMS certification examinations are required by all providers unless otherwise described in these regulations.
B. Primary certification testing is the first attempt at the certification examination process.
1. This process includes both the written and practical examination for providers seeking a new or higher level of certification.
2. Primary testing must begin within 180 days of the course end date.
C. Primary retest requires the candidate to retest that portion of the primary test failed within 90 days of the primary test attempt.
D. Secondary certification testing (written and practical) occurs when a candidate fails the primary attempt and either fails the primary retest or does not retest within 90 days of the primary examination attempt. Secondary certification testing requires the candidate to submit as described in these regulations CE that satisfies the recertification requirements for the level of EMS certification sought.
E. Secondary retest requires the candidate to retest that portion of the secondary test failed within 90 days of the secondary test attempt.
F. Successful completion of the certification examination process must be completed within 365 days of the primary test attempt.
G. The certification examination process requires that certification testing be conducted and proctored in a manner approved by the Office of EMS.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1459. Certification eligibility.
Certification eligibility will be demonstrated by the possession of a valid eligibility letter from the Office of EMS by the candidate.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1460. (Repealed.)
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3, eff. January 15, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1461. Prohibition of oral examinations.
A certification candidate may not use another person or any electronic or mechanical means to translate written certification examination material into an audible, tactile, or visual format.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1463. Candidates requirements for state recertification.
A. This section shall apply to individuals requesting state recertification who hold current certification at or below the level requested to be recertified (excluding those who gained their current certification through legal recognition).
B. Students requesting recertification must demonstrate eligibility as evidenced by completion of the continuing education requirements for the corresponding recertification program for the level to be recertified. Evidence of completion for the continuing education requirements shall be received by the Office of EMS in an approved method prior to certification expiration for the provider to be classified in current provider status.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1465. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2014.
12VAC5-31-1467. Basic and advanced life support written examinations.
A. All state written examinations shall be conducted by the Office of EMS.
B. The Office of EMS standard for successful completion is defined as a minimum score of:
1. 70% on all basic life support certification examinations.
2. 80% on all EMT instructor and EMS education coordinator certification examinations.
3. 85% on all EMT instructor and EMS education coordinator pretest examinations.
4. 80% on all advanced life support certification examinations.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1469. Basic and advanced life support practical certification examinations.
A. Practical examinations shall be conducted by the Office of EMS or as approved for accredited training programs.
B. Candidates taking a practical examination conducted by the Office of EMS shall demonstrate proficiency on all practical stations required for the program level being tested. Grades of unsatisfactory will constitute failure of that station, requiring a retest.
C. Candidates failing any practical station examination conducted by the Office of EMS will have an opportunity to retest the station or stations failed.
D. If a primary retest is failed, the candidate examination conducted by the Office of EMS must complete the secondary retest requirements.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1470. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3 and Volume 19, Issue 9, eff. January 15, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1471. Examination retest.
A. Candidates failing to achieve a minimum passing score on any state administered written or practical examinations must retest within 90 days from the original exam date.
B. BLS and EMT Enhanced candidates failing one or more stations of the practical but passing the written examination are not required to repeat a successful written examination of a testing series. Likewise, a candidate failing the written examination would not be required to repeat a successful practical examination of a testing series.
C. If any retest is failed or a retest is not taken within the allowed 90-day retest period, the candidate will be considered to have failed the initial testing series and must complete secondary eligibility before secondary certification testing may be attempted.
D. Secondary certification testing eligibility requires:
1. Satisfaction of all requirements as set forth in the minimum continuing education requirements for the corresponding recertification CE program for the level being tested.
a. This training may not include any course or program completed before the initial series of testing.
b. This training may include those CE hours completed after the initial certification examination has been attempted.
c. This training must be submitted on CE cards or a format as approved by the Office of EMS.
2. Receipt of written notification from the Office of EMS of eligibility for secondary certification testing.
E. Upon notification of eligibility to test from the Office of EMS, a candidate who has previously failed a written or practical retest will be allowed one additional series of testing.
1. Candidates attempting a second series of testing are required to successfully complete both the written and practical examinations regardless of the results of the previous testing attempts.
2. This requirement for successful completion of both the written and practical examinations will apply equally to initial, recertification, and reentry candidates who have failed a previous series of testing.
3. All appropriate sections of these regulations will apply to the second series of testing.
F. Failure of any retest during the second series of testing will require the candidate to complete an entire initial basic training program or applicable bridge course before any additional testing may be attempted at this certification level.
G. The requirements of this section including initial and secondary certification testing series must be completed within 365 days from the date of the initial certification test attempt (i.e., first test date) or prior to the enrollment expiration date for students attending an OEMS accredited program. Failure to complete this process within this prescribed period will require the candidate to repeat an entire initial basic training program or applicable bridge course before any additional testing may be attempted at this certification level.
H. Future testing of candidates required to complete an entire initial basic training program under subsections F or G of this section will be processed in the same manner as any candidate completing a similar course for the first time.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1473. Candidate evidence of eligibility for retesting.
Candidates requesting to retest a failed written or practical exam or exams must demonstrate eligibility as evidenced by presentation of the letter of retest eligibility from the Office of EMS and the latest test results.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1475. Candidate evidence of eligibility for secondary testing.
Candidates requesting testing a second series of exams after failure of an initial testing series must demonstrate eligibility as evidenced by valid secondary eligibility notice from the Office of EMS.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1477. Examination security and review.
A. All Virginia examinations are the property of the Office of EMS. Individuals taking an examination may not copy or make recordings or reproduce in any other manner any material from the examination. Failure to return the examination will subject the individual to disqualification for certification.
B. Giving or obtaining information or aid prior to, during, or following any exam as evidenced by direct observation of the state examination administrator or administrators or subsequent analysis of examination results or engaging in other prohibited acts, may be sufficient cause to terminate candidate participation, to invalidate the results of a candidate's examination, to take enforcement action against other involved persons, or to take other appropriate action even if there is no evidence of improper conduct by the candidate. In these cases, the Office of EMS reserves the right to delay processing of examination results until a thorough and complete investigation may be conducted.
1. Unauthorized giving or obtaining information will include but not be limited to:
a. Giving unauthorized access to secure test questions.
b. Copying or reproducing all or any portion of any secure test booklet.
c. Divulging the contents of any portion of a secure test.
d. Altering candidate's responses in any way.
e. Making available any answer keys.
f. Providing a false certification on any test security form required by the Office of EMS.
g. Retaining a copy of secure test questions.
h. Falsely taking any examination, or part thereof, on behalf of another individual.
i. Participating in, directing, aiding, or assisting in any of the acts prohibited by this section.
2. For the purposes of this section the term "secure test" means any item, question, or test that has not been made publicly available by the Office of EMS.
3. Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit or restrict the reasonable and necessary actions of the Office of EMS in test development or selection, test form construction, standard setting, test scoring and reporting, or any other related activities that in the judgment of the Office of EMS are necessary and appropriate.
C. Under no circumstances will written examinations and practical scenarios be provided to EMT instructor, ALS coordinator, EMS education coordinator, PCD or OMD, or candidates for their review at any time.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1480. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3, eff. January 15, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1490. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3, eff. January 15, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.
12VAC5-31-1500. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3, eff. January 15, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.