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Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
12/11/2024

Article 6. Als Programs

12VAC5-31-1521. ALS course student requirements.

Article 6
ALS Programs

An enrolled student in an ALS certification program shall comply with the following:

1. Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the English language in order to clearly communicate with a patient, family or bystander to determine a chief complaint, nature of illness, mechanism of injury, to assess signs and symptoms, and interpret protocols.

2. Be a minimum of 18 years of age at the beginning date of the certification program.

3. Certification as an EMT or higher EMS certification level.

4. Posses a high school or general equivalency diploma.

5. Have no physical or mental impairment that would render the student or provider unable to perform all practical skill required for that level of certification including the ability to function and communicate independently and perform appropriate patient care, physical assessments, and treatments.

6. If in a bridge certification program, the student shall be eligible for certification at the prerequisite lower ALS level at the beginning date of the bridge program and shall have obtained certification at the bridge program's prerequisite certification level before certification testing for the bridge level.

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.

12VAC5-31-1523. EMT-Enhanced certification.

A. The EMT-Enhanced curriculum will be the current Virginia Standard Curriculum for the EMT-Enhanced as approved by the Office of EMS.

B. Certification for the EMT-Enhanced course will be awarded upon successful completion of written and practical examinations administered by the Office of EMS.

C. EMT-Enhanced certification practical testing will follow practical testing guidelines as 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.

12VAC5-31-1524. Advanced EMT certification.

A. The Advanced EMT curriculum will be the current Virginia Standard Curriculum for the Advanced EMT or Virginia education standards as approved by the Office of EMS.

B. Certification for the Advanced EMT course will be awarded upon successful completion of written and practical examinations administered by the Office of EMS.

C. Advanced EMT certification practical testing will follow practical testing guidelines as 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.

12VAC5-31-1525. Intermediate certification.

A. The Intermediate curriculum will be the U.S. Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum for the EMT-Intermediate 99 or a bridge program curriculum or Virginia education standards as amended and approved by the Office of EMS.

B. Certification for the Intermediate course will be awarded through reciprocity upon successful completion of written and practical examinations created and administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

C. When the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians no longer tests EMT-Intermediate 99, the Board of Health will assume testing responsibilities for this level.

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.

12VAC5-31-1527. Paramedic certification.

A. The Paramedic curriculum will be the National Standard Curriculum for the Paramedic or a bridge program approved by the Office of EMS.

B. Certification for the Paramedic course will be awarded through reciprocity upon successful completion of written and practical examinations created and administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

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.

12VAC5-31-1529. Advanced life support bridge courses.

A. Bridge courses are designed to allow a candidate to advance from a lower level of ALS certification to a higher level of ALS certification or for a Virginia licensed registered nurse to bridge to the Paramedic certification level:

1. EMT-Enhanced to Intermediate Bridge.

2. Intermediate to Paramedic Bridge.

3. RN to Paramedic Bridge.

B. All bridge programs shall use the training curriculum approved by the Office of EMS for the certification level of the program.

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.

12VAC5-31-1530. (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.

12VAC5-31-1531. Registered nurse to Paramedic bridge prerequisites.

RN to Paramedic students must be able to document compliance with the following prerequisites:

1. The candidate must be currently licensed as an RN in Virginia or as recognized through the Nursing Compact Agreement as approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

2. The candidate must currently hold certification as a Virginia EMT or higher certification.

3. The candidate must be currently participating as an EMS field provider or actively working as an RN.

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.

12VAC5-31-1533. Registered Nurse to Paramedic Bridge program completion requirements.

A. The RN to Paramedic bridge curriculum shall be the National Standard Curriculum for the Paramedic or a bridge program derived from this curriculum approved by the Office of EMS.

B. The student will receive formal instruction in all the objectives listed in the Paramedic curriculum as recognized by the Office of EMS either through an accredited Paramedic course or through a nursing education program as recognized by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

C. Certification for the RN to Paramedic bridge course will be awarded through reciprocity upon successful completion of written and practical examinations created and administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

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.

12VAC5-31-1535. NREMT Paramedic endorsements.

A. Physician assistants (PA) or nurse practitioners (NP) may receive Virginia endorsement to sit for the National Registry of EMT's Paramedic written and practical examinations after providing verification of successful completion of the following criteria:

1. The PA or NP shall be currently Virginia certified as an EMT-Basic or may be allowed, with written permission from the Office of EMS, to complete the 36 hour EMT-Basic continuing education (CE) hours and successfully complete the EMT-Basic written and practical certification examination.

2. The PA or the NP shall receive endorsement from an EMS physician who verifies the candidate satisfies the paramedic competencies by completing a form as prescribed by the Office of EMS.

3. Team leader skills shall be completed and verified on a form as prescribed by the Office of EMS.

B. Third and fourth year medical students, and Virginia licensed dentists or chiropractors may receive Virginia endorsement to sit for the National Registry of EMT-Paramedic written and practical examinations after providing successful completion of the following criteria:

1. Must possess or have possessed pre-hospital ALS certification that must not have expired more than 60 months prior to submission.

2. Must be currently certified as a Virginia EMT-Basic.

3. Third and fourth year medical students shall submit a copy of their official medical school transcripts. Dentists or chiropractors shall submit to the Office of EMS a copy of their license to practice in Virginia.

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; Errata 29:2 VA.R. 335-336 September 24, 2012.

12VAC5-31-1540. (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.

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