Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024
(1) An individual
who has successfully completed the training program requirements at the EMR,
EMT, AEMT or paramedic level and has a valid certification with NREMT shall
submit the following to the department for initial Iowa emergency medical care
provider certification:
a. A completed EMS
certification application.
b. An
NREMT active certification number.
c. Payment of the initial application
fee.
d. Two completed fingerprint
cards for background checks.
e.
Payment of the background check fee.
(2) Once the above items are received and
approved, the department may issue an initial emergency medical care provider
certification.
(3) Initial Iowa
certification dates shall be consistent with the NREMT certification
dates.
(4) The individual seeking
an Iowa emergency medical provider care certification shall submit all
application materials within two years from the Iowa training program course
completion date.
(5) If the
individual is unable to complete the requirements within two years due to
medical reasons or military obligation, an extension may be granted upon
submission of a signed statement from an appropriate medical or military
authority and approval by the department.
(6) Fees may be waived in accordance with
provisions in Iowa Code chapter 272C for individuals demonstrating the
following:
a. Income that does not exceed 200
percent of the federal poverty level;
b. Initial licensing fees and one renewal fee
for an applicant who has been honorably or generally discharged from federal
active duty or national guard duty, as those terms are defined in Iowa Code
section 29A.1, who would otherwise be
charged within five years of the discharge.
(7) Use of criminal convictions in
eligibility determinations and initial licensing decisions.
a.
License application.
Unless an applicant for licensure petitions the department for an eligibility
determination pursuant to paragraph 131.3(7)
"b," the
applicant's convictions will be reviewed when the department receives a
completed license application.
(1) An
applicant must disclose all convictions on a license application. Failure to
disclose all convictions is grounds for license denial or disciplinary action
following license issuance.
(2) An
applicant with one or more convictions shall submit the complete criminal
record for each conviction and a personal statement regarding whether each
conviction directly relates to the practice of the profession in order for the
license application to be considered complete.
(3) An applicant must submit as a part of the
license application all evidence of rehabilitation that the applicant wishes to
be considered by the department.
(4) The board may deny a license if the
applicant has a disqualifying offense unless the applicant demonstrates by
clear and convincing evidence that the applicant is rehabilitated pursuant to
Iowa Code section 272C.15.
(5) An applicant with one or more
disqualifying offenses who has been found rehabilitated must still satisfy all
other requirements for licensure.
(6) Any application fees paid will not be
refunded if the license is denied.
b.
Eligibility
determination. An individual who has not yet submitted a completed
license application may petition the department for a determination of whether
one or more of the individual's convictions are disqualifying offenses that
would render the individual ineligible for licensure. An individual with a
conviction is not required to petition the department for an eligibility
determination prior to applying for licensure. To petition the department for
an eligibility determination of whether one or more of the petitioner's
convictions are disqualifying offenses, a petitioner shall submit all of the
following:
(1) A completed petition for
eligibility determination form;
(2)
The complete criminal record for each of the petitioner's
convictions;
(3) A personal
statement regarding whether each conviction directly relates to the duties and
responsibilities of the profession and why the department should find the
petitioner rehabilitated;
(4) All
evidence of rehabilitation that the petitioner wishes to be considered by the
board; and
(5) Payment of a
nonrefundable fee of $25.
c.
Appeal. A petitioner
deemed ineligible or an applicant denied a license because of a disqualifying
offense may appeal the decision in the manner and time frame set forth in the
board's written decision. A timely appeal will initiate a nondisciplinary
contested case proceeding. The department's rules governing contested case
proceedings will apply unless otherwise specified in this rule. If the
petitioner or applicant fails to timely appeal, the department's written
decision will become a final order.
(1) An
administrative law judge will serve as the presiding officer of the
nondisciplinary contested case proceeding, unless the department elects to
serve as the presiding officer. When an administrative law judge serves as the
presiding officer, the decision rendered shall be a proposed
decision.
(2) The contested case
hearing shall be closed to the public and the board's review of a proposed
decision shall occur in closed session.
(3) The office of the attorney general shall
represent the department's initial ineligibility determination or license
denial and shall have the burden of proof to establish that the petitioner or
applicant's convictions include at least one disqualifying offense. Upon
satisfaction of this burden by a preponderance of the evidence by the office of
the attorney general, the burden of proof shall shift to the petitioner or
applicant to establish rehabilitation by clear and convincing
evidence.
(4) A petitioner or
applicant must appeal an ineligibility determination or license denial in order
to exhaust administrative remedies. A petitioner or applicant may only seek
judicial review of an ineligibility determination or license denial after the
issuance of a final order following a contested case proceeding. Judicial
review of the final order following a contested case proceeding shall be in
accordance with Iowa Code chapter 17A.
d.
Future petitions or
applications. If a final order determines a petitioner is ineligible,
the petitioner may not submit a subsequent petition for eligibility
determination or a license application prior to the date specified in the final
order. If a final order denies a license application, the applicant may not
submit a subsequent license application or a petition for eligibility
determination prior to the date specified in the final order.