Texas Administrative Code
Title 25 - HEALTH SERVICES
Part 1 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 157 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE
Subchapter C - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TRAINING AND COURSE APPROVAL
Section 157.34 - Recertification
Universal Citation: 25 TX Admin Code ยง 157.34
Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Recertification requirements.
(1) Not later than the 30th day before the
date a person's certificate is scheduled to expire, the Department of State
Health Services (department) may send to the person a notice of expiration at
the address shown in the current records of the department.
(2) If a certificant has not received a
notice of expiration from the department 30 days prior to the expiration, it is
the duty of the certificant to notify the department and to request an
application for recertification or download an application from the
Internet.
(3) To maintain
certification status without a lapse, an applicant shall submit a completed
application for recertification and shall meet all requirements for renewal of
the current certification prior to the expiration date of the current
certificate, but no earlier than one year prior to the expiration
date.
(4) The certificant shall
submit the following non-refundable fees as applicable:
(A) $60 for Emergency Care Attendant (ECA) or
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT);
(B) $90 for Advanced EMT (AEMT),
EMT-Intermediate (EMT-I), or EMT-Paramedic (EMT-P); and
(C) EMS volunteer--no fee. However, if such
an individual receives compensation during the certification period, the
exemption ceases and the individual shall pay a prorated fee to the department
based on the number of years remaining in the certification period when
employment begins. The non-refundable fee for ECA or EMT certification shall be
$15 per each year remaining in the certification. The non-refundable fee for
AEMT or EMT-P shall be $22.50 per each year remaining in the certification. Any
portion of a year will count as a full year.
(5) Recertification by voluntary downgrade.
An individual who holds a Texas EMS certification or paramedic license may
renew at a lower level by meeting the requirements of this subsection. The
applicant must meet the requirements for the lower level of certification
requested as described in subsection (b) or (f) or (g) of this section. On the
date the downgrade is final, the previous higher level of certification becomes
invalid. To regain the original higher level of certification, the candidate
shall meet the late recertification requirements outlined in subsection (g) of
this section, within one year after the expiration date.
(6) A certificate is not
transferable.
(7) Military
personnel. A person certified by the department who is deployed in support of
military, security, or other action by the United Nations Security Council, a
national emergency declared by the President of the United States, or a
declaration of war by the United States Congress is eligible for
recertification under timely recertification requirements from the person's
date of demobilization until one calendar year after the date of demobilization
but will not be certified during that period.
(A) In addition to requirements described in
this subsection, the candidate shall submit a copy of deployment and
demobilization orders.
(B) The
four-year certification will commence on issue date of the
certificate.
(b) Recertification options. Upon submission of a completed application for recertification, the applicant shall commit to, and recertify through one of the options described in paragraphs (1) - (5) of this subsection.
(1) Option 1--Written
Examination Recertification Process.
(A) The
applicant shall pass the National Registry assessment exam. An overall score of
70 is considered to be passing.
(B)
If the applicant fails the examination for recertification, the applicant may
attempt two retests of the examination after:
(i) submitting a retest application for each
attempt at any eligible level; and
(ii) submitting a non-refundable retest fee
of $30 for each attempt.
(C) For each subsequent retest attempt, an
applicant may apply for and retest at a lower level by complying with paragraph
(1)(B) of this subsection, if applicable.
(D) An applicant who selects option 1 and
attempts the exam but does not pass the National Registry assessment
examination may not gain recertification by any other option and shall not
qualify for inactive certification addressed in §
157.33(h)
of this title (relating to Certification) or subsection (f) or (g) of this
section.
(E) An applicant who does
not pass the third attempt at the National Registry assessment examination:
(i) shall successfully complete a Formal
Recertification Course as described in paragraph (4) of this subsection;
and
(ii) shall submit a course
completion certificate of the Formal recertification course, reflecting that
the course was completed after the 2nd retest failure; and
(iii) shall pass the National Registry
assessment examination in accordance with the provisions in subparagraphs (A) -
(D) of this paragraph.
(iv) shall
not qualify for more than a total of six attempts at the exam, in any
combination of levels attempted.
(F) The certification status of an applicant
who does not successfully complete the examination recertification process as
described in paragraph (1)(A) - (E) of this subsection shall expire on the date
of the current certificate.
(G) The
applicant has completed a state approved jurisprudence examination to determine
the knowledge on state EMS laws, rules, and policies.
(2) Option 2--Continuing Education
Recertification Process.
(A) The certificant
shall attest to accrual of department approved EMS continuing education as
specified in §
157.38 of
this title (relating to Continuing Education); and
(B) the applicant has completed a state
approved jurisprudence examination to determine the knowledge on state EMS
laws, rules, and policies.
(3) Option 3--National Registry
Recertification Process.
(A) The applicant
shall attest to and hold current National Registry certification at the time of
applying for recertification; and
(B) the applicant has completed a state
approved jurisprudence examination to determine the knowledge on state EMS
laws, rules, and policies.
(4) Option 4--Formal Course Recertification
Process. The applicant shall attest to successful completion of a department
approved recertification course.
(A) The
recertification course shall be a formal structured interactive training course
as approved by the department and conducted within the four-year certification
period.
(B) The minimum contact
hours required for recertification courses are:
(C) The
applicant has completed a state approved jurisprudence examination to determine
the knowledge on state EMS laws, rules, and policies.
(5) Option 5--CCMP Recertification Process.
An applicant affiliated with an EMS provider that has a department-approved
Comprehensive Clinical Management Program (CCMP) may be recertified if:
(A) the applicant is currently credentialed
in the provider's CCMP;
(B) the
applicant has been enrolled in the provider's CCMP for at least six continuous
months;
(C) the applicant submits
to the department a signed written statement by the CCMP's medical director,
attesting to the applicant's successful participation in and completion of the
provider's CCMP; and
(D) The
applicant has completed a state approved jurisprudence examination to determine
the knowledge that the applicant has on state EMS laws, rules, and
policies.
(6) If a
candidate wishes to change options (other than option 1), another application
form must be submitted. An additional fee is not required if the candidate
completes all requirements within the same time period of the original
submission.
(c) After verification by the department of the information submitted by the applicant, that the information is true, correct and complete with regard to the applicant meeting recertification requirements by the certification expiration date, the department shall recertify the applicant for four years, commencing on the day following the expiration date of the most recent certificate. A candidate must verify current certification before staffing an EMS vehicle. Certification may be verified by the applicant's receipt of the official department identification card, by using the department's certification website, or by contacting the department directly.
(d) Applicant immunization history.
(1) If the applicant's immunization history
is included in the immunization registry as defined by Health and Safety Code,
§
161.007,
the department shall provide notice of the applicant's immunization history
using information from the immunization registry.
(2) If the applicant's immunization history
is not included in the immunization registry, the department shall provide:
(A) details about the program developed under
Health and Safety Code §
161.00707;
and
(B) the specific risks to
emergency medical services personnel when responding rapidly to an emergency of
exposure to and infection by a potentially serious or deadly communicable
disease that an immunization may prevent.
(e) Late recertification.
(1) The candidate whose certification has
expired shall be considered late, non-certified and shall not function in the
capacity of an EMS certificant or represent that he is EMS certified until
recertification is issued.
(2) A
candidate whose certificate has been expired for 90 days or less may renew the
certificate by submitting an application accompanied by a non-refundable
renewal fee that is equal to 1-1/2 times the normally required application
renewal fee for that level as listed in subsection (a)(4) of this section.
Applicant shall meet one of the recertification options described in subsection
(b)(1) - (5) of this section and submit verification of skills proficiency from
an approved education program. If the applicant has already submitted an
application and fee, but has not met all of the requirements prior to
expiration, another application will not be required, but a total of 1-1/2
times the normally required application renewal fee shall be necessary. The
applicant shall be recertified for a period of four years beginning on the date
of issuance.
(3) A candidate whose
certificate has been expired for more than 90 days but less than one year may
renew the certificate by submitting an application accompanied by a
non-refundable renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally required
application renewal fee as listed in subsection (a)(4) of this section.
Applicant shall meet one of the recertification options described in subsection
(b)(2) - (6) of this section and submit verification of skills proficiency from
an approved education program. If the applicant has already submitted an
application and fee, but has not met all of the requirements prior to the 90th
day after expiration, another application will not be required, but a total of
two times the fee shall be necessary.
(4) The applicant shall be recertified for a
period of four years beginning on the date of issuance.
(5) A candidate whose certificate has been
expired for one year or more may not renew the certificate. The candidate may
become certified by complying with the requirements of §
157.33(a) or
(j) of this title.
(6) A candidate who was certified in this
state, moved to another state, and is currently certified or licensed and has
been in practice in the other state for two years preceding the date of
application may become certified without reexamination. The candidate may gain
recertification by:
(A) submitting to the
department a non-refundable fee that is equal to two times the normally
required renewal fee for certification as listed in subsection (a)(4) of this
section; and
(B) attesting to
regular practice of emergency medical care in the other state for the two years
preceding the date of application.
(f) Renewal of inactive certification.
(1) To renew inactive certification, an
applicant holding inactive certification shall submit an application and the
non-refundable fee as described in §
157.33(a)(4)
of this title. The $30 inactive fee is not required for renewal when renewing
inactive certification. A candidate who meets requirements for inactive renewal
shall be awarded inactive certification for a period of four years beginning on
the first day after the expiration of the previous inactive
certification.
(2) A candidate
whose inactive certification has been expired for 90 days or less may renew the
inactive certification during the 90 day period after expiration of the
certification upon submitting a fee of 1-1/2 times the normally required
renewal fee as described in subsection (a)(4) of this section. If the applicant
has already submitted an application and fee, but has not met all of the
requirements prior to expiration, another application will not be required, but
a total of 1-1/2 times the fee shall be necessary. The applicant shall be
recertified for a period of four years beginning on the date of
issuance.
(3) A candidate whose
inactive certification has been expired more than 90 days but less than one
year may renew the inactive certification upon submitting a fee of two times
the normally required renewal fee as described in subsection (a)(4) of this
section. If the applicant has already submitted an application and fee, but has
not met all of the requirements prior to the 90th day after expiration, another
application will not be required, but a total of two times the fee shall be
necessary. The applicant shall be recertified for a period of four years
beginning on the date of issuance.
(4) A candidate whose inactive certificate
has been expired more than one year must regain active certification before
reapplying for inactive certification as described in subsection (g) of this
section.
(g) Inactive to active certification.
(1) An inactive
certificant prior to the expiration of the first four-year inactive
certification period may obtain active certification by submitting an
application and the non-refundable fee to the department, as described in
subsection (a)(4) of this section and by completing one of the following
options:
(A) Option 1--meet the normal four
year continuing education requirement for certification renewal as listed in
subsection (b)(2) of this section, submit verification of skills proficiency
from an approved education program or recognized physician by the department,
and pass the National Registry EMT cognitive assessment exam.
(B) Option 2--complete a department approved
recertification course, and pass the National Registry EMT psychomotor
(practical) exam and cognitive assessment exam.
(2) A certificant who has held inactive
certification for more than four years may return to active certification only
by completing requirements described in §
157.33(a) or
(j) of this title.
(h) For all applications and renewal applications, the department is authorized to collect subscription and convenience fees, in amounts determined by the Texas Online Authority, to recover costs associated with application and renewal application processing through Texas Online.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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