Texas Administrative Code
Title 25 - HEALTH SERVICES
Part 1 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 157 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE
Subchapter D - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION
Section 157.43 - Course Coordinator Certification
Universal Citation: 25 TX Admin Code ยง 157.43
Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) General.
(1) A course coordinator is an individual who
has the overall responsibility for conducting an emergency medical services
(EMS) training course under the direction of an approved EMS training program
(program).
(2) A course coordinator
must be certified as at least an emergency medical technician (EMT), and must
be certified or licensed at or above the level of the course being
coordinated.
(3) Course coordinator
certification is dependent on the individual's EMS personnel certification and
is subject to the same status as that personnel certification. If the
department imposes disciplinary action in accordance with §
157.16
of this title (relating to Emergency Suspension, Suspension, Probation,
Revocation or Denial of a Provider License) or §
157.36
of this title (relating to Criteria for Denial and Disciplinary Actions for EMS
Personnel and Voluntary Surrender of a Certificate or License), the action
shall also be imposed automatically and immediately on the individual's course
coordinator certification.
(b) Levels of certification. Course coordinators may be certified as a basic coordinator or as an advanced coordinator.
(c) Currently certified course coordinators. Course coordinators certified on the effective date of this rule shall be considered to have met the requirements of subsection (d) or (e) of this section appropriate to their current level of certification.
(d) Basic coordinator requirements. To be certified as a basic course coordinator, the candidate shall:
(1) submit an application
for basic course coordinator certification along with the nonrefundable fee of
$60 to the Texas Department of State Health Services (department) except a fee
shall not be required if compensation is not received for coordinating training
courses or programs;
(2) have been
certified as an EMT or higher for at least 4 consecutive years;
(3) have been a certified EMS instructor for
at least two consecutive years;
(4)
have documented not less than 120 hours of instruction for initial EMS
certificants; or have successfully conducted an EMT-Basic course;
(5) submit documentation of positive
evaluations as a certified instructor;
(6) be affiliated with and operate under the
supervision of a licensed provider, an EMS medical director, a teaching
hospital, a regionally accredited post-secondary educational institution and/or
a health care institution accredited by an organization recognized by the
department;
(7) submit letters of
intent from qualified providers of clinical and field internship
experience;
(8) have successfully
completed a department-sponsored course coordinator training course;
and
(9) after completing all the
above requirements, pass the EMS coordinator exam and retest, if necessary, no
later than one year after course completion date. The nonrefundable retest fee
is $30, except a fee shall not be required if compensation is not received for
coordinating training courses or programs. If requirements are not completed
within one year after course completion date, the candidate must meet the
requirements of subsection (d) of this section including the completion of
another initial course to be certified.
(e) Advanced coordinator requirements. To be certified as an advanced course coordinator, the candidate shall:
(1) submit an application for advanced course
coordinator certification along with the nonrefundable fee of $60 to the
department; except a fee shall not be required if compensation is not received
for coordinating training courses or programs;
(2) have an associate degree, a bachelor
degree, or an advanced degree;
(3)
have been a certified EMS instructor for at least four consecutive years or as
a basic course coordinator for two consecutive years;
(4) have been certified/licensed as an
paramedic for at least 4 consecutive years;
(5) have documented not less than 240 hours
of instruction for initial EMS certificants;
(6) submit documentation of positive
evaluations as a certified instructor or as a basic coordinator;
(7) be affiliated with and operate under the
supervision of a regionally accredited post-secondary educational institution,
a health care institution accredited by an organization recognized by the
department, or another entity approved by the department to sponsor an advanced
training program in accordance with §
157.32
of this title (relating to EMS Education Program and Course
Approval);
(8) submit a letter of
intent from qualified providers of clinical and field internship
experience;
(9) have successfully
completed a department-sponsored course coordinator training course;
(10) after completing all the above
requirements, pass the EMS coordinator exam and retest, if necessary, no later
than one year after course completion date. The nonrefundable retest fee is
$30, except a fee shall not be required if compensation is not received for
coordinating training courses or programs. If requirements are not completed
within one year after course completion date, the candidate must meet the
requirements of subsection (e) of this section including the completion of
another initial course to be certified; and
(11) candidates who hold current basic
coordinator certification and are applying for advanced coordinator
certification must complete all requirements of this subsection except
paragraphs (e)(9) and (e)(10) of this subsection.
(f) Period of Certification. After verification by the department of the information submitted by the candidate, the candidate who meets the requirements of the applicable subsection (d) or (e) of this section shall be certified as a course coordinator for two years commencing on the date of issuance of the certificate.
(g) Course coordinator training. All course coordinator courses shall be conducted by the department or by the department in conjunction with a regionally accredited post-secondary educational institution approved by the department to sponsor a training program. Criteria for admission to coordinator training shall be as follows:
(1) the candidate for admission to course
coordinator training will meet the requirements of subsection (d) or (e) of
this section as appropriate to the level of certification desired;
(2) the candidate shall submit a resume and
completed application to the appropriate department regional EMS
office;
(3) the appropriate
department regional EMS director will forward the application and attachments
to the appropriate training facility with a recommendation regarding the
candidate's admission status; and
(4) successful candidates will be given a
seat in the class based on availability and admissions requirements.
(h) Responsibilities. Course coordinator shall have the following responsibilities:
(1) plan for and evaluate the overall
operation of assigned courses;
(2)
provide supervision and oversight for assigned courses;
(3) act as liaison between the students,
personnel instructing in assigned courses, the program, and the
department;
(4) coordinate
submission of course approval documents and fees, if applicable, for assigned
courses to the department;
(5)
assure availability of classrooms and other facilities necessary to provide for
the instruction and convenience of students enrolled in assigned
courses;
(6) in cooperation with
the training program, process student applications and select
students;
(7) schedule classes and
assign program instructors;
(8)
assure that training equipment and supplies are available and operational for
each laboratory session;
(9)
maintain effective relationships with clinical and field internships facilities
necessary to meeting the instructional objectives of assigned
courses;
(10) develop field
internship and clinical objectives for assigned courses;
(11) obtain written acknowledgement from the
field internship EMS provider medical director, if students will be conducting
advanced-level skills as part of their field internship with that EMS
provider;
(12) train and evaluate
internship preceptors;
(13) in
cooperation with the training program, maintain all course records for a
minimum of five years;
(14) in
cooperation with the training program coordinate course written examinations,
skills proficiency verifications, and other student evaluations;
(15) in cooperation with the training program
evaluate the effectiveness of the personnel who instruct in assigned
courses;
(16) in cooperation with
the training program supervise and evaluate the effectiveness of the clinical
and field internship training for assigned courses;
(17) in cooperation with the training program
attest to the successful course completion of all students who meet the
program's requirements for completion;
(18) provide students with written
information on the Texas process to gain certification or licensure;
(19) educate students on current Texas EMS
laws, policies and rules;
(20)
provide written notification to the department within 24 hours or the next
normal business day when leaving as the course coordinator for an ongoing EMS
program; and
(21) provide to the
program within 24 hours or the next normal business day all course material for
an ongoing EMS program.
(i) Exception. A program may request the department to grant an exception to allow a person not currently certified as a course coordinator to temporarily perform the duties listed in subsection (h) of this section.
(1) Such request must be
submitted in writing and must include the following:
(A) documentation of the urgency of the
situation;
(B) a letter from the
program endorsing the individual who is to temporarily perform the duties of
course coordinator; and
(C) letters
of intent from qualified providers of clinical and field internship experiences
appropriate to the level of training to be offered; and
(D) a letter of intent from a medical
director.
(2) In
determining whether the request for an exception is to be approved or denied,
the department shall consider but not be limited to the following issues:
(A) resignation of a previous course
coordinator or the inability of a course coordinator to complete a current
training course;
(B) need for
training in an area where a certified course coordinator is not available
within a reasonable distance and training is unavailable through no outreach or
distance learning technology; and
(C) the probable adverse consequences to
prehospital emergency care, if the exception is not approved.
(3) After evaluation by the
department, the program shall be notified, in writing, of the approval or
denial of the request.
(4) An
individual who is approved shall be considered a temporary course coordinator
for not more than two years. If all requirements for course coordinator
certification are not met in the two-year period, the approved training program
with which the coordinator is affiliated must demonstrate a continuing need for
the exception. If the department does not continue the exception, temporary
status shall cease and the individual may no longer function as a temporary
course coordinator.
(j) Recertification.
(1) Prior to the expiration
of a course coordinator certificate, the department shall send a notice of
expiration to the certificant at the address shown in the current records of
the department. It is the responsibility of course coordinators to notify the
department of any change of address.
(2) If a certificant has not received notice
of expiration from the department 30 days prior to the expiration, it is the
duty of the certificant to notify the department and request an application for
recertification. Failure to apply for recertification shall result in
expiration of the certificate.
(3)
To be eligible for recertification, the course coordinator shall meet
recertification requirements during the latest coordinator certification period
and:
(A) maintain active EMS certification as
required in subsection (a)(2) of this section;
(B) attend updates for course coordinator as
required by the department;
(C)
maintain association with:
(i) an approved
basic or advanced program if recertifying as a basic coordinator;
(ii) an approved advanced program if
recertifying as an advanced coordinator;
(D) maintain affiliation with entities which
provide clinical and field internship experience;
(E) submit an application for recertification
and a nonrefundable fee as in subsection (d) or (e) of this section;
(F) submit documentation of observing or
providing at least 8 hours of emergency medical care by a licensed EMS
provider, first responder organization or clinical site.
(4) After verification by the department of
the information submitted the course coordinator who meets the requirements of
subsection (d) or (e) of this section shall be recertified for two years
commencing on the date following the expiration of the last
certificate.
(k) Late recertification.
(1) An application for
recertification shall be considered late if the application and nonrefundable
fee are received after the most recent certificate has expired and if all
requirements for recertification are not met prior to the end of the most
recent certification period.
(2) A
course coordinator who has not recertified prior to the end of his most recent
certification period is not certified and may not perform the duties of a
course coordinator.
(l) To be eligible for recertification, the candidate shall meet the following:
(1) A candidate whose certificate has been
expired for 90 days or less may renew the certificate by submitting an
application and paying a nonrefundable renewal fee that is equal to 1-1/2 times
the normally required application renewal fee for that level as listed in
subsection (d) or (e) of this section.
(2) 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 and paying a nonrefundable renewal fee that is
equal to two times the normally required application renewal fee as listed in
subsection (d) or (e) of this section.
(3) A candidate must complete of all
requirements for recertification no later than one year after the expiration of
the most recent certificate.
(4)
After verification by the department of the information submitted by the
candidate, the candidate who meets the requirements of this subsection shall be
recertified for two years commencing on the day of issuance of a
certificate.
(5) A candidate whose
certification is expired more than one year must meet the requirements of
subsection (d) or (e) of this section including the completion of another
initial course to be certified.
(m) Disciplinary actions.
(1) Administrative penalty. The department
may impose an administrative penalty on a course coordinator not to exceed
$7,500 per day per violation of the Health and Safety Code or the rules adopted
thereunder.
(2) Emergency
suspension. The department may issue an emergency order to suspend a course
coordinator's certification if the department has reasonable cause to believe
the conduct of the certified course coordinator creates an imminent danger to
the public health and safety.
(A) An
emergency suspension shall be effective immediately without a hearing or notice
to the certificate holder. Notice shall be established on the date that a copy
of the signed emergency suspension order is sent to the address shown in the
current records of the department. Notice shall also be given to any sponsoring
entity.
(B) If a written request
for a hearing is received from the certificate holder within 15 days of the
suspension, the department shall conduct a hearing not later than the 30th day
after the date on which a hearing request is received to determine if the
emergency suspension is to be continued, modified, or rescinded. The hearing
and appeal from any disciplinary action related to the hearing shall be
governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, Government Code, Chapter
2001.
(3) Reprimand,
suspension, or revocation. A course coordinator may be reprimanded or the
course coordinator's certification may be suspended or revoked for, but not
limited to the following:
(A) failing to
maintain active status EMS personnel certification at the appropriate
level;
(B) failing to comply with
the responsibilities of a course coordinator as defined in subsection (h) of
this section;
(C) falsifying an
application for EMS certification or licensure;
(D) falsifying a program approval
application, a self-study, a course approval application, or any supporting
documentation;
(E) falsifying a
course completion certificate or any other document that records or verifies
course activity and/or is a part of the course record;
(F) assisting another to obtain or to attempt
to obtain personnel certification or recertification by fraud, forgery,
deception, or misrepresentation;
(G) failing to complete and submit the course
applications and student documents within established time frames;
(H) coordinating or attempting to coordinate
a course above the coordinator's level of certification;
(I) compromising or failing to maintain the
order, discipline and fairness of a department-approved course or
program;
(J) allowing inadequate
class presentations in a course for which the coordinator is
responsible;
(K) demonstrating a
lack of supervision of personnel instructing in courses for which the
coordinator is responsible;
(L)
compromising an examination or examination process administered or approved by
the department;
(M) cheating or
assisting another in cheating on an EMS examination, other evaluation or any
other activity offered or conducted by the department, a training program
approved by the department, or a provider licensed by the department;
(N) accepting any benefit to which there is
no entitlement or benefits in any manner through fraud, deception,
falsification, misrepresentation, theft, misappropriation, or
coercion;
(O) failing to maintain
appropriate policies, procedures and safeguards to ensure the safety of
students, instructors or other class participants;
(P) allowing recurrent use of inadequate,
inoperable, or malfunctioning equipment;
(Q) failing to maintain the fiscal integrity
of a course for which the coordinator is responsible;
(R) issuing a check to the department which
is returned unpaid;
(S) failing to
maintain education course records;
(T) demonstrating unwillingness or inability
to comply with the Health and Safety Code and/or the rules adopted
thereunder;
(U) failing to give the
department true and complete information when asked regarding any alleged or
actual violation of the Health and Safety Code, or the rules adopted
thereunder, or failing to report a violation;
(V) functioning or attempting to function as
a course coordinator during a period of suspension which may be cause for
suspension of the coordinator certification;
(W) committing any violation during a
probationary period;
(X) failing to
report a violation of the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 773, or the rules
adopted thereunder;
(Y) failing to
notify the department when any current EMS student or student applicant, or
certified or licensed program employee is arrested for, or received a
conviction, deferred adjudication or deferred prosecution for, any crime, upon
the coordinator's discovery of such;
(Z) failing to notify the department of a
conviction, deferred adjudication, or deferred prosecution for a crime which
directly relates to the person's ability to carry out the duties and
responsibilities of an EMS personnel or EMS course coordinator, per the
guidelines and criteria outlined in §
157.37
of this title; and
(AA)
demonstrating unprofessional conduct such as, but not limited to the following:
(i) retaliation;
(ii) discrimination; shall not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age,
national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or
military status, in any of its activities or operations.
(iii) verbal or physical abuse; or
(iv) inappropriate physical or sexual
contact.
(4)
Notification. If the department proposes to suspend or revoke a course
coordinator's certificate, the course coordinator shall be notified at the
address shown in the current records of the department. The notice must state
the alleged facts or conduct warranting the action and state that the course
coordinator has an opportunity to request a hearing in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure Act, Government Code, Chapter 2001.
(A) The course coordinator may request a
hearing after the date of the notice. This request shall be in writing and
submitted to the department.
(B) If
the course coordinator does not request a hearing within 30 days after the date
of the notice of opportunity, the course coordinator waives the opportunity for
a hearing and the department shall implement its proposal.
(5) Probation. The department may probate any
penalty assessed under this section and may specify terms and conditions of any
probation issued.
(6)
Reapplication.
(A) Two years after the
revocation of a certificate, an individual may petition the department, in
writing, for the opportunity to reapply for certification.
(B) The department shall evaluate the
petition and may allow or deny the opportunity to reapply for
certification.
(C) in evaluating a
petition for permission to reapply for certification the department shall
consider but is not limited to the following issues:
(i) the likelihood of a repeat of the actions
or inactions that led to revocation;
(ii) the petitioners overall record as a
course coordinator;
(iii) letters
of support or recommendation;
(iv)
letters of protest or nonsupport of the petition; and
(v) the need for the services of a course
coordinator in the given area the course coordinator would serve.
(D) The petitioner shall be
notified of the department's decision to allow or deny the submission of
reapplication for certification within 60 days of the submission of the
request.
(E) A course coordinator
whose certificate expires during a suspension or revocation period may not
petition to reapply for certification until the end of the suspension or
revocation period.
(n) 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.
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