Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 511-9-2-.13 - Licensure Renewal for Emergency Medical Services Personnel

(1) Licensed Emergency Medical Services Personnel, on a schedule and in the manner established by the Department, shall submit an application and a non-refundable license renewal fee pursuant to these rules.

(a) The continuing education requirement for Emergency Medical Technicians, Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediates, Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians, Cardiac Technicians, and Paramedics shall be met by completing Department-approved or Department-recognized continuing education of not less than forty contact hours for each twenty-four month period of the license renewal cycle, with subject matter that includes cardiac care, pediatric care and trauma care. All continuing education must be consistent with the appropriate level EMS course curriculum or above. Training to maintain CPR certification shall be in addition to the continuing education requirement. For Cardiac Technicians and Paramedics, training to maintain ACLS or equivalent shall be in addition to the forty required biennial hours of continuing education.

(b) The continuing education requirement for Emergency Medical Technician - Responders shall be met by completing Department-approved or Department-recognized continuing education of not less than sixteen (16) hours for each twenty-four month period of the license renewal cycle, with subject matter that includes training to maintain CPR certification and all modules and hour requirements specified in the current EMR National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) specified by the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT). All continuing education must be consistent with the appropriate level EMS course curriculum or above.

(c) Continuing education that meets the requirements of this section must be approved in writing or electronic correspondence by the Department or must be recognized by the Department. All approved continuing education must be assigned an approval number by the Department and that number must be included on the course certificate of completion. All continuing education must comply with the continuing education policies of the Department.

(d) Licensed Emergency Medical Services personnel shall document all continuing education in a manner and on forms specified by the Department.

(2) Emergency Medical Technician - Responders shall be required to maintain current EMR certification through the National Registry of EMTs throughout the renewal period. Prior to renewal of an Emergency Medical Technician - Responder license, the licensee's certification through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians shall be renewed.

(3) The Department is authorized to perform random audits of license renewal documentation during each license renewal cycle.

(4) Late renewal is permitted during the six-month period immediately following the expiration date for the last license renewal cycle. Licenses that are not renewed prior to the expiration date are considered to be lapsed, and must be renewed in order for previously licensed individuals to perform the duties and services of a licensee. During this six-month period, a penalty fee for late renewal applies. The penalty fee shall be double the established fee for the level of licensure. After that six-month period, the license will have permanently lapsed and the individual must apply for licensure as a new applicant in accordance with Regulation 511-9-2-.12.

(5) The Department has the authority to mandate a specific license renewal cycle and continuing education modules.

(6) The Department shall be authorized to waive the continuing education requirements in cases of hardship, disability, illness, military deployment or under such other circumstances as the Department deems appropriate.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 511-9-2-.13

O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-3, 31-2A-6, 31-7-2, 31-7-2.1, 31-11-1, 31-11-5, 31-11-51, 31-11-52, 31-11-53.1, 31-11-56 to 31-11-58, 31-11-58.1.

Original Rule entitled "Licensure Renewal for Emergency Medical Services Personnel" adopted. F. December 14, 2011; eff. January 3, 2012. Amended: F. Apr. 27, 2016; eff. May 17, 2016. Amended: F. Sep. 29, 2021; eff. Oct. 27, 2021, as specified by the Agency.