Iowa Admin. Code r. 641-131.6

Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024

Rule 641-131.6 - Renewal standards, reactivation procedures, fees, and continuing education

(1)Renewal of certification.

a. An emergency medical care provider shall submit an application for renewal of an active Iowa EMS certification within 90 days prior to the certification expiration date.

b. The renewal application and process are completed online via an individual Iowa EMS provider account. The electronic portal to access individual accounts is located at: dphregprograms.iowa.gov/PublicPortal/Iowa/IDPH/common/index.jsp.

c. Renewal notifications will be sent to Iowa emergency medical care providers who have an active certification set to expire in 90 days. The notification will be sent by email to the address on file in the emergency medical care provider's electronic profile.

d. It is the emergency medical care provider's responsibility to ensure the electronic profile information, including the email address, is updated and correct within 30 days of any change.

e. A renewal certificate shall be valid for two years from the current expiration date unless sooner surrendered, suspended or revoked.

f. A lower-level certificate may be renewed if the individual voluntarily chooses to move from a higher level to a lower level by completing all applicable continuing education requirements for the lower level during the certification period and submitting a change of status request, available on the BETS website (idph.iowa.gov/BETS/EMS).

g. A certification status shall become inactive if the certificate has not been renewed by the certification expiration date unless the emergency medical care provider is granted an extension as described in subrule 131.6(3).

h. An emergency medical care provider may request an inactive status. The request must be made by submitting a change of status request, available on the BETS website (idph.iowa.gov/BETS/EMS). A request for inactive status, when accepted in connection with a disciplinary investigation or proceeding, has the same effect as an order of revocation.

(2)Late renewal of certification.

a. An emergency medical care provider who has completed the required continuing education during the certification period but fails to submit the EMS renewal of certification application and applicable fees prior to the certification expiration date is eligible for late renewal of the inactive certification.

b. The emergency medical care provider shall complete the EMS renewal of certification application, submit a late fee in addition to the applicable renewal fee and submit an audit report form provided by the department. The fee and audit report form shall be submitted before the last day of the month following the certification expiration date. If the late renewal submission is not completed by the last day of the month following the certification expiration date, the certification remains inactive.

c. An emergency medical care provider who has not completed the required continuing education during the certification period is not eligible for late renewal. The certification is inactive.

(3)Extension of certification.

a. An emergency medical care provider who is imable to attain all continuing education requirements within the certification period may request a 45-day extension. To complete the extension process, the provider shall:

(1) Submit a request for extension application, available on the BETS website (idph.iowa.gov/BETS/EMS), at least 7 days prior to the certification expiration date, but no more than 90 days prior to the certification expiration date, and payment of the extension fee.

(2) Complete the continuing education requirements.

(3) Complete and submit the EMS affirmative renewal of certification application, with all applicable renewal fees, to the department prior to the extended expiration date.

(4) Submit an audit report form provided by the department.

b. If an emergency medical care provider fails to submit any of the items required in subparagraphs 131.6(3)"a "(2) and (3) by the forty-fifth day of the extended certification period, the certification will be inactive.

c. The emergency medical care provider may not use continuing education completed during the extension period in the subsequent renewal period.

(4)Reactivation of an inactive certification.

a.Certification inactive up to 24 months. An emergency medical care provider may apply to reactivate an inactive certification up to 24 months after the certification became inactive.

(1) An individual will submit to the department an EMS certification reactivation application, which is available on the BETS website (idph.iowa.gov/BETS/EMS).

(2) If the department approves the application, the individual must submit an audit report form with 36 core continuing education hours prorated per lapsed year by core topic area and the reactivation fee.

(3) Upon receipt and approval of the items required in subparagraphs 131.6(4)"a" (1) and (2), the department may issue a new certification.

(4) An emergency medical care provider who fails to complete the reactivation process within 12 months from the date of application approval must reapply for reactivation of the inactive certification.

b.Certification inactive from 25 months to 48 months. An emergency medical care provider may apply to reactivate an inactive certification that has been inactive for 25 months but no more than 48 months.

(1) An individual will submit to the department an EMS certification reactivation application, which is available on the BETS website (idph.iowa.gov/BETS/EMS).

(2) If the department approves the application, the individual must submit documentation of successful completion of an approved EMS refresher course that includes successful completion of psychomotor and cognitive certification examinations. In addition, the individual must:

1. Submit two fingerprint cards.

2. Submit reactivation and background check fees.

3. Upon receipt and approval of the items required in subparagraphs 131.6(4)"b" (1) and (2), the department may issue a new certification.

4. An emergency medical care provider who fails to complete the reactivation process within 12 months from the date of application approval must reapply for reactivation of the inactive certification.

c.Certification inactive for more than 48 months. An emergency medical care provider may not apply to reactivate a certification that has been inactive for more than 48 months.

(5)Reactivation of revoked or suspended certification.

a. Any person whose certification to practice has been revoked or suspended may apply to the department for reactivation in accordance with the terms and conditions of the order of revocation or suspension, unless the order of revocation provides that the certification is permanently revoked.

b. If the order of revocation or suspension did not establish terms and conditions upon which reactivation might occur or if the certification was volimtarily surrendered, an initial application for reactivation may not be made until one year has elapsed from the date of the order or the date of the voluntary surrender.

c. All proceedings for reactivation shall be initiated by the person whose certification has been revoked or suspended in accordance with subrule 131.6(4). An application for reactivation shall allege facts which, if established, will be sufficient to enable the department to determine that the basis for the revocation or suspension of the person's certification no longer exists and that it will be in the public interest for the certification to be reinstated. The burden of proof to establish such facts shall be on the person whose certification has been suspended or revoked.

d. An order denying or granting reactivation shall be based upon a decision which incorporates findings of facts and conclusions of law.

(6)Fees. The nonrefundable fees are as follows:

a. Application for initial Iowa certification at all certification levels: $30.

b. Reactivation of a certification to practice: $30.

c. Renewal of a certification to practice as a first responder, EMR: no fee.

d. Renewal of a certification to practice as an emergency medical technician: no fee.

e. Renewal of a certification to practice as an advance emergency medical technician: $10.

f. Renewal of a certification to practice as a paramedic: $25.

g. Late renewal of a certification to practice: $30.

h. Returned payment due to insufficient funds: $15.

i. Extension of certification: $50.

j. Criminal history background checks by the Iowa division of criminal investigation (DCI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and fingerprint card evaluation: $50.

(7)Continuing education renewal.

a. The table below illustrates the minimum number of core CEHs by topic area for each level of emergency medical care provider to renew an Iowa EMS certification.

Core Topics	EMR/FR	EMT/EMT-D	AEMT	PM
Airway, Respirations, Ventilations	1	1	2	3
Cardiology	2	6	7	9
Trauma	1	2	3	3
Medical	3	6	8	9
Operations	1	5	5	6
Totals	8	20	25	30

b. All core continuing education hours used to renew an Iowa EMS certification must have a sponsor number by an authorized Iowa training program, the department, the board of nursing, the board of medicine, or CAPCE before the emergency medical care provider attends the offering.

c. An emergency medical care provider who is registered with the NREMT may renew the provider's Iowa EMS certification by meeting the NREMT's requirements. The emergency medical care provider must submit the Iowa affirmative renewal of certification application and all appropriate fees.

d. An emergency medical care provider shall be deemed to have complied with the continuing education requirements during periods in which the provider serves honorably on active duty in the military services or for periods in which the provider is a government employee working as an emergency medical care provider and assigned to duty outside the United States. The emergency medical care provider must submit the Iowa affirmative renewal of certification application, all appropriate fees and documentation of assignment.

e. The emergency medical care provider shall maintain a file containing documentation of CEHs accrued during each certification period for four years from the end of each certification period.

f. A group of emergency medical care providers will be audited for each certification period. Emergency medical care providers to be audited will be chosen in a random manner or at the discretion of BETS. Falsifying reports or failure to comply with the audit request may result in formal disciplinary action. Those audited will be required to submit a department-provided audit report form within 45 days of the request. If audited, the emergency medical care provider must provide the following information:

(1) Date of program.

(2) Program sponsor number

(3) Title of program.

(4) Number of approved hours.

(8)Continuing education approval. The following standards shall be applied for approval of continuing education:

a. CEHs shall have an assigned sponsor number from CAPCE, an authorized EMS training program, the board of nursing, the board of medicine or the department.

b. Human health-related college courses may be approved in advance by BETS at one quarter credit equal to 10 CEHs, one semester credit equal to 15 CEHs.

(9)Out-of-state continuing education. Out-of-state continuing education courses shall be accepted for CEHs if all criteria in subrule 131.6(7) are met and if the courses have been approved for emergency medical care personnel in the state in which the courses were held. A copy of course completion certificates (or other verifying documentation) shall, upon request, be submitted to the department.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 641-131.6

ARC 9443B, lAB 4/6/11, effective 8/1/11

Adopted by IAB August 12, 2020/Volume XLIII, Number 4, effective 9/16/2020