N.J. Admin. Code § 8:41A-4.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 8:41A-4.1 - Certification

(a) No person shall act in the capacity of an EMT-Paramedic in any form or manner until certified by the Department to do so.

(b) The requirements for certification as an EMT-Paramedic shall be as follows:

1. Attainment of the age of 18;

2. Possession of a high school diploma or its equivalent;

3. Possession of EMT-Basic, CPR, ACLS and either PALS or PEPP-Advanced certifications; and

4. Successful completion of an EMT-Paramedic training program (which shall consist of both a didactic and a clinical portion) and achievement of a passing score on the NREMT-Paramedic Certification Examination, or granting of reciprocity by the Department in accordance with 8:41A-4.2.

(c) Absent the granting of a waiver, as provided for in (d) below, no person shall be certified as an EMT-Paramedic if he or she has entered into a pre-trial intervention program, conditional discharge or other diversionary program authorized under the statutes of the State of New Jersey or under any other state's statutes, or been convicted of:

1. Any crime;

2. Any disorderly persons offense; and/or

3. A petty disorderly persons offense involving the possession, utilization, sale and/or distribution of any controlled dangerous substance; representing a risk of harm to the health, safety or welfare of patients; and/or involving patient abuse or patient neglect.

(d) A person who has been convicted of any crime or offense listed in (c)1 through 3 above may, in accordance with 8:41A-1.4, request a waiver of this requirement. All requests must be made in writing, and shall be considered in compliance with the Rehabilitated Convicted Offenders Act, 2A:168A-1 et seq.

(e) EMT-Paramedic certification shall not be issued until such time as the person has provided the Department with his or her full name, permanent mailing address and other information as may be required by the Department. This information shall be maintained by the Department and shall be utilized to maintain a register of all persons applying for certification, as required pursuant to 26:2K-8.

(f) EMT-Paramedic certification shall be valid for a period of not less than 24, nor more than 30, months. Expiration of all certifications shall occur on either June 30 or December 31, depending on the date of initial certification. Certifications shall be valid until 12:00 midnight of the expiration date listed on the card. No grace periods or extensions shall be granted.

1. One original certification card shall be furnished free of charge. All requests for replacement cards must be submitted in writing and accompanied by a certified bank check (for example, a cashier's check) or money order in the amount of $ 5.00, made payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Requests sent via e-mail, facsimile or without the $ 5.00 fee shall not be honored.

2. Certification cards are the property of the Department, and shall be immediately surrendered to Department staff upon demand. All certification cards shall become immediately null and void and shall be returned to the Department concurrent with the revocation or voluntary surrender of a person's EMT-Paramedic certification.

(g) Once certified, it shall be the responsibility of the EMT-Paramedic to immediately notify OEMS, in writing, of:

1. Conviction of any crime or offense listed in (c)1 through 3 above; and/or

2. Any change of name and/or address, and to provide appropriate documentation as may be required by the Department.

(h) A person shall not knowingly file any record or document that is falsified, fraudulent or untrue. The filing of such false records or documents shall be sufficient cause for the revocation, or refusal to issue or renew, an EMT-Paramedic certification.

(i) Consistent with 8:41A-5.3(b), a person denied certification as an EMT-Paramedic shall be entitled to a hearing at the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law to contest the denial.

(j) Notwithstanding (f) above, during the period of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, EMT-Paramedic certifications set to expire on June 30, 2020, shall be automatically extended to December 31, 2020.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:41A-4.1

Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020) 52 N.J.R. 1652(a), effective 8/7/2020