FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

EMT Continuing Education Audit Procedures

Why do I need to show my EMT continuing education (CE) when I have already received my new EMT card?

The EMT continuing education audit process is conducted one month AFTER an EMT recertifies. For example; if you renewed your Ohio EMT card in the month of June 2004, the computer will automatically and randomly kick out 10% of those that renewed June 2004, the second week of July 2004, for an EMT audit. Using the above example and assuming your EMT card was renewed effective 06-01-04, this audit process would then be for the three year period June 1, 2001 to June 1, 2004. You would have to show certificates of completion for the three year period June 1, 2001 to June 1, 2004.

The audit procedure is a way to spot check continuing education requirements for EMT’s during their three year certification period.

Why do I need to submit my certificates of completion for continuing education when I am audited?

The only way to verify that the continuing education has met the Ohio EMS Board requirements for “Approved” continuing education training, is to have a proper certificate of completion signed by the “Approved” continuing education training program coordinator. THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR’S SIGNATURE MUST BE ON THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FOR IT TO BE VALID.

The EMS Board has agreed to accept a computer printout of “Approved” continuing education training from an “Approved” continuing education training program, as long as the computer printout contains the same information as the certificate of completion and the program coordinator signs the computer printout to attest to the completion of the training.

I just attended an EMT class one month after the new EMT card was issued. Can I use that class for continuing education for the past three year period to meet my EMT renewal requirements?

NO. The only continuing education allowed for the EMS audit process is “Approved” continuing education taken within the three year audit period listed on the EMS audit form, in the upper right hand corner; Certification Period: 06-01-01 to 06-01-04 (from the example in the first question.) Any CE classes before or after these dates would not be honored for this specific EMT renewal, audit period.

On the front of the EMS audit form, there are two places to check, one reads, “Do you have a ‘current’ National Registry card? Yes or No; and the other reads Did you take a test in lieu of attending continuing education? Yes or No. What do each of these mean?

The first one would only be checked IF you have a current National Registry card at the time your Ohio EMT card expired. If you checked “Yes” and have the current National Registry card, complete the portion above this section for correct name address, department affiliation, etc… attach a copy of your National Registry card, sign the EMS audit form on page 2 and then return the EMS audit form to the Division of EMS, YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE EMS RANDOM AUDIT. You do not have to list any other CE sessions or classes.

If you do not have a current National Registry card, mark “No” and move on to the next section.

The second section of “testing in lieu of continuing education” means that you decided to challenge the testing process instead of completing continuing education. It does not mean the refresher test you may have taken or any other tests given during a continuing education course. You would have to enroll in the “TEST in LIEU of CONTINUING EDUCATION” during the last six months of your cards certification period and pass that test for this box to be checked “Yes”.

If you did not take the test in lieu of continuing education, mark “No” and move on to the next section.

Why can’t I just mark the EMS audit form “see attached certificates” instead of listing out the continuing education in each section of the EMS audit form?

On the front page of the EMS audit form there is a black shaded area entitled “Directions”. It is important to read those directions carefully and follow the directions listed. You need to list all your continuing education taken during the three year period being audited, in each specific area; Pediatric CE, Geriatric CE, Trauma CE, Cardiology CE and Other Topic Areas CE. Once you list your CE totally for the three year period, go back and check that each session listed has a certificate of completion attached. If you don’t list the CE training sessions individually, you may not receive the credit you deserve for the CE classes taken and/or credit for specific types of CE training attended.

I completed an “Approved” continuing education class covering “OB-GYN” CE for 8 hours, and this was not accepted as Pediatric CE, why?

Under the “Pediatric CE” area of page 1 on the EMS audit form, it clearly states that the only CE credit allowed in the Pediatric CE area for OB-GYN classes, is the actual time spent which deals with the care of the infant “AFTER” delivery. The certificate of completion must show the actual hours for this time to be credited for Pediatrics or a course syllabus must be attached to the certificate of completion.

I filled out the EMS audit form completely and had it returned to me because I forgot to sign it. Is the signature that important?

YES! Your signature attests to the information being provided by you, that you have completed the CE sessions you have listed on the EMS audit form.

When you signed your renewal EMT application, your signature attested on that document that you had completed the necessary requirements for renewal. This signature states that all items listed on the EMS audit form are true and accurate, so your signature is important!

I recently moved and lost all of my certificates of completion for the CE taken during the last three years. Is there anything I can do once I am audited?

Short of going back to the “Approved” training program coordinators to reissue the certificates of completion, if you cannot reproduce those documents, your EMS audit would be turned over to the EMS Investigations section for possible action by the EMS Board. SAFEGUARD YOUR CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION! THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING CERTIFIED AND LOSING CERTIFICATION.

I received my EMS audit form and do not have the required CE hours to successfully complete the EMS audit procedure. Can I take the test in lieu of continuing education now?

NO! The test in lieu of continuing education can only be taken within the last six months of your certification cycle. The requirements of continuing education for First Responders, EMT-B’s, EMT-I’s and EMT-P’s are all spelled out under the Ohio Administrative Codes 4765-12-08, 4765-15-03, 4765-16-03, and 4765-17-02, respectively. If you are short on CE hours for recertification, document that and send in your audit to the EMS Division. Your EMT audit will be sent to EMS Investigations for possible action by the EMS Board.

What happens if I do not complete the audit or fail to respond to the EMT audit process?

Please take the EMT audit process seriously. It is your certification that could be at stake! Failing to respond or failing to submit proper documentation to successfully complete the audit process will result in an EMS Investigation and possible subsequent actions being taken by the State EMS Board.

I am an Ohio certified EMT-Paramedic and I have completed ACLS in the three year certification cycle being audited, but now I do not have a valid ACLS card. Do I have to maintain my ACLS card to be renewed as an Ohio Paramedic?

The Ohio Administrative Code 4765-17-02 requirements for continuing education as a paramedic reads for the cardiac CE requirements; “Twelve hours on emergency cardiac care, which may be satisfied upon successful completion of an advanced cardiac life support course of the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), or an equivalent program approved or designated by the State EMS Board.”

If you took an ACLS course from the AHA or ASHI during your three year certification cycle, you would meet the 12 hour CE requirement for emergency cardiac care as a paramedic. A valid ACLS card may be required by your local department, your local Medical Director, or required regionally, and is required by the National Registry for renewal. A valid ACLS card at the time of State renewal is not required.

I am a nurse and have some CE hours from my nursing continuing education. Does any of these hours apply to my State EMT recertification?

Continuing education credit is allowed towards the State EMT recertification as long as a certificate of completion is issued to you and the course has been approved for continuing education credit by an EMS licensing agency of another State, or the United States military, or a medical or nursing licensing board of this or of another State, or the CE is a journal or publication of a State or National medical, nursing or EMS organization, when upon successful completion of an examination, the certificate of completion is issued. All CE topics must be EMS operations or EMS patient care related.

I am in a nursing school at the present time and was wondering if any of the classes I am taking could convert to CE for my State EMT card. Is that possible?

In order for any of the nursing school hours to be credited for State EMT recertification hours, the program coordinator at the school where you are taking your nursing training must be willing to give you a certificate of completion for any hours the program coordinator would deem as continuing education (CE) in the areas of EMS operations or EMS patient care.

I have heard that a person can take continuing education hours on the internet. Is this true?

YES. The Ohio EMS Board has agreed to accept internet continuing education training as long as the internet sites have been approved by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS), or the site is a nationally recognized organization, or the site is approved by another State’s EMS governing body. Currently, there is no limit on the amount of CE hours that can be taken via the internet for all levels of EMT renewal requirements.

I have my BTLS, PALS and healthcare provider cards. Do I need to submit certificates of completion or is a copy of the cards sufficient?

YES. Always submit a copy of the card with your audit. In addition, make sure you list on the EMS audit form the specific class and how many hours were credited for the specific class. Most cards, CPR, BTLS, PALS, etc….. do not have the number of class hours on the cards. A certificate of completion showing the number of hours of credit for pediatric, adult or any other applicable credit would be necessary. If you do not have a certificate of completion for those hours, then a course syllabus or other document showing the number of hours of CE credit, for each card submitted, is required.

I recently received my EMS audit form from the Division of EMS. I do not have the required CE hours to successfully complete the EMS audit procedure. Can I get an extension now?

NO. An extension must be applied for at the time you submitted your EMT renewal application. The request for an extension is actually on the renewal application. By signing the EMT renewal application you are attesting to having met the requirements to recertify or you are requesting an extension. Once you have been issued the new EMT card, and extension will not be granted. You would need to document the hours of CE you have on the EMS audit form, sign the audit form, and then return the audit form to the Division of EMS. Once the Division of EMS receives an audit form that does not meet the requirements to recertify, and the EMT has no other CE to submit, the audit would be sent to EMS Investigations for possible action with the EMS Board.