ODPS Emergency Medical Services FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for an initial EMS certification test? [ A ]

• Please see your instructor or program coordinator to obtain information on the process for registering for an EMS examination. You are required to sign up for an account and register for your examination through the National Register of Emergency Medical Services at www.nremt.org.

What is the NREMT assessment examination? [ A ]

• The assessment examination is an examination developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Services. The assessment examination is currently used for the reinstatement of an expired certification, in lieu of continuing education, and EMS instructor knowledge examinations.

How do I register for an assessment examination certification test? [ A ]

• You are required to sign up for an account and register for your examination through the National Register of Emergency Medical Services at www.nremt.org. If you have any questions please contact EMS Staff at (800) 233-0785 or (614) 752-7813.

How do I register for an initial fire certification examination? [ A ]

• Please see your instructor or program director to obtain information on the process for registering for a fire examination. The Division of EMS has developed a web based testing system that allows our approved fire charters to administer the fire examinations. If you have any questions please contact EMS Staff at (800) 233-0785 or (614) 752-3946.

How will I get my test score? [ A ]

• Test scores for all initial EMT certifications will be mailed to you from the National Registry. All Fire test scores will be reported by the training institution.

What is firefighter equivalency? [ A ]

• There is a process called "equivalency" for transferring your out of state or military training to Ohio. The information and complete downloadable packets for firefighters is located under "Fire Instructor and Fire Charters" at www.ems.ohio.gov. If you have questions regarding this process please contact Doug Orahood (dorahood@dps.state.oh.us) at 800-233-0785 or 9614)752-3946.

How do I apply for Firefighter equivalency? [ A ]

• To apply for Firefighter equivalency you must submit a completed application along with a verification of training form. Please send the verification of training form to the state agency where you are currently certified as a firefighter or to the training base for the branch of the military where you received training. When you receive the verification of training form back from the verifying agency please submit it along with your application, copies of your certificate of training, copies of completion of NIMS 100 & 700. It will be determined from this information where you qualify and you will be permitted at that time to test for certification in Ohio. You may submit the completed forms to:
• Ohio Department of Public Safety
  Division of EMS
  1970 West Broad Street
  P.O. Box 182073
  Columbus, Ohio 43218-2073
  Attn: Doug Orahood
• If you have questions regarding this process please contact Doug Orahood (dorahood@dps.state.oh.us) at 800-233-0785 or 9614)752-3946.

How do I register for a certification test? [ A ]

• Each fire and/or EMS training agency in the state of Ohio has test registration applications. Please see your instructor or program coordinator to obtain a test registration form. Test registration forms must be received by our office at least ten (10) BUSINESS days prior to an examination.

How will I get my test score? [ A ]

• Test scores for all initial EMT certifications will be mailed to you from the National Registry. All Fire test scores will be reported by the training institution.

Has my card been sent yet? [ A ]

• An initial firefighter certification card will be mailed to you three to five weeks from the time you receive your passing test results. An initial EMT certification card will be mailed within three to five weeks from the time we receive your complete application and test results. You will be notified by letter regarding any problems with your certification application. Once test scores are entered into our database system, cards are then printed and mailed. If you need to check on the status of your certification card, please contact EMS Certification at (800) 233-0785 or (614) 466-9455.

How do I renew my certification? [ A ]

• All EMT'S are sent a reminder postcard regarding certification renewal 180 days prior to the expiration date of the certificate to practice . Please follow the instructions for renewal when you receive this postcard. Remember that we send all correspondence to the most recent address we have on file. If your address has changed , please fill out the change of address form posted on our website under forms and return to our office for processing. If you should need a replacement card, please fill out the replacement card form posted on our website under forms and return to our office for processing.
• Certification Staff at 800 -233-0785 or (614) 466-9455

How do I transfer my current EMT card to Ohio? (Parts 1&2) [ A ]

• There is a process called 'reciprocity,' and the information and complete downloadable packets for each level of EMS provider that Ohio recognizes is under "Forms." You MUST have a current National Registry certification in order to file. If you do not, you must work with the training school where you took your original training to accomplish this. You may also want to contact the National Registry office at 1-614-888-4484. If you have any questions, please contact our EMS Education Section at 1-800-233-0785 or 1-614-387-0449.

How many hours do I need to renew my card? [ A ]

• Please access the "Training, Testing and Certification" portion of our web site. Under there, you can choose "Certification and Continuing Education Requirement Brochures," and download a copy of the appropriate renewal brochure. If you have any questions, please contact our EMS Education Section at 1-800-233-0785 1-614-387-0449.

How do 'we' become a CE training site? [ A ]

• In order to provide continuing education within your facility, you may our EMS Education Section at 1-800-233-0785 1-614-387-0449. The initial application is under "Forms" on our web site, however, there is additional paperwork that is needed in order for our EMS Board to approve your location to provide CE. Visit our Web Site @ www.ems.ohio.gov

How do I submit a change of address and name change? [ A ]

• Please go to the forms section and complete the form for address change. All information must be included. Incomplete forms will NOT be processed. If you are submitting a name change a copy of the legal document that changed your name will be required, (ie...marriage certificate, divorce decree). You may submit the completed in form in one of the following ways:
• Fax: 614-466-9461 attn: EMS Certification
• Mail: Ohio Public Safety
  Division of EMS
  1970 West Broad Street
  P.O. Box 182073
  Columbus, Ohio 43218-2073
  Attn: EMS Certification

How do I request a duplicate card if I have lost my certification card? [ A ]

• Please go to the forms section and complete the form for Request for a Duplicate card. All information must be completed. Incomplete forms will NOT be processed. After completing the form you may submit it in one of the following ways:
• Fax: 614-466-9461 attn: EMS Certification
• Mail: Ohio Public Safety
  Division of EMS
  1970 West Broad Street
  P.O. Box 182073
  Columbus, Ohio 43218-2073
  Attn: EMS Certification

Reciprocity FAQ's

What if I do not already have registration with the National Registry? [ A ]

• Ohio utilizes the National Registry for their testing mechanism, as do other states at the present time. It will be necessary for you to obtain current registration in order for you to file for reciprocity. You may go to the National Registry's web site: www.nremt.org and download a copy of the appropriate level of application in which you are applying for reciprocity in Ohio. When you download this application, you will find that page 1 will be information pertaining to yourself. Page 2 will then be information that your 'original' training school will have to verify. If for some reason your original training school will not verify this information for you, and requires you to come back to obtain proper validation, then that is strictly between you and the training school. That is clearly beyond Ohio's Division of EMS.

What if I 'used' to be registered with the National Registry, but my registration has Lapsed? [ A ]

• You must go through the NREMT's reinstatement process. They can be reached at 1-614-888-4484.

I'm filing for reciprocity at the EMT-Basic level and I need the 12-hour Advanced Airway Curriculum course of instruction. Where do I obtain this training? [ A ]

• You can access our web site – under "Training," you may then access the "Training Facility Information" section. You may then access all of the 'accredited' training facilities (by county) and contact the EMS Program Coordinator who operates the training school. Please be sure to advise them that you are filing for reciprocity, and advise them that you are in need of the 12-hour Advanced Airway Curriculum for the basic level.

When are the 12-hour Advanced Airway classes given? [ A ]

• The Division of EMS does not receive information as to when and what courses are being offered by any of the training facilities. Therefore, it will be entirely up to the reciprocity candidate to contact the closest training school and speak with the EMS Program Coordinator to obtain specific dates/times to attend for this course.

How long is the reciprocity process? [ A ]

• In short, as soon as our office is in receipt of the necessary paperwork and documentation, it is looked over to ensure validity and educational curriculum and education matches Ohio’s current requirements. Once all documentation has been sufficed, the information is forwarded to Certifications, who will then take 7-10 working days to enter the data into the computer system. Once the information is entered, the Division of EMS views you as certified, and you may begin practicing pre-hospital patient care with a department. However, please keep in mind that the department in which you are going to be employed has the ultimate decision – and may require you to physically provide them with a copy of your Ohio Certificate to Practice prior to you providing patient care. In that case, you must wait for your card to arrive.
• Certificates to Practice are NOT printed at this location, and will be forwarded to you as soon as the printing service has them completed.

I'm coming from the military, and they trained me well above the EMT-Basic level that Ohio has. Can I apply for the Paramedic level instead of the Basic level? [ A ]

• As you can appreciate that the military has their own standards of training and "job titles," each state also has a standard to uphold. Ohio is no different. In Ohio, EMS is governed by an entire EMS Board. The EMS Board is governed by the Ohio Revised Code. In turn, the EMS Board has written specific Administrative Codes that coincide with the ORC, and all training is written within those two separate codes. The military is only approved (through the NREMT) to train the EMT-Basic. The military has authority to pay for an enlisted serviceman to attend a Paramedic course - however, that course is operated by a contracted state organization. The only way that one could apply for a Paramedic level of certification is for that serviceman to provide a current NREMT registration as well as a current state certification from the state where the 'original' Paramedic training was obtained.

When I took the EMT-Basic training at my training school, we were taught about the ET tube - do I still have to take the advanced airway class? [ A ]

• Unfortunately, the only ‘initial’ curriculum that mirrors Ohio when it comes to the advanced airway is South Carolina. Candidates from all other states as well as the military MUST take the advanced airway course at an accredited training facility in Ohio.

Who do I send all of these forms to? [ A ]

• Please follow the directions sheet to know which forms and requested information are forwarded to which appropriate agency. This will expedite the process, and lessen frustration on the reciprocity candidate's part.

House Bill 128 FAQ's

What is House Bill 128? [ A ]

• Senate Bill 128 revises the requirements for ambulance staffing and driver requirements. It also revises priorities for distributing grant funding and specifies additional titles used by EMS personnel. The law becomes effective September 23, 2011.

4765.43 ORC. What is substantially utilizing volunteers? [ A ]

• An EMS organization is considered to be substantially utilizing volunteers if in a particular week when the paid individuals, taken as a whole, are scheduled for a total of not more than 192 hours in that week.

Under the new law, what are the qualifications for driving an ambulance on an emergency run? [ A ]

• The driver must be at least 18 years old and must hold an Ohio EMS or fire certification.

In reference to the driver of an ambulance, do the requirements for driving during an emergency run to the scene of an emergency differ from the requirements for transporting a patient? [ A ]

• Yes. Driving to the SCENE of an emergency run for paid, combination, or volunteer departments, the ambulance shall be staffed by at least one EMT-B, EMT-I, or paramedic. This individual may also serve as the driver. In the case when a patient is being TRANSPORTED to the hospital when an EMS organization is using paid individuals or NOT substantially utilizing volunteers, the ambulance shall be staffed as follows: It must include at least two EMT-basics, EMT-intermediates or paramedics or combinations thereof. One of these individuals may serve as the driver. In the case when a patient is being TRANSPORTED to the hospital, when an EMS organization is using all volunteers or substantially utilizing volunteers , the ambulance shall be staffed as follows: It must include at least two EMT-basics, EMT-intermediates or paramedics, or combinations thereof, or by at least one First Responder and one EMT-basic, EMT-intermediate or paramedic. One of these individuals may serve as the driver, but if the minimum staffing requirement is being met by utilizing a First Responder, the First Responder must serve as the driver.

How Does H.B. 128 affect Ohio EMS converting to national titles?[ A ]

• Part of this bill allows Ohio to comply with the Ohio EMS Board's decision to change the Ohio EMS provider titles to match the National EMS provider titles. The staff at the Ohio Division of EMS is preparing draft Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rule changes necessary to make this possible. Currently, throughout the rules, the term EMT is used generically to mean all levels of Ohio EMS providers. With the new Ohio titles being added to the definitions of each specific level, the generic use of EMT will no longer be applicable to all levels. This process will take some time to correct with draft rules being crafted, public hearings being held, EMS Board approval, and the JCARR process completed. Ohio EMS provider certification cards issued by the Division of EMS after the effective date of the new rules (expected in February 2012) will reflect the new titles.

What are the current titles and what will be the nerw titles under H.B. 128? [ A ]

• Current Ohio Titles are: First Responder (FR) Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B) Emergency Medical Technician –Intermediate (EMT-I) Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic (EMT-P) New Ohio Titles are: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Paramedic

How does H.B. 128 affect the Ohio EMS Grant Program?[ A ]

• The legislation required changes to the Ohio EMS Grant Program and added additional grant priorities. No changes were made to the source of funding or the percentage allocated to grants from seatbelt fines. The following is a summary of changes that will take effect for the next grant award year known as 2011-2012: Priority 1 - There are no changes for priority 1 (training and equipment) applicants; any additional priorities created by this legislation will not affect the funding level of priority 1. First Priority shall be given to emergency medical service organization for the training of personnel, for the purchase of equipment and vehicles, and to improve the availability, accessibility, and quality of emergency medical services in this state. In this category, the board shall give priority to grants that fund training and equipping of emergency medical service personnel. Priority 2 – This priority was changed from priority 4 to priority 2. Second priority shall be given to entities that research, test, and evaluate medical procedures and systems related to adult and pediatric trauma care. Priority 2 will seek grantees that will coordinate an assessment of Ohio's Trauma system. Details for applicants will be available in the application guidance available on November 1, 2011 at the Ohio EMS Web site. Only priority 2 applicants will have an extended application period. All other applications along with grant focus areas will be available on February 1, 2012.

What about the other grant priorities? [ A ]

• Priority 3 – This priority has been changed from priority 2 to priority 3. Third priority shall be given to entities that research the causes, nature, and effect of traumatic injuries, educate the public about injury prevention, and implement, test, and evaluate injury prevention strategies. Priority 4 – This priority was changed from priority 3 to priority 4. Fourth priority shall be given to entities that research, test and evaluate procedures that promote rehabilitation, retraining, and reemployment of adult or pediatric trauma victims and social service support mechanisms for adult or pediatric trauma victims and their families; Priority 5 – This is a new priority created as a tool for the EMS Board to seek research specific to Ohio EMS operations separate from trauma and injury prevention research. Fifth priority shall be given to entities that conduct research on, test, or evaluate one or more of the following: (a) Procedures governing the performance of emergency medical services in this state; (b) The training of emergency medical service personnel; (c) The staff of emergency medical service organizations. Priority 6 – This is a new priority created to assist those training programs seeking national accreditation. The funding level for this priority is a maximum of $5,000.00 per institution seeking accreditation at the paramedic level. This priority will no longer be in affect after the 2017 award year. For grants distributed for the grant award years occurring not later than the award year ending June 30, 2017, sixth priority shall be given to entities that operate EMS training programs at the paramedic level and are seeking national accreditation of the EMS training program at the paramedic level. (B) To be eligible for a grant, an applicant for the grant shall meet all of the following conditions: (1) Hold a certificate of accreditation issued by the board pursuant to section 4765.17 of the Revised Code to operate an EMS training program at the paramedic level; (2) Be seeking initial national accreditation of the EMS training program at the paramedic level from an accrediting organization as approved by the board; (3) Apply for the national accreditation on or after February 25, 2010