EMS Educator Updates

Last reviewed and updated: June 18, 2024

Implementation of Virginia Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

Virginia has officially adopted the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) model with some state-specific customizations. For more information on this implementation, click here.  Here’s the quick take:

Across all three areas, it’s the provider’s responsibility to participate in relevant, substantive CE that will enable them to recertify with Virginia and the National Registry–if they choose.

The following graphic shows the 2016-2025 Virginia Recertification Requirements by provider level.  Please note the requirements are tied to the date of the provider’s last Virginia recertification cycle–October 1, 2023 is the key date which determines what CE requirements apply to the provider moving forward.  The very first statement you make is:

“Show me your current CE Report.”

When a provider comes to you with questions about the new Virginia CE requirements, their CE Report is crucial to the entire process.  As far as how the transition will work, look to the two scenarios below.

If the provider recertified in Virginia on or after October 1, 2023:

  • No earned CE will be lost or removed from your report in the transition.
  • The CE earned and currently on their Virginia CE Report–from October 1, 2023 forward–will be retroactively transitioned to the new 2025 Virginia Recertification Requirements. 
  • The retroactive reprocessing of their CE to the new 2025 requirements may possibly change the number of hours their have in a specific areas based on the new requirements.
    • Please review their Virginia CE Report with them to identify any areas that may be affected and require additional CE to be earned in order to be eligible for recertification in Virginia and with National Registry if applicable.
  • If the provider is eligible for recertification in Virginia on June 17th, their eligibility will not be lost and they will not be required to complete additional CE based on this change in CE requirements to satisfy their Virginia recertification.
  • If the provider is National Registry certified and they plan to maintain that certification, they must review their Virginia CE Report against the Registry NCCP 2025 requirements to ensure that they have earned enough CE in the correct areas to satisfy Registry recertification.

If the provider recertified in Virginia before October 1, 2023:

Please see the chart below to see the hours changes between the 2016 model and the 2025 model–clicking on the image will begin a download of the PDF version of the form.

BLS & ALS Recertification Requirements

New Policy Regarding Enrollment of 15 years in an EMT Course

The following outlines an administrative policy change that went into effect earlier this year pertaining to 15-year-olds being allowed to enroll in an EMT course.

Student Age

All students enrolled in a Basic Life Support (BLS) EMS course shall be at least 16 years of age by the end date of the course as announced to OEMS.  Students 15 years of age must apply for a variance before the program begins in order to be considered for eligibility to enroll in the course.

If you have questions, please click here.

 

New National Registry ALS Certification Exams

IMPORTANT TIMELINES AND INFORMATION

+ The current AEMT and Paramedic cognitive and psychomotor examinations end on June 30, 2024.
+ The new AEMT Certification Examination starts on July 1, 2024 with the new fee of $159.00. One examination – no psychomotor examination required.
+ The new Paramedic Certification Examination starts on July 1, 2024 with the new fee of $175.00. One examination – no psychomotor examination required.

For more information, please click here.

National Registry Fee Schedule and NCCP CE Requirements

On July 1, 2024, the National Registry will be increasing the fees it charges for AEMT and Paramedic cognitive exams.

  • AEMT – $159.00
  • Paramedic – $175.00