Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › TRAUMA/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES › Chapter 246-976 - Emergency medical services and trauma care systems › TRAINING › Section 246-976-022 - EMS training program requirements, approval, reapproval, discipline

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) To apply for
				  initial department approval as an EMS training program, applicants shall meet
				  the requirements in Table A of this section.
Table A EMS Training Program Requirements For
					 Approval
REQUIREMENTS
Organization type
Must be one of the following:
A local EMS and trauma care council or a county
								  office responsible for EMS training for the county. This includes county
								  agencies established by ordinance and approved by the MPD to coordinate and
								  conduct EMS programs;
A regional EMS and trauma care council providing
								  EMS training throughout the region;
An accredited institution of higher education;
								  or
A private educational business, licensed as a
								  private vocational school.
Optional organization
If the organizations listed above do not exist or
								  are unable to provide an EMS training program, the local EMS and trauma care
								  council may recommend to the department another entity that is able to provide
								  training.
In the absence of a local EMS council, the
								  regional EMS and trauma care council may provide such recommendation.
Initial training courses conducted for licensed
								  EMS agencies under the oversight of a department-approved EMS training
								  program.
Need for new training program
Applicant must demonstrate need for new or
								  additional EMS training programs.
Training program application
Complete a DOH EMS training program application
								  on forms provided by the department indicating the levels of EMS training the
								  program wants to conduct.
Class room and laboratory
Provide a description of classroom and laboratory
								  facilities.
Training equipment and supplies
Provide a list of equipment and supplies on hand
								  (or accessible) for use in the training program.
Course enrollment
For each level of EMS training applying for,
								  provide a description of:
Course entry prerequisites;
Selection criteria; and
The process used to screen applicants.
Student handbook
Provide a student handbook for each level of EMS
								  training applied for that provides:
Training program policies, including minimum
								  standards to enter training consistent with this chapter;
Course requirements and minimum standards
								  required for successful completion of examinations, clinical/field internship
								  rotations, and the EMS course;
Initial certification requirements the student
								  must meet to become certified as identified in WAC
								  246-976-141; and
A listing of clinical and field internship sites
								  available.
(2) Approved training programs shall meet the
				  requirements in Table B of this section.
Table B EMS Training Program
					 Requirements
REQUIREMENTS
General
An approved training program must:
Conduct courses following department
								  requirements;
If conducting paramedic training courses, be
								  accredited by a national accrediting organization approved by the
								  department;
In conjunction with the course instructor, ensure
								  course applicants meet the course application requirements in WAC
								  246-976-041;
Maintain clinical and field internship sites to
								  meet course requirements, including the requirement that internship rotations
								  on EMS vehicles must be performed as a third person, not replacing required
								  staff on the vehicle;
For the purposes of program and course
								  evaluation, provide to the department, county MPD, or MPD delegate access to
								  all course related materials;
Conduct examinations over course lessons and
								  other Washington state required topics; and
Participate in EMS and trauma care council
								  educational planning.
Certification examination
Coordinate activities with the
								  department-approved certification examination provider, including:
Registering the training program;
Assisting students in registering with the
								  examination provider;
Providing verification of cognitive knowledge and
								  psychomotor skills for students successfully completing the EMS course;
								  and
Assisting students in scheduling the
								  examination.
Student records
Maintain student records for a minimum of four
								  years.
Evaluation
Monitor and evaluate the quality of instruction
								  for the purposes of quality improvement, including course examination scores
								  for each level taught.
Reporting
Submit an annual report to the department which
								  includes:
Annual, overall certification examination
								  results;
A summary of complaints against the training
								  program and what was done to resolve the issues;
Quality improvement activities including a
								  summary of issues and actions to improve training results.
(3) To apply for reapproval, an EMS training
				  program must meet the requirements in Table C of this section.
Table C EMS Training Program Reapproval
REAPPROVAL
Requirements
An EMS training program must be in good standing
								  with the department and:
Have no violations of the statute and
								  rules;
Have no pending disciplinary actions;
Maintain an overall pass rate of seventy-five
								  percent on department-approved state certification examinations;
If conducting paramedic training courses, be
								  accredited by a national accrediting organization approved by the
								  department.
Reapplication
Complete:
The requirements in Tables A and B of this
								  section; and
Submit an updated EMS training program
								  application to the department at least six months prior to the program
								  expiration date.
(4) Training program approval is effective on
				  the date the department issues the certificate. Approval must be renewed every
				  five years. The expiration date is indicated on the approval letter.
(5) Discipline of EMS training programs.
(a) The secretary may deny, suspend, modify,
				  or revoke the approval of a training program when it finds:
(i) Violations of chapter 246-976
				  WAC;
(ii) Pending disciplinary
				  actions;
(iii) Falsification of EMS
				  course documents; or
(iv) Failure
				  to update training program information with the department as changes
				  occur.