§ 1003.23. EMT.

 (a)  Roles and responsibilities. An EMT may perform, in a prehospital, interhospital or emergency care setting in a hospital, or during the transfer of convalescent or other nonemergency cases, the BLS services set forth in subsection (e), to prevent loss of life or aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury. This section does not prohibit an EMT from providing BLS services as a good Samaritan.

 (b)  Certification.

   (1)  The Department will certify as an EMT an individual who meets the following qualifications:

     (i)   Completes an application on a form prescribed by the Department.

     (ii)   Is 16 years of age or older.

     (iii)   Has successfully completed an EMT training course approved by the Department.

     (iv)   Has successfully completed a written EMT examination prescribed by the Department.

     (v)   Has successfully completed an EMT practical skills examination prescribed by the Department.

   (2)  The Department will also certify as an EMT an individual who completes an application on a form prescribed by the Department and who has one of the following:

     (i)   Permanent certification as an EMT-paramedic under §  1003.24(b) (relating to EMT-paramedic) but without medical command authorization under §  1003.28 (relating to medical command authorization).

     (ii)   Permanent recognition as a prehospital registered nurse under §  1003.25b (relating to prehospital registered nurse) but without medical command authorization under §  1003.28.

   (3)  Certification granted under paragraph (1) or (2) is valid for 3 years, subject to disciplinary action under section 11(j.1) of the act (35 P. S. §  6931(j.1)) and §  1003.27 (relating to disciplinary and corrective action).

 (c)  Certification by endorsement.

   (1)  For an individual who is 16 years of age or older and currently certified as an EMT in another state, the Department will endorse the following qualifications as equivalent to those in subsection (b):

     (i)   Successful completion of EMT training curriculum that meets or exceeds the standards of the training course prescribed by the Department under subsection (b)(1)(iii).

     (ii)   Successful completion of a written examination for EMT certification which is determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of the written examination prescribed by the Department under subsection (b)(1)(iv).

     (iii)   Successful completion of a practical skills examination for EMT certification which is determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of the practical skills examination prescribed by the Department under subsection (b)(1)(v).

   (2)  An individual whose EMT certification in another state is expired at the time of application may seek to have the satisfaction of paragraph (1)(i) endorsed as equivalent to the satisfaction of subsection (b)(1)(iii), but will not be considered by the Department for endorsement of qualifications under paragraph (1)(ii) or (iii), and shall successfully complete the EMT practical skills and written examinations prescribed by the Department after applying for certification through examination.

   (3)  Certification under this subsection is valid for 3 years. Upon expiration of that certification the individual shall meet the requirements for recertification in subsection (d).

 (d)  Recertification. An EMT shall apply for recertification between 1 year and 60 days prior to expiration of the EMT’s certification from the Department. Failure to apply for recertification in a timely manner may result in the individual not being recertified before the prior certification expires. The Department will recertify as an EMT an individual who meets the following qualifications:

   (1)  Completes an application on a form prescribed by the Department.

   (2)  Is or was previously certified as an EMT.

   (3)  Has successfully completed one of the following:

     (i)   The written and practical EMT recertification examinations prescribed by the Department.

     (ii)   The continuing education requirements for EMTs in §  1003.29(b) (relating to continuing education requirements).

 (e)  Scope of practice. An EMT’s scope of practice, under medical command direction or utilization of the Statewide BLS medical treatment protocols, includes the BLS services which may be performed by a first responder as set forth in §  1003.22(e) (relating to first responder) and the following:

   (1)  Administration to a patient or assisting a patient to administer drugs previously prescribed for that patient, as specified in the Statewide BLS medical treatment protocols.

   (2)  Transportation of a patient with an indwelling intravenous catheter without medication running, unless the medication is part of the patient’s normal treatment plan and the transport of the patient with medication running is consistent with the Statewide BLS medical treatment protocols.

   (3)  Other BLS services taught in a basic training program for EMTs approved by the Department, if the EMT has received training to perform those services, and is able to document having received the training, in one of the following:

     (i)   A basic training course for EMTs approved by the Department.

     (ii)   A course which is determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of a basic training course for EMTs preapproved by the Department.

     (iii)   A course for which the EMT may receive continuing education credit towards recertification.

 (f)  Publication of approved skills.

   (1)  The Department will publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, at least annually, a list of the skills taught in the EMT basic training course most recently approved by the Department.

   (2)  If the course is not offered by the Department, the Department may exclude, from the published list, skills taught which the Department determines are not appropriate skills to be performed by an EMT. An EMT may not perform a skill taught in a course under subsection (e)(3)(ii) or (iii) if the Department does not include the skill in the list it publishes under paragraph (1).

   The provisions of this §  1003.23 amended September 1, 1995, effective September 2, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 3685; amended October 13, 2000, effective October 14, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5363. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (256619) to (256622).

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  1003.24 (relating to EMT-paramedic); 28 Pa. Code §  1003.25b (relating to prehospital registered nurse); and 28 Pa. Code §  1003.29 (relating to continuing education requirements).