§ 1011.3. Accreditation process.

 For an EMS training institute to be accredited by the Department, the following are required:

   (1)  The applicant shall submit an application for accreditation on forms developed by the Department to the regional EMS council having responsibility in the EMS region where the EMS training institute intends to conduct its primary operations. An applicant for reaccreditation shall submit the application at least 180 days, but not more than 1 year, prior to expiration of the current accreditation.

   (2)  The regional EMS council shall review the application for completeness and accuracy.

   (3)  The regional EMS council shall have 45 days in which to review the application and to conduct an onsite assessment of the institute.

   (4)  The regional EMS council shall forward to the Department the application for accreditation either with an endorsement or with an explanation as to why the application has not been endorsed.

   (5)  Within 150 days of receipt, the Department will review the application and make one of the following determinations:

     (i)   Full accreditation. The EMS training institute meets the criteria in §  1011.1 (relating to EMS training institutes) as applicable, and will be accredited to operate for 3 years.

     (ii)   Conditional accreditation. The EMS training institute does not meet criteria in §  1011.1 as applicable, but the deficiencies identified are deemed correctable by the Department. The EMS training institute will be allowed to proceed or continue to provide accredited EMS education with close observation by the Department. Deficiencies which prevent full accreditation shall be enumerated and corrected within a time period specified by the Department. Conditional accreditation may not exceed 1 year, and may not be renewed.

     (iii)   Nonaccreditation. The institute does not meet criteria in §  1011.1 and the deficiencies identified are deemed to be serious enough to preclude any type of accreditation.

   (6)  EMS training institutes that have received full or conditional accreditation shall submit status reports to the Department as requested.

   (7)  Prior to and during accreditation, EMS training institutes are subject to review, including inspection of records, facilities and equipment by the Department. An authorized representative of the Department may enter, visit and inspect an accredited EMS training institute or a facility operated by or in connection with the EMS training institute, with or without prior notification. The Department may accept the survey results of another accrediting body if the Department determines that the accreditation standards of the other accrediting body are equal to or exceed the standards in this chapter, and that the survey process employed by the other accrediting body is adequate to gather the information necessary for the Department to make an accreditation decision.

   (8)  An EMS training institute shall advise the Department at least 90 days prior to an intended change of ownership, or control of the institute. Accreditation is not transferable to new owners or controlling parties.

   (9)  An EMS training institute that intends to conduct courses leading to initial certification or recognition, in an EMS region under the jurisdiction of a regional EMS council other than that through which it submitted its application for accreditation, shall file a written application to amend its accreditation with the regional EMS council having responsibility for the region in which it intends to conduct these courses. That application shall be processed by that regional EMS council and acted upon by the Department within 90 days.

   The provisions of this §  1011.3 amended October 13, 2000, effective October 14, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5363. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (256656) to (256657).