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Philadelphia Fire Department EMS Certifications

• Uniformed Philadelphia Fire Department members must have current CPR certification, unless the Fire Commissioner releases them from this responsibility.
• Firefighters up to the rank of Captain must have valid PA DOH EMT certification and EMSVO, unless released by the Fire Commissioner.
• Fire Service Paramedics and Officers must have valid PA DOH Paramedic certification, EMSVO, and medical command authorization.
• Fire Service EMT Advanced members must have current PA DOH AEMT certification and maintain medical command authorization.
• Fire Service EMTs must have a current and valid PA DOH EMT certification.
• All EMTs and Fire Service Paramedics will attend or complete all Fire Department mandated training and education.
• The Fire Department will review the CPR and EMS certification status of all uniformed employees annually.
• Members with EMS certifications must submit a copy of their PA DOH EMS status report in January and July each year.

Definitions

• Continuing education builds upon the education and experience of EMS providers, enhancing practice and improving service quality.
• An education course is a PA DOH-approved program that grants EMS provider continuing education credit.
• A medical director authorizes Fire Service Paramedics (FSP) and Fire Service EMTs Advanced (FSEA) to perform ALS and IALS skills, as allowed by PA DOH scope of practice and Statewide ALS and AEMT Protocol.
• The medical director can grant, deny, or restrict medical command authorization.

Responsibilities and Member Compliance

• All members are responsible for exercising appropriate control as dictated by their rank when implementing this directive.
• Members must comply with EMS certification rules and report any changes affecting their certification status to their company officer/unit head.
• Changes impacting EMS certification status include:
  • Felony conviction
  • DUI conviction
  • Suspension or loss of PA Driver’s License
  • Missing, lost, or damaged EMS certification cards
  • Change of address
  • Failure to meet continuing education requirements
• FSPs, FSEAs, and EMTs, including officers, must carry their current and valid CPR and PA DOH EMS provider certification card.
• Members must register on the PA DOH EMS Registry System.
• Members will log onto the PA DOH EMS Registry System to confirm their continuing education credit 15-30 days after class.
• Members must report continuing education discrepancies to their company officer/unit head.
• Members must report lost or missing CPR or EMS certification cards to their company officer/unit head.
• Members must follow Regional EMS Office procedures to acquire a replacement EMS certification card, reporting to the Regional EMS Office at 7800 Ogontz Ave with a photo ID.
• Members must notify their company officer/unit head upon receipt of updated or replacement EMS certification cards.

Officer and Unit Head Responsibilities

• Officers/unit heads will annually examine each member's certification cards and EMS Continuing Education (Con Ed) profile.
• Exams will be done in the month preceding the member’s birth month:
  • Ensures Firefighters, Firefighter/EMTs, Fire Service EMTs, Fire Service EMT Advanced members and Fire Service Paramedics under their command have the required current CPR, EMS certification card, and sufficient Con Ed credit (approximately 8 hours annually for EMTs is sufficient).
• Officers/unit heads will check the address listed on the member’s continuing education record and compare it to the company roster.
• Officers/unit heads will direct members to correct any discrepancies related to address or Con Ed credit.
• If a member does not have a current CPR card, officers/unit heads will submit a memo through channels to EMS Training with details requesting a replacement card.
• If a member’s EMS certification card is missing or lost, officers/unit heads will submit a memo through channels to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of EMS with an explanation and direct the member to contact the Regional EMS Office in their county.
• Officers/unit heads will notify their Chief officer when a member’s continuing education record shows insufficient credits for required classes.

Battalion Chiefs/Fire Paramedic Services Chiefs

• Battalion Chiefs/Fire Paramedic Services Chiefs examine the certification cards of all Fire Officers and Paramedic Officers under their command.

General Information

• Non-compliance with these provisions may result in disciplinary action.

Continuing Education Requirements for Recertification

• Emergency Medical Technicians must attend 24 hours of continuing education, with at least 18 hours in the clinical patient/core category, at least 30 days before their EMT certification expiration date.
• EMTs must update their CPR on the EMS Application/CPR tab in the registry profile and follow the reregistration job aid for renewal of certification once Con-Ed and CPR are complete.
• Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (FSEA) must attend 36 hours of continuing education, with at least 27 hours in the clinical patient/core category.
• FSEAs must meet this requirement at least 30 days before the AEMT’s certification expiration date (which runs 2 years).
• FSEAs must update their CPR on the EMS Application/CPR tab in the registry profile and follow the reregistration job aid for renewal of certification once Con-Ed and CPR are complete.
• Paramedics must attend 36 hours of continuing education, with at least 27 hours in the clinical patient/core category, to be eligible for medical command authorization.
• Paramedics must meet this requirement at least 30 days before their certification expiration date (which runs 2 years)
• Paramedics must demonstrate knowledge and skill competency annually.
• Paramedics must update their CPR on the EMS Application/CPR tab in the registry profile and follow the reregistration job aid for renewal of certification once Con-Ed and CPR is complete.

References

• See Appendix A for instructions on logging onto the PA DOH EMS Registry.
• See Appendix B for information on EMS providers with expired certifications.

PA DOH EMS Registry Instructions

• The PA DOH EMS Registry requires a username and password to log in.
• Usernames are "PA" followed by the certification number (e.g., PA######), and are not case-sensitive.
• The “Change/Reset Password?” link can be used if the password is forgotten.
• A temporary password ("Password1") will be sent to the registry profile email address.
• Registry accounts are locked after two failed login attempts; The local Regional EMS office must be contacted to unlock the registry account.
• Steps to log in and verify Con-Ed credits:
  • Go to: https://ems.health.state.pa.us/Registry
  • Enter username and password, then click Login.
  • Review and correct the “Applicant Data” section, click the “Update Data” box, if corrections are made.
  • Click the “Con-Ed” tab to open the Con-Ed record.
  • Select "Current Period”, then click the gray “Print Status Report” box to download and print the EMS Practitioner Status Report.
  • Review the report and confirm credit has been received for all classes attended.
  • Report discrepancies within the official PA DOH Con-ED record to EMS Training at 215-685-8970.

Expired Certification for EMS Providers

• EMS providers must follow rules and regulations their EMS certification.
• EMTs have 3-year certification periods, and Paramedics and Advanced EMTs have 2-year certification periods.
• Certification lapses and expiration occur if EMS Providers fail to meet reregistration requirements before their certification period ends.
• Reinstatement is possible after completing necessary requirements, which vary based on how long the certification has been expired.
• A “Lapsed Provider Status” application must first be obtained from the regional EMS office.
• Cognitive or psychomotor exams are not required for EMS Providers whose certification has been expired for less than one year.
• The required number of continuing education credits associated with their level of certification must be completed.
  • EMTs: 24 Con Ed credits (18 in Clinical Patient Care topics)
  • Paramedics and Advanced EMTs: 36 Con Ed credits (27 in Clinical Patient Care topics) before receiving their “Approval To Test”.
• EMS Providers must have a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certification (CPR card).
• Cognitive and psychomotor exams are required for EMS Providers whose certification has been expired for greater than one year, but less than two years, must complete the required continuing education credits and take the cognitive exam.
• EMS Providers whose certification has been expired for greater than two years: Complete required continuing education credits, take the psychomotor exam, followed by the cognitive exam.
• Register with NREMT online, only after receiving the “Approval To Test (ATT)” email before testing:
  • All testing is done at Pearson Vue centers
  • EMTs pay $104
  • AEMTs pay $144
  • Paramedics pay $160
• Providers who fail the NREMT exam must wait 15 days before retesting.
• Any member whose EMS Certification expires will be detailed for one week to EMS Training to receive an EMT Refresher, AEMT Refresher or a Paramedic Refresher course (dependent on their certification level) in preparation for their NREMT exam.