1. EMT CERTIFICATION - An individual shall be eligible for EMT-1 certification upon successful completion of the following requirements:

1.1 Submit a copy of a course completion certificate from an approved California EMT-1 training program. Click here for local training programs. Out-of-state applicants see Section 3.

1.2 Submit a copy of a current NREMT card

1.3 Apply for certification within two years of course completion.

1.4 Complete an Alameda County EMT-1 Certification Application. electronic | print

1.5 Submit a copy of current certification in CPR training equivalent to the American Heart Association’s Healthcare Provider level.

1.6 Submit a copy of a Department of Justice Live Scan background report (employees of Alameda County Public Safety agencies who had a background check as part of the hiring process are exempt from this requirement ). See Background Check policy for more information.

• Live Scan Application (This form can be completed electronically - print 2 copies, one for the live scan agency and one to send to the EMS Agency with your application.)

• Background Check Infomation Packet (how to complete the form)

• Location of Live Scan Agencies (where to get your fingerprints done) - this link takes you to the DOJ website and shows all locations statewide.

1.7 Submit a copy of a photo ID: current driver’s license, ID card, or valid military ID card.

1.8 Be eighteen years of age.

1.9 Pay the non-refunable application fee - $35.00 by money order, cashier's check or department PO only.

1.10 EMT-1 certification shall be issued upon successful completion of 1.1 - 1.9 above. The expiration date shall be two years from the last day of the month in which the complete certification application paperwork was received at the EMS Agency. An EMT-1 certificate issued by Alameda County EMS is valid statewide.

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2. EMT RECERTIFICATION - EMT-1 certification is good for two years. In order to maintain certification an individual must recertify every two years. Out-of-state applicants see Out-of-State Applicants.

An individual shall be eligible for EMT-1 recertification upon successful completion of the following requirements:

2.1 Possess a current California EMT-1 certificate or National Registry EMT-1 certificate

2.2 Submit a copy of successful completion, every two years of:

• An approved EMT-1 refresher course (by submitting a course completion certificate from an approved training program); or,

• 24 hours of continuing education through an approved CE Provider. Examples of CE include: classes and conferences, organized field care audits, online and media-based productions, and skills testing (if issued on a CE certificate).

2.3 Submit documentation of successful completion, every two years, of a skills competency verification test. The Skills Competency Verification form must be submitted with your recertification application. This can be done by:

• Skills testing at the completion of a 24-hour refresher class or

• Skills testing at an EMT-1 Training Program.

2.4 Submit a copy of current certification of CPR training equivalent to the American Heart Association‘s Healthcare Provider level .

2.5 Complete an Alameda County EMT-1 Recertification Application electronic | print

2.6 If this is the first time you have applied for certification in Alameda County you must submit a Live Scan Department of Justice background report with your application (employees of Alameda County Public Safety agencies who had a background check as part of the hiring process are exempt from this requirement ). See "Background Check” policy for more information.

• Live Scan Application (This form can be completed electronically - print 2 copies, one for the live scan agency and one to send to the EMS Agency with your application.)

• Background Check Information Packet (how to complete the form and where to get a Live Scan done)

• Location of Live Scan Agencies (where to get your fingerprints done) - this link takes you to the DOJ website and shows all locations statewide.

2.7 Submit a copy of a photo ID: current driver’s license, ID card, or valid military ID card.

2.8 Pay the non-refunable application fee - $35.00 by money order, cashier's check or department PO only.

2.9 EMT-1 certification shall be issued upon successful completion of 2.1 - 2.8 above. The expiration date shall be two years from the last day of the month in which the recertification requirements are successfully completed. An individual may apply for recertification up to 6 months before the current certificate expires. The new expiration date will be two years from the current expiration date.

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LAPSED CERTIFICATES - An individual may not work as an EMT or represent him/herself as an EMT with a lapsed certificate. There are no extensions. Once a certificate has expired, an individual will need to:

• For a card expired six months or less, complete 24 hours of continuing education plus the skills competency verification test

• For a card expired more than six months but less than a year, complete 36 hours of continuing education plus the skills competency verification test

• For a card expired for more than one year but less than two years, complete 48 hours of CE plus the written NREMT exam and a skills competency verification test

• For a card expired two years or more, retake an entire EMT course

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OUT-OF-STATE APPLICANTS – EMT applicants from outside California must follow the general application process and provide the information below. Upon verification of the application a new EMT card will be issued with the same expiration date as is on the current NREMT card. The individual must provide:

• Proof within the last two years of either an out-of-state EMT card or completion of an EMT-1 training course

• A copy of a current NREMT card or take the NREMT written exam

• If you have not taken the NREMT exam, and it has been more than 2 years since you took your EMT class, complete a 24-hour refresher class and skills competency verification test

• Contact information for the EMS agency that issued your card so your certification status can be verified

CHALLENGE EXAMINATION – Only a currently licensed physician, registered nurse, physician assistant, vocational nurse, currently licensed EMT-P, or an individual with documented evidence of successfully completing an EMT training program of the Armed Forces as defined in Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 2, section 100078 is eligible to take a challenge exam. Contact the Alameda County EMS office for more information.

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1. LOCAL PARAMEDIC ACCREDITATION - Local accreditation includes initial accreditation to practice as a paramedic in Alameda County shall be granted upon successful completion of the following:

1.1 Provide a copy of a valid California Paramedic License.

1.2 Attend the Alameda County EMS system orientation (offered monthly), arranged through your provider agency.

1.3 Provide documentation of training and competency in the local optional and expanded scope of practice (policy #7001).

1.4 Complete an accreditation application.

1.5 Pay the accreditation fee - $25.00 by money order, cashier's check or department PO only.

1.6 Provide proof of employment with an approved Paramedic provider agency.

1.7 Accreditation shall be granted upon successful completion of 2.1 - 2.6 above within 30 days from the date the accreditation application is received. A candidate failing to do so must reapply.

2. CONTINUOUS ACCREDITATION - Once issued, accreditation shall be continuous as long as the following are met:

2.1 Maintain a valid California Paramedic License.

2.2 Meet local requirements for updates in local policy, procedure, protocol and local optional scope of practice, and comply with the requirements in the system-wide Quality Improvement program (policy # 2000).

2.3 If any of the above requirements are not met or maintained, accreditation to practice shall be withdrawn until successful completion of the requirement(s).

2.4 A Paramedic whose accreditation has been withdrawn for more than one year shall be required to re-apply for initial accreditation.

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PARAMEDIC/EMT-II CERTIFYING AS AN EMT

• An individual who is currently licensed as a paramedic or certified as an EMT-II in California is considered to be a certified EMT-1 (except when the paramedic license or EMT-II certificate is under suspension) without any additional testing.

• A currently licensed EMT-P who wants to obtain a separate EMT-1 certificate should complete the application process and submit a copy of his/her current EMT-P license to the EMS Office. The expiration date of the EMT-1 certificate will be the same as the expiration date of the EMT-P license.

PRECEPTOR RESPONSIBILITIES - Preceptors must be approved by the Alameda County EMS Agency. Candidates will receive approval in writing within 30 days of submitting the required documentation. See Preceptor Responsibilities policy for more information.

1. Approval procedure – Interested candidates must submit the following to the EMS Agency:

1.1 An Alameda County preceptor application.

1.2 A copy of a current California paramedic license and Alameda County paramedic accreditation. Paramedic licensure and accreditation must be in good standing with no documented incidents requiring remediation during the past calendar year.

1.3 Documentation verifying accreditation as a level 3 paramedic for at least one year in Alameda County. Definition found in Policy #2000 (Exceptions to this standard shall be made by the EMS medical director).

1.4 Successful completion of a Field Preceptor Training Workshop approved and periodically monitored by the Alameda County EMS Agency. Significant experience in teaching methodology may be substituted with medical director’s approval, accompanied by an orientation to paramedic preceptor/ evaluator responsibilities (a list of objectives to be provided). Experience in teaching methodologies may include one of the following:

• California State Fire Marshal "Fire Instructor 1A and 1B", National Fire Academy "Fire Service Instructional Methodology" course or equivalent Sixty (60) hours in "Techniques of Teaching" courses

• Four (4) semester units of upper division credit in educational materials, methods and curriculum development or equivalent from a college or university

1.5 A written recommendation from the provider agency.

1.6 The EMS Medical Director must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.

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