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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 12. Health
Title 12. Health
Agency 5. Department of Health Chapter 31. Virginia Emergency Medical Services Regulations Part I. General Provisions Article 1. Definitions Definitions Article 2. Purpose and Applicability Responsibility for regulations; application of regulations Powers and procedures of regulations not exclusive Article 3. Exceptions, Variances, and Exemptions Exceptions Issuance of a variance Content of variance Conditions of variance Termination of variance Denial of a variance Exemptions Public notice of request for exemption Public hearing for exemption request Issuance of an exemption Content of exemption Conditions of exemption Termination of exemption Denial of an exemption General exemptions from these regulations Article 4. Enforcement Procedures Right to enforcement Enforcement actions Suspension of a license, permit, certificate, endorsement or designation Revocation of a license, permit or certificate Correction order Judicial review Article 5. Complaints Submission of complaints Investigation process Action by the Office of EMS Exclusions from these regulations Part II. EMS Agency, EMS Vehicle and EMS Personnel Standards Article 1. EMS Agency Licensure and Requirements Requirement for EMS agency licensure and EMS certification Provision of EMS within Virginia General applicability of the regulations Compliance with regulations EMS agency name Ability to pay Public access Designated emergency response agency EMS agency availability Destination to specialty care hospitals Nondiscrimination EMS agency licensure classifications Application for EMS agency license Issuance of an EMS agency license Display of EMS agency license EMS agency licensure renewal Denial of an EMS agency license Modification of an EMS agency license Termination of EMS agency licensure EMS agency insurance Place of operations Equipment and supplies Storage and security of drugs and related supplies Preparation and maintenance of records and reports Personnel records EMS vehicle records Patient care records EMS agency status report Availability of these regulations Operational Medical Director requirement Quality management reporting Designated emergency response agency standards Designated emergency response agency mutual aid Article 2. Emergency Medical Services Vehicle Permit EMS vehicle permit requirement Temporary EMS vehicle permit Denial of an EMS vehicle permit Display of EMS vehicle permit EMS vehicle advertising Renewal of an EMS vehicle permit Article 3. Emergency Medical Services Vehicle Classifications and Requirements EMS vehicle safety EMS vehicle occupant safety EMS vehicle sanitation EMS vehicle inspection EMS vehicle warning lights and devices EMS vehicle communications Ground EMS vehicle markings Air Ambulance markings EMS vehicle letter restrictions and specifications Nontransport response vehicle specifications Ground ambulance specifications Advanced life support equipment package Neonatal ambulance specifications EMS vehicle equipment requirements Required vehicle equipment Article 4. Air Medical Regulations, Rotor and Fixed Wing Operations Application for agency licensure Operations and safety Air medical service personnel classifications Article 5. EMS Personnel Requirements and Standard of Conduct General requirements Criminal or enforcement history State and federal law compliance Drugs and substance abuse Disclosure of patient information Misrepresentation of qualifications Interference or obstruction of investigation False application for license, permit, certificate, endorsement or designation False statements or submissions Falsification of materials Misappropriation or theft of drugs Discrimination in provision of care Sexual harassment Operational medical director authorization to practice Scope of practice Extraordinary care outside of protocols Inability to carry out medical control orders Refusal of care Consent or refusal Transfer of patient care/patient abandonment Provider disagreement over patient's needs Attending of the patient during transports Provision of patient care documentation Emergency operation of EMS vehicle Provision of care by mutual aid EMS agency mutual aid response Provision of care by students Adequate response staffing Attendant-in-charge authorization Minimum age of EMS vehicle personnel Nontransport response vehicle staffing Transfer of ALS package Ground ambulance staffing requirements Basic life support vehicle transport Advanced life support vehicle transport Supplemented transport requirements Neonatal transport requirements Part III. EMS Education and Certification Article 1. Certification Levels EMS First Responder (FR) Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Emergency Medical Technician Enhanced (EMT-E) Intermediate Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). Emergency Medical Technician-Instructor Advanced Life Support Coordinator EMS Education Coordinator Article 2. Certification Process and Practice Certifcation periods Virginia EMS certification is required to practice Initial course certification Certification through reciprocity Certification through legal recognition EMT certification challenge General recertification requirements EMS provider recertification required Documentation of continuing education (CE) Recertifcation through reentry Article 3. Educational Programs and Management Course curriculum BLS certification programs Advanced life support certification programs Nationally recognized continuing education programs Approved courses in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation Continuing education programs Teaching materials and approved texts Course announcement requirements

EMT instructor, ALS coordinator, or EMS education coordinator responsibilities as employee or contractor

Course approval request submission Course approval request changes Student course enrollment Instructor participation records Student records for certification courses Continuing education record submission Verification of student course completion Communications with PCD or OMD Alternative course presentation format Course scheduling Maximum BLS or ALS course enrollment Lesson instructors Course monitoring

EMT instructor, ALS coordinator, and EMS educational coordinator responsibilities for initial student testing

Article 4. Certification Testing Admission to certification test. Certification testing requirements General description of certification examination Certification eligibility Prohibition of oral examinations Candidates requirements for state recertification Basic and advanced life support written examinations Basic and advanced life support practical certification examinations Examination retest Candidate evidence of eligibility for retesting Candidate evidence of eligibility for secondary testing Examination security and review Article 5. BLS Programs BLS certification course attendance BLS course student requirements EMS First Responder certification program First Responder bridge to EMT EMS First Responder bridge length First Responder bridge to EMT certification examinations Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification examination Article 6. ALS Programs ALS course student requirements EMT-Enhanced certification Advanced EMT certification Intermediate certification Paramedic certification Advanced life support bridge courses Registered nurse to Paramedic bridge prerequisites Registered Nurse to Paramedic Bridge program completion requirements NREMT Paramedic endorsements Article 7. EMT Instructor, ALS Coordinator, and EMS Education Coordinator EMT-Instructor recertification EMT-Instructor reentry Renewal of Advanced Life Support coordinator EMS Education coordinator EMS Education coordinator prerequisites EMS education coordinator certification process EMS education coordinator recertification process EMS education coordinator reentry Article 8. EMS Training Fund EMS training fund Contracting through the EMS training fund Article 9. Accreditation of EMS Programs Accreditation of EMS training programs Sentinel events Initial accreditation Renewal of accreditation Accreditation of alternative locations/learning sites Appeal of site accreditation application results Accreditation of Paramedic programs Equivalent accreditation of EMS programs Part IV. EMS Physician Regulations Article 9. Accreditation of EMS Programs Requirement for EMS physician endorsement Qualifications for EMS physician endorsement Application for EMS physician endorsement Conditional endorsement Lapse of EMS physician endorsement Change in EMS physician contact information Renewal of endorsement Service by an EMS physician Agreement to serve as an operational medical director Responsibilities of operational medical directors OMD and EMS agency conflict resolution Change of operational medical director Responsibilities of physician course directors Compliance with training regulations Physician course director responsibility to students Physician endorsement exemptions Part VII. Designated Regional EMS Councils Article 9. Accreditation of EMS Programs Purpose of designated regional EMS councils Provision of regional EMS council services within Virginia and compliance with these regulations Requirement for regional EMS council designation Designation of a regional EMS council Application process for designation Inspection Designation approval Designation periods Regional EMS councils requesting undesignation Powers and procedures of regulations not exclusive Exceptions Issuance of a variance Content of variance Conditions of variance Termination of variance Denial of a variance Exemptions Public notice of request for exemption Public hearing for exemption request Issuance of an exemption Content of exemption Conditions of exemption Termination of exemption Denial of an exemption Right to enforcement Enforcement actions Correction order Suspension of a designation Revocation of a designation Judicial review Submission of complaints Investigation process Action by the Office of EMS Composition of designated regional EMS councils Governing body of a designated regional EMS council Regional EMS plan Regional trauma triage plan Financial assistance for emergency medical services Base funding of designated regional EMS councils Matching funds Performance standards Accountability for public funds Part VIII. Financial Assistance for Emergency Medical Services Article 9. Accreditation of EMS Programs The Financial Assistance and Review Committee (FARC) RSAF General Grant Program administration Award of RSAF General Grants RSAF General Grant award cycle Emergency awards EMS System Initiative Awards Responsibilities of the grantee Application for award Amount of grant award Use of funds Improper expenditures Modification of an award Suspension of an award Revocation of an award FORMS (12VAC5-31) DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (12VAC5-31)

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