ELIGIBILITY, DISCIPLINARY
AND APPEAL POLICIES

Purpose of Certification/Registry

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) conducts a national EMS certification program in accordance with the NREMT mission which is to certify and register Emergency Medical Service Professionals throughout their careers by a valid and uniform process which assesses the knowledge and skills for competent practice. Registry policies are established to assure the public EMS, licensing or authorizing agencies, employers and other healthcare providers that certified EMS professionals have demonstrated the required knowledge and skills to practice safely and effectively.

The National Registry does not issue a permit to work or license to practice, and does not warrant job performance of applicants and EMS professionals.

Terms of Certification

In applying for certification or recertification, and as a condition for the maintenance of certification, an applicant or EMS professional agrees that:

1. They will comply with all initial certification requirements, continuing education and recertification requirements, rules and standards of the NREMT. The individual bears the burden of demonstrating and maintaining compliance at all times. The NREMT considers the individual to be solely responsible for his or her certification.
   
   
2. The NREMT's examinations, certificates, cards, logos, emblems, the name "National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians," and abbreviations relating thereto are all exclusive property of the NREMT and are protected by trademarks and copyrights. They may not be used in any way without express written consent.
   
   
3. They will immediately relinquish and refrain from using any NREMT certificate, card, logo, emblem, and the NREMT's name and related abbreviations in case of expiration, suspension, limitation, revocation or voluntary surrender of the individual's certification or as otherwise requested by the NREMT.
   
   
4. If they misappropriate any NREMT property or refuses to immediately relinquish, refrain from using and correct at their expense any misuse or misleading use of any of the above items when requested, the NREMT shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief, damages, costs and attorney's fees incurred in obtaining any such or other relief.
   
   
5. They will notify the NREMT of any change in address, telephone number, state of employment and licensure and any other facts bearing on eligibility or certification, including, but not limited to, the initiation of any disciplinary action by any state which has resulted in suspension, revocation or expiration of state registration or license, or termination of the right to practice or voluntary surrender of state registration of license while under investigation and any felony conviction, within thirty (30) days of such occurrence.
   
   
6. They will notify the NREMT in a timely manner of any mental or physical condition which exists for more than six (6) months and that compromises the ability to practice.

Electronic Exchanges with the National Registry of EMTs

The National Registry requires accurate and valid submission of information to demonstrate an applicant's fulfillment of NREMT requirements for certification and recertification. The NREMT has developed a secure web site to facilitate communication between a variety of individuals who are responsible for providing the necessary documentation to be submitted by applicants and EMS professionals.


1. The following individuals may use the NREMT web site subject to the web site Terms of Use Policy:
   
   
   • Applicants for certification
   • EMS professionals for recertification
     
   • EMS Education Program Directors
     
   • State EMS Officials
     
   • National Registry Representatives
     
   • Training Officers of EMS Systems
     
   • Physician Medical Directors
   • Public
     
   
   
   
2. Any individual who makes a misrepresentation or has failed to provide material information in connection with an application for certification or recertification or has misrepresented that he or she is certified by the NREMT, may be subject to disciplinary action by the NREMT including, but not limited to, denial of certification, suspension or revocation of NREMT certification and/or denial of access to the NREMT secure website for any and all purposes.
   
   
3. The NREMT will also notify the State EMS licensing agency of any suspected misrepresentation of material information on an application or of NREMT certification status.
   
   

Eligibility for certification or recertification

1. No individual is eligible to apply for certification or recertification unless compliance with all NREMT rules and standards are demonstrated. The NREMT may deny, revoke, or otherwise act upon certification or recertification of an individual who is not in compliance with NREMT rules and standards.
   
   
2. The individual must truthfully complete and submit an application in the form provided by the NREMT and shall provide all additional information as requested.
   
   
3. The individual must at all times be eligible for and not barred from practice as an Emergency Medical Technician under the laws of any state EMS licensing or authorizing agency. An individual's certification shall automatically be suspended during any period in which he or she is so barred unless the individual is barred from practice solely by reason of being located in a jurisdiction which does not recognize NREMT certification as a basis for licensure or certification as an emergency medical technician.
   
   
4. An individual convicted of a felony or any other crime directly related to public health or the provision of emergency medical service, including DUI, will be reviewed for eligibility for certification and recertification under policies outlined in the NREMT's Felony Policy.
   
   
5. The NREMT reserves the right to withhold or revoke certification or recertification from an individual who has failed to pay for services rendered. A candidate may not take a NREMT examination if the application fee has been stopped, cancelled or otherwise revoked, either by the candidate or a financial institution. A candidate will not be issued an authorization to take a NREMT examination until payment of the application fee in full has been made for all previous NREMT examinations for which such fee is due. NREMT also reserves the right to hold, cancel or revoke the candidate's results on a NREMT examination for which payment in full has not been made.
   
   
6. The individual must submit a complete recertification application, including all required supporting materials on or before the expiration date (post-marked) for consideration of recertification.

Irregular Behavior

1. Candidates should understand that the following may be sufficient cause to bar them from future examinations, to terminate participation in an ongoing examination, to invalidate the results of an examination, to withhold or revoke scores or certifications, or to take other appropriate action:
   
   
   1. The giving or receiving of aid in the examination as evidenced either by observation or by statistical analysis of answers of one or more participants in the examination.
      
      
   2. The unauthorized access to, possession, reproduction, disclosure or use of any examination materials, including, but not limited to, examination questions for answers before, during or after the examination.
      
      
   3. The making of threats toward NREMT staff or agents.
      
      
   4. The use of unprofessional (foul) language when interacting with NREMT staff or agents.
      
      
   5. The offering of any benefit to any agent of the NREMT or the testing service and/or a testing site administrator in return for any aid or assistance in taking an examination.
      
      
   6. The engaging in irregular behavior in connection with the administration of the examination.
      
      
2. Irregular behavior which may be cause for invalidation of the examination or the taking of disciplinary action, includes, but is not limited to:
   
   
   1. Referring to books, notes, or other devices at any time during the examination. This prohibited material includes written information or information transferred by electronic, acoustical, or other means.
      
      
   2. Any transfer of information or signals between candidates during the examination. This prohibition includes any transfer of information between the candidate and any other person at any time during the testing period, including bathroom breaks.
      
      
   3. Any appearance of looking at the answers of another candidate during the examination.
      
      
   4. Allowing another candidate to view one's answers or otherwise assisting another candidate in the examination.
   
   
   
   5. Creating a disturbance at the testing site, engaging in profane or abusive language directed at examinees or testing site administrators, tampering with the computer or otherwise not following the directions of a testing site administrator.
      
      
   6. Taking any examination materials outside the examination room. All examination materials are the property of the NREMT and must be left in the room at the end of the examination.
      
      
3. The NREMT also may require a candidate to retake the examination if presented with sufficient evidence that the security or integrity of the examination has been compromised, notwithstanding the absence of any evidence of a candidate's personal involvement in such activities.
   
   

Review of Applications and Certificates

The NREMT may revoke an individual's certification, take appropriate disciplinary action or otherwise take action with regard to the application and/or certification of a candidate or EMS professional in the case of:


1. Ineligibility for NREMT certification.
   
   
2. Failure to comply with any policy or rule of the NREMT.
   
   
3. Irregular behavior in connection with any NREMT examination.
   
   
4. The intentional and material misrepresentation or withholding of any material information on any application or in any other representation or communication to the NREMT.
   
   
5. Misrepresentation of the individual's status as certified.
   
   
6. Gross or repeated negligence or malpractice in professional work.
   
   
7. The conviction of, plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendre to, a felony or any criminal offense which is directly related to public health or the provision of emergency medical service.
   
   
8. Suspension, revocation or other disciplinary action by a licensing board or authorizing agency or the voluntary surrender of a licensee in connection with any such disciplinary action.



9. Copying, reproducing, disclosing or removing of examination questions from the testing center or attempting to do same.
   
   

Notice of Disciplinary Action

When the NREMT makes an unfavorable ruling regarding an individual's application for certification or recertification, scoring of any examination or any disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the revocation of certification, the Executive Director shall send to that individual, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a statement setting forth:

• The action taken.
  
  
• The reason(s) for the action and, if applicable, a statement of facts constituting the alleged violation of any of the NREMT's rules or standards or the reasons for ineligibility.
  
  
• The time period in which the individual may appeal and provide any additional information.
  
  

Appeal Process

An applicant or EMS professional who is adversely affected by a decision of the NREMT, other than with respect to the administration, scoring or reporting of the psychomotor or cognitive examination, may appeal such decision by mailing a notice of appeal to the office of the NREMT within forty-five (45) days of the date that such decision was mailed to him or her.

Upon receipt of a notice of appeal, the Credentials Committee of the NREMT shall consider any additional information submitted by the individual in support of his or her appeal and make such further investigation as it deems appropriate.

If the Credentials Committee decides in a manner favorable to the individual, it shall so notify the individual and the Executive Director. If the Credentials Committee is not able to decide, it shall notify the all parties and the individual shall have a right to an appeal hearing.

In the event of an unfavorable Credentials Committee decision, the Executive Director shall so notify the affected individual and inform that individual that:

• he or she shall have forty-five (45) days from the date such decision was mailed to him or her to appeal the decision.
  
  
• if an appeal is made, a hearing on the appeal shall be held before an Appeals Committee; and
  
  
• the individual may appear at the hearing in person, with the assistance of counsel, may examine and cross-examine any witness, and produce evidence on his/her behalf, including submission of a written statement, if desired.
  
  

Hearing Process

In the event of an appeal, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall designate an Appeals Committee consisting of three (3) members of the Board of Directors.

• A hearing shall be scheduled not less than ninety (90) days after the date of notice.
  
  
• The Hearing Panel shall convene at a site designated by the NREMT.
  
  
• The Executive Director shall send the individual by certified mail, return receipt requested, a Notice of Hearing. The Notice of Hearing shall include a statement of the time and place of the hearing.
  
  

The Appeals Committee shall determine all matters relating to the hearing by majority vote. A written record shall be made of the proceedings, and shall be available to the individual at a reasonable cost following the hearing.

Evidence

Formal rules of evidence shall not apply. All information related to the allegations shall be admissible at the hearing, whether or not such information would be admissible in a court of law. The purpose of the hearing is to assemble as much information as practical regarding all material aspects of the situation, and the Appeals Committee shall be entitled to take into account any such information of the type normally relied upon by individuals of reasonable prudence in the conduct of important personal matters. Disputed questions shall be determined by majority vote of the Appeals Committee.

Decision

The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be made by a majority of the Committee and shall be rendered in writing following the hearing. The decision shall contain the basis for the determination to uphold, modify or overrule the decision of the Credentials Committee and for any sanction(s) applied. It shall be transmitted to the individual by certified mail, return receipt requested.

The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final and binding.

The appeals procedure authorizes the NREMT and its agents to communicate all information relating to NREMT application, registration and review thereof, including outcome of disciplinary proceedings, to state and federal authorities and others upon request.

Release of Information

The candidate or EMS professional authorizes the NREMT and its agents to communicate all information relating to NREMT application, certification and review thereof, including outcome of disciplinary proceedings, to state and federal authorities and others upon request.

Appealing Psychomotor (Practical skills) Examination

A candidate who believes that the psychomotor examination was administered in an inaccurate or unfair manner for any reason, including, but not limited to, an equipment malfunction, discrimination or bias of an examiner, must on the day of the examination immediately register a complaint and request for re-examination. The request shall be made to the NREMT Representative on the complaint form provided.

The Quality Assurance Committee shall consist of the Physician Medical Director, the Examination Coordinator, and the NREMT Representative. When the NREMT Representative is also acting as the Examination Coordinator, a third uninvolved, unbiased person will be appointed to the Committee. The Committee may discuss the matter with the candidate and the involved skill station examiner(s), if necessary, and make such other investigation as they may deem appropriate. If a majority of the Committee determines that reasonable grounds exist for the candidate's complaint, the candidate shall be re-examined by a different skill station examiner. The first examination will be disregarded and only the candidate's performance on the re-examination shall be considered in determining his or her score on the examination.

The determination of the Quality Assurance Committee is final and binding upon the candidate. There shall be no further appeal from a failure on the practical examination.

Reconsideration of Eligibility and Reinstatement of Certification

Eligibility will be reconsidered and certification may be conferred after revocation of an individual's certification upon new application for certification only on the following basis:

• In the event of a felony conviction directly related to public health or the provision of emergency medical service, no earlier than one (1) year from the exhaustion of appeals, release from confinement or reinstatement of license, whichever is later.
  
  
• In any other event, no earlier than one (1) year from the final decision of ineligibility or revocation.
  
  
• In addition to other facts required by the NREMT, an individual seeking reinstatement must fully set forth the circumstances of the decision denying eligibility or revoking certification as well as all facts and circumstances relevant to the application occurring after the decision. Where eligibility is denied because of felony conviction, the individual bears the burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that the individual has been rehabilitated and does not pose a danger to others.
  
  

Submission of information to NREMT concerning possible violation of NREMT standards

Persons concerned with possible violation of NREMT standards should submit such information in writing addressed to the Executive Director. This information should identify the persons alleged to be involved and the facts concerning the alleged conduct in as much detail and specificity as possible, supplying all available supporting documentation. The statement should identify by name, address and telephone number the person making the information known to the NREMT and others who may have knowledge of the facts and circumstances concerning the alleged conduct. Supplemental information may be requested.

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