Action | Amend current regulations to include new regulations as a result of legislative changes and changes in the practice of EMS. |
Stage | Final |
Comment Period | Ended on 10/9/2012 |
The new EMS Educator requirements are excessive and not necessary. They require EMS Educators to obtain an additional 12 hours of educator specific education every recertification period, which is in addition to the 50 hours already required to teach in 2 years. Because most VA EMS educators ar volunteers, they likely will have to pay for such classes out of pocket,and take time off of work. These classes not not readily available and will require the individual to travel outside of their area to obtain. The REQUIREMENT that EMS educators MUST TEST every recert time in order to continue teaching is ridiculous. Other health care professionals who teach are not required to do this why should EMS be different? Even public school teachers do not have to re-test to maintain their teaching license. Again, this requirement has the potiential to cause an un-necessary financial hardship on the vast majority of VA EMS Educators who are volunteers. OEMS has the tools to monitor instructors and take action if there is problem. Making a blanket regulation to fix a problem that may or may not exist is not the way to do business. Additionally, who is writing this exam and how is it validated? Do those in the OEMS who are instructors take the very exam they wrote?