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Pennsylvania Department of Health
Prehospital Personnel Manual
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Section V. Reciprocity

I. Emergency Responders:

II. First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians:

A. Prerequisites
B. EMS Certification Status

III. Paramedic

A. Prerequisites
B. EMS Certification Status

IV. Exemption from Pennsylvania Certification

V. Application

A. Complete Student Application Form, Appendix E.
B. Complete Application for Reciprocity, Appendix L.
C. Provide copy of state, or National Registry certification, or proof of course completion.
D. Complete Criminal History Application 4
E. Regional EMS council

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NOTE 1: No BLS persons shall be granted reciprocity for greater than three years.

NOTE 2: Reciprocity shall include those persons who do not have to take an examination as well as those persons who do have to take an examination.

I. Emergency Responders

A. Prerequisites:

  • Satisfactory completion of an American Red Cross Emergency Responder course.
  • Current ARC Emergency Responder card.
  • A current CPR card (completed within two years of application date).
  • Applicants must take Pennsylvania practical and written certification examinations for First Responder.

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II. First Responder and Emergency Medical Technician

A. Prerequisites

Satisfactory completion of a U.S. DOT National Standard Curriculum (specific to the level of certification sought) which meets or exceeds criteria set forth by the Department.

Certification from a state or the NREMT.

A current CPR card (completed within two years of application date).

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B. EMS Certification Status:

1.
If current state or National Registry certification, no examinations
are required.
2.
If expired state or National Registry certification, must take PA practical and written certification examination.
3.
If no state or NREMT certification (however. has completed an EMT course within one year), applicants must take Pennsylvania practical and written certification examinations.

NOTE 1: If military, check discharge papers (DD214) for proof of course.

NOTE 2: Initial certification or another state’s approved continuing education for recertification, must have included a state or NREMT practical and written examination. If no practical or written, applicants must take this state’s practical and written certification examinations.

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III. Paramedic

A. Prerequisites:

1.
Met requirements for Pennsylvania EMT certification identified in
Section 9.2.
2.
Completed a U.S. DOT National Standard Curriculum which
meets or exceeds criteria set forth by the Department.
3.
Certification from a state or NREMT

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B. EMS Certification Status:

1. If current certification, no examinations required.
2. If no state or NREMT (course completion within one year), applicants must take practical and written examinations and have an ALS skills verification form signed by regional medical director.

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IV. Exemption from Pennsylvania Certification

A. Non-Residents do not need Pennsylvania BLS certification if:

1.
They are listed as prehospital personnel in the ambulance services
licensure application or are with a recognized QRS;
2.
The ambulance service is licensed in Pennsylvania to cover a
specific geographic area within Pennsylvania and which borders
another state

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B. Additional exemptions for ALS personnel

1. An authorized skill verification form as identified in the EMS Training Manual.

NOTE: The regional medical director or his/her designee may require completion of some clinical requirements before they sign the ALS skills verification form. A regional EMS director may accept a skills verification from an out of state physician only for the purposes of verification of skills. However, skills verification form must be signed by an approved Pennsylvania physician before the applicant is eligible for reciprocity.

2. Approval of a Pennsylvania ALS service medical director or an accredited training institute medical director.
3. Initial certification or state approved continuing education must have included a state or NREMT written examination. If no written examination, applicants must complete the Pennsylvania state certification ALS written examination.

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V. Application

A. Complete Student Application Form, Appendix E.
B. Complete Application for Reciprocity, Appendix L.
C. Provide copy of state, or National Registry certification, or proof of course completion.
D. Complete Criminal History application; Appendix F.
E. Regional EMS council will:
1.
verify certification, Appendix M.
2.
send reciprocity application Appendices K and M to Office for
approval Appendix N.

Note: Candidates may recertify their Pennsylvania certification through reciprocity providing they meet the criteria above.

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