Rule 511-9-2-.17 - Standards for Emergency Medical Service Instructors and Instructor/Coordinators(1) Licensure of EMS Instructors and EMS Instructor/Coordinators. (a) No individual shall hold himself or herself out as an EMS Instructor unless the individual holds an active EMS Instructor license issued by the Department.(b) No individual shall hold himself or herself out as an EMS Instructor/Coordinator at any level unless the individual holds an active EMS Instructor/Coordinator license issued by the Department.(c) An application for licensure as an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator shall be submitted on the form specified by the Department and shall include adequate demographic information and documentation that the applicant meets all licensure requirements set forth in this rule.(d) Once issued, a license shall be valid for a period of two years or until the biennial renewal date established by the Department.(e) The Department may deny an application for licensure as an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator, or revoke or otherwise sanction a license, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, upon any of the grounds set forth in Rule 511-9-2-.18.(2) Eligibility for Licensure as an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator. (a) EMS Instructor. All applicants for initial licensure as an EMS Instructor must meet the following requirements: 1. Current CPR Certification that is maintained throughout the Instructor license period.2. Successful completion of a Department-recognized instructional techniques course, Department-recognized EMS instructional preparation curriculum, or Department-recognized equivalent not more than three (3) years prior to the application.3. Current Georgia healthcare license that is maintained throughout the instructor license period in a field specified by the Department, together with documentation of a minimum length of continuous licensure in Georgia or another state or territory at an approved healthcare license level.(b) EMS Instructor/Coordinator. All applicants for initial licensure as an EMS Instructor/Coordinator must meet the following requirements: 1. Minimum Requirements for all Instructor/Coordinator Levels.(i) Current CPR Certification that is maintained throughout the Instructor/Coordinator license period.(ii) Successful completion of a Department-recognized EMS instructional preparation curriculum or Department-recognized equivalent not more than three (3) years prior to the application.(iii) Current Georgia healthcare license that is maintained throughout the instructor/coordinator license period in a field specified by the Department that is at or above the Instructor/Coordinator level, together with documentation of a minimum length of continuous licensure and active clinical practice in Georgia or another state or territory at that healthcare license level.(iv) Documentation of competency in national EMS clinical standards as evidenced by:(I) For an applicant who is licensed by the Department, current certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) which is maintained throughout the Instructor/Coordinator license period, as follows: I. An applicant licensed by the Department as an EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic shall hold NREMT certification at the applicant's Medic license level;II. An applicant licensed by the Department as an EMT-I shall hold NREMT certification at the EMT level; andIII. An applicant licensed by the Department as a Cardiac Technician shall hold NREMT certification at the AEMT level; or(II) For an applicant who is licensed by a Georgia licensing authority other than the Department, successful completion of the NREMT assessment exam at or above the Instructor/Coordinator level within a time frame specified by the Department.(v) Documentation of at least forty (40) hours of active teaching/internship in a Department-approved EMS Initial Education Program that meets or exceeds objectives specified by the Department.2. Additional Requirements for EMS Instructor/Coordinator (Paramedic). (i) Current ACLS Certification that is maintained throughout the Instructor/Coordinator license period.(ii) An Associate Degree or higher from an academic institution that is accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. The degree may be in any major.(3) License Renewal for EMS Instructors and EMS Instructor/Coordinators.(a) Licensed EMS Instructors and EMS Instructor/Coordinators may renew their licenses biennially by submitting a renewal application on or before the expiration date. A renewal application shall be submitted on the form specified by the Department and shall include adequate documentation of the licensee's compliance with the continuing education and active teaching requirements set forth below. The Department may, in its discretion, specify mandatory continuing education topics during the renewal cycle.1. EMS Instructors must submit adequate documentation of the following for each renewal cycle:(i) Completion of twelve (12) hours of Department-approved instructor continuing education during the renewal cycle in instructional topics, six (6) of which must be approved only for instructors. Continuing education courses/hours applied towards the continuing education requirements for renewal of a Georgia healthcare provider license may not be applied towards the continuing education requirements for renewal of an EMS Instructor license.(ii) Completion of twenty (20) hours of active teaching during the renewal cycle in Department-approved continuing education courses or EMS Initial Education Courses offered by designated EMS Initial Education Programs.2. EMS Instructors with Paramedic Endorsement must submit adequate documentation of the following for each renewal cycle:(i) Completion of twenty-four (24) hours of Department-approved instructor continuing education during the renewal cycle in instructional topics, twelve (12) of which must be approved only for instructors. Continuing education courses/hours applied towards the continuing education requirements for renewal of a Georgia healthcare provider license may not be applied towards the continuing education requirements for renewal of an EMS Instructor with Paramedic Endorsement license.(ii) Completion of forty (40) hours of active teaching during the renewal cycle in EMS Initial Education Courses offered by designated EMS Initial Education Programs, twenty (20) of which must be taught at the Paramedic level.3. EMS Instructor/Coordinators must submit adequate documentation of the following for each renewal cycle: (i) Completion of twenty-four (24) hours of Department-approved instructor continuing education during the renewal cycle in instructional topics, twelve (12) of which must be approved only for instructors. Continuing education courses/hours applied towards the continuing education requirements for renewal of a Georgia healthcare provider license may not be applied towards the continuing education requirements for renewal of an EMS Instructor/Coordinator license.(ii) Completion of forty (40) hours of active teaching during the renewal cycle in EMS Initial Education Courses offered by designated EMS Initial Education Programs, twenty (20) of which must be taught at or above the Instructor/Coordinator level.(b) An EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license that is not renewed prior to the expiration date shall be placed in lapsed status. A lapsed license may be renewed during a six-month late renewal period immediately following the expiration date, provided that all requirements for license renewal are met.(c) An EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license that is not renewed prior to the end of the late renewal period shall be expired and not eligible for renewal. To regain licensure, the individual must submit a new application to the Department and meet all current eligibility requirements for licensure as an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator.(4) License Fees for EMS Instructors and EMS Instructor/Coordinators.(a) All applications for initial licensure as an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator or for renewal of an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license submitted on or after July 1, 2021, shall be accompanied by a fee payable to the Department in an amount and form determined by the Department.(b) All applications for late renewal of an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license submitted on or after January 1, 2023, shall be accompanied by the applicable renewal fee, plus a late renewal penalty fee in an amount equal to the renewal fee, payable to the Department in a form determined by the Department.(5) Clinical Preceptors. (a) Clinical preceptors may precept Paramedic, AEMT, EMT, and EMR students at or below the preceptor's provider license level.(b) Clinical preceptors must be approved by the Program Director of the EMS Initial Education Program and the Program's EMS Medical Director after successfully completing a clinical preceptor training course approved by the Department.(c) The course coordinator must maintain student clinical records involving clinical preceptors for a time period specified in the Department's published record retention schedule for EMS Initial Education Programs.(6) Any currently licensed EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator may voluntarily surrender their EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license by notifying the Department in a manner and on forms specified by the Department. Once processed by the Department, surrenders are not reversible, and the individual would need to complete the current Department-specified application process and meet all licensing requirements to obtain a new EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license.(7) Upon request, the Department shall be authorized to place an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license in retired status after which the individual will be permitted to continue to use the former licensure level title and number with "(Ret.)" after it. An individual in retired status will not be licensed to perform the duties of an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator as defined in these rules. Applications for license retirement shall be submitted in a manner and on forms specified by the Department and must be submitted by the Licensee themselves. Once processed by the Department, retirements are not reversible, and the individual would need to complete the current Department-specified application process and meet all licensing requirements to obtain a new EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license. Eligibility requirements for retirement of an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license are as follows: (a) The individual must be currently licensed as a Georgia EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator, and the respective license must be in Good Standing at the time of application; and(b) The individual must have a minimum of 15 years of continuous uninterrupted licensure as a Georgia EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator, inclusive of the date of application.(8) Upon request from the next of kin to place an EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator license in deceased status and obtain a certificate of active service for an individual who dies while currently licensed in Good Standing as a Georgia EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator, the Department shall be authorized to place the respective license in deceased status and provide a certificate of active service to the next of kin. The request shall be accompanied by a certified death certificate or other documents recognized by the Department.(9) Downgrades of Instructor and Instructor/Coordinator Licenses. Currently licensed EMS Instructors with Paramedic Endorsement and EMS Instructor/Coordinators in Good Standing may voluntarily request the Department to downgrade their Instructor or Instructor/Coordinator license. The request shall be made to the Department in a manner and on forms specified by the Department and shall indicate the requested new level of license. Once processed by the Department, downgrades are not reversible, and the individual would need to complete the current Department-specified application process to obtain a higher level of Instructor or Instructor/Coordinator license. (a) Permitted downgrades are as follows:1. Currently licensed EMS Instructors with Paramedic Endorsement and EMS Instructor/Coordinators (Paramedic) in Good Standing will be permitted to request a downgrade to the EMS Instructor, EMS Instructor/Coordinator (AEMT), or EMS Instructor/Coordinator (EMT) levels.2. Currently licensed EMS Instructor/Coordinators (AEMT) in Good Standing will be permitted to request a downgrade to the EMS Instructor, or EMS Instructor/Coordinator (EMT) levels.3. Currently licensed EMS Instructor/Coordinators (EMT) in Good Standing will be permitted to request a downgrade to the EMS Instructor level.(b) Applications for downgrade must be accompanied by the following:1. An application fee, as described in paragraph (4) of this rule.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 511-9-2-.17
O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-3, 31-2A-6, 31-11-5, 31-11-51 to 31-11-61.
Original Rule entitled "Standards for Emergency Medical Service Instructors" adopted. F. December 14, 2011; eff. January 3, 2012.Amended: F. Apr. 27, 2016; eff. May 17, 2016.Amended: New title "Standards for Emergency Medical Service Instructors and Instructor/Coordinators." F. Oct. 20, 2020; eff. Nov. 18, 2020, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Sep. 29, 2021; eff. Oct. 27, 2021, as specified by the Agency.