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FAPEP NEWS

"Serving those that serve other since 1992"

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Recertification 2010

2010 will be here sooner than you think. Remember that to recertify you must have completed the required credits so that you may renew.

DO NOT renew with the State until you have completed all your credit hours. When you renew you are stating that you have met all the requirements. YOU CANNOT state this and then complete your credits later. If you do make this statement, you did NOT meet the requirments and did not tell the truth. If audited, as many have been audited, you will not be able to show proper paperwork and causes and investigation on your certification to ensue. If you have retired, make sure that your department does not renew you automatically. You are responsible, in any and all situations, for your renewal.

All your credits must be obtained from a Bureau of EMS approved school or vendor. Make sure your credits are obtained from the approved list of schools or vendors found on the Bureau's website under "Education" (http://www.fl-ems.com/)

Keep all your education certificates, CPR and ACLS cards for 3 years. In an audit, MQA ask for proof of what you renewed with, not what you have currently.

It is your responsibility to renew. Even if your agency renews for you, you are responsible for the renewal and any audits.

Legislative Change Goal

MAY 2009

FAPEP has set out on a goal for positive change concerning allowing certain individual's to challenge the Florida Paramedic examination.

F.S. 401 has for many years allowed a Physician, Dentist, RN, and recently PA's to challenge the Paramedic exam. All these ones must do is take an EMT-B program and pass the state EMT-B exam. Also, take and pass an ACLS 2-day class.

We respect the fields mentioned here are professionally educated and trained. However, certain aspects of the Paramedic program is NOT taught in these respective fields. The law was developed over 30 years ago and the Paramedic curriculum has changed and expanded over the years.

NREMT has placed in action that effective 01/01/2013 anyone taking the Paramedic exam must have graduated from a CoAEMPS accredited school. These ones cannot take the NREMT exam since they only challenged the State exam.

This law, in our opinion, allows for the National Curriculum to be set aside and not adhered to. The schools teaching the program must follow the curriculum to the letter. Why not those being certified?

This issue brings forth much heated debate. It is not our intent to become engulfed in much debate but to follow the National Curriculum and have all trained on the same level. This will take time but we hope to have this on the legislative floor, by 2010. We have contacted legislators on this issue and will keep you informed as events occur.

We welcome your comments on this issue and look forward to seeing you at the upcoming State Meetings.