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Frequently Asked Recertification Questions
Over the past several recertification periods, we often hear the same questions from EMTs. Since we have such a small staff, we have designed this section of the website to assist in answering these questions for you. Please take the time to review this material, as most questions have been addressed. You can download the entire FAQ in Adobe
Q 1: I didn't receive my recertification form (changed my address; lost my form; can’t find my form; my wife threw out my form, the kids colored my form) and I need one sent.
You must request a new form in writing, giving your name, address, EMT number and a $10.00 check. The $10.00 covers the cost of mailings (both for the first and additional recertification packets), printing costs to make additional packets and the additional staff time required to assist this process. It takes approximately seven to ten working days after you submit your request for you to receive your packet. To display a form (in Adobe Acrobat) to request a recertification packet, by clicking http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/ems/forms/emt/recrtpak.pdf. You must print this form and then mail it in.
You can also come into the office with your payment of $10.00 and pick up another recertification packet that day. We are located at the State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St, Rm. 465 in Portland (near Lloyd Center). Each EMT's application has information that is specific to them. This process usually takes 15 minutes for us to process your forms. However, during busy times you should allow up to 30 minutes.
Q 2: Why does my friend who has the same EMT certification level as I am, pay a different fee?
Fees are based on length of certification for your current EMT certificate.
If you were certified less than 12 months you would pay: Basic - $20.00 Intermediate - $35.00 Paramedic - $60.00
If you were certified 12 months or longer, you would pay: Basic - $40.00 Intermediate - $65.00 Paramedic - $120.00
Q 3: I filled out my recert form in ink. I need a new one sent.
Requesting another form would cost you $10.00. Instead, please mark your answers in pencil over the ink and proof read your answers as you do. If you made an error in ink, you can CAREFULLY use white-out to correct the form and then fill in your correct information.
Q 4: My certification does not expire until June 30, 2007. Why is my money and form due postmarked May 31, 2007?
Past years have shown us that approximately 3,000 recertification applications arrive during the last week of May. You need to allow 30 days for your application to be processed; longer if it is not complete or there are problems with your application.
When you mail your form in, it goes to several offices in our building (mailroom, cashier, fiscal services and ISS) prior to arriving in our office. We then need time to process your application and get the certificate back to you. Since you cannot work in Oregon without a valid Oregon certificate, your form needs to be mailed no later than May 31st.
Q 5: I know I gave my form to my employer about a month ago. So where is my certificate?
It takes about thirty days to process your certificate after both parts of the form have been mailed, providing everything is complete. There are several things you can do to assure there isn't a delay.
First, Training Officers do a wonderful job assisting EMTs with recertification. You can assist them by completing all sections you are to fill out. Then take your form to them early, checking to make sure you have all of your continuing education hours. If they are submitting the forms as a group agency recertification packet, waiting for stragglers holds up the whole group. If the agency is not submitting the recertification forms as a group, be sure to meet with your supervising physician and EMS agency chief or training officer, tracking your form (rather than just leaving it on someone’s desk where it may get lost) and mailing the form back to us. Your recertification is your responsibility.
Second, remember that there are two parts to the recertification form and both forms need to be completed and mailed in prior to your certificate being issued. The first part (pages 1 & 2) is the application and is submitted with the fee. The second part (pages 3 & 4) need to be completed and sent into our office by you. Many EMTs fail to submit this mandatory portion of the form.
Third, some EMTs do not fill out their form correctly or pay the correct fee. This requires additional time for us to: correct your form if you marked it wrong; to send you a letter asking for correct information or fees; and time for you to respond back to us and your form to be processed. Please pay close attention to the instructions for page 4. There is more chance for errors if you do not read the information and fill out the form carefully.
Last, if you are required to answer yes to one of the questions on page 3, processing your application will take longer. Please send in a letter of explanation as to why you marked yes, giving as much information as possible to speed up this process. If further information is required, you will be notified by the Prehospital Standards Unit of our office. If you wish to contact them prior to submitting your form and information, you may e-mail Kristen Turley at kristen.L.turley@state.or.us or call (971) 673-0576.
Q 6: If I answered "YES" to one of the "personal" questions previously, do I need to answer yes again?
The form states "Since you were last certified, have you. . . :" If something has happened since you were last certified, then you will need to submit a letter explaining what happened. If the incident occurred prior to the last recertification period and was reported previously then you do not need to report it again. If you still have questions regarding what is reportable or what you should submit, you may contact Ms.Kristen Turley at kristen.L.turley@state.or.us phone number is(971) 673-0576, or Liz Morgan at elizabeth.e.morgan@state.or.usphone number is (971) 673-0530.
Q 7: I work out-of-state and do not see my agency listed on the agency list.
The EMS office tracks information concerning Oregon EMS agencies ONLY. If you only work for an agency outside of Oregon you should mark the spot "I am not currently working or volunteering as an EMT in Oregon." You must then sign (D) on page two. If you are an Intermediate or Paramedic you need to have section (C) signed by a medical director.
Q 8: I have questions regarding continuing education.
You may check out the continuing education requirements to see if you have enough continuing education hours. If you are working/volunteering, you can also consult with your training officer about continuing education requirements, classes you have taken, questions regarding if a class will count for continuing education and upcoming classes you will need to obtain. If your training officer is not able to assist you, they will contact our office.
Non-affiliated EMTs can obtain continuing education hours through local community colleges and by contacting the training officers at local fire departments and ambulance services. Please let them know that you are non-affiliated and request if you can attend the continuing education being offered to their EMTs. Our office has requested EMS agencies to assist non-affiliated EMTs.
To view a list of web site addresses for continuing education classes available within the State, by clicking http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/ems/certific/continue-ed.pdf
Q 9: I am an EMT-P (or) EMT-I and unaffiliated. Who would I contact to demonstrate skills proficiency and sign Section (C) on my recertification form?
Unaffiliated EMTs need to contact the local agencies in their communities to request to have their skills verified. Most EMTs are able to contact a former employer and they will provide this service. If you have exhausted every possible agency in your surrounding area and still cannot find someone to assist you, for further suggestions, you can contact Leslie Huntington at mtu2@teleport.com phone number (503) 931-0659 or e-mail Donna Wilson at ohdmtu@teleport.comphone number (503) 807-5850.
Q 10: I will not be able to complete the continuing education prior to the date I should submit my recertification material (May 31st). Would it be ok to go ahead and recertify and then complete the classes?
No. When you sign the application, you are signing that you have completed the requirements for recertifying, including your hours for continuing education. If you are audited and do not have the continuing education requirements, you would be disciplined for falsifying your application. Please wait until you have the hours and then submit your application and fee, along with the additional $20 for filing late.
Q 11: I am taking/took an EMT class (at a higher level). Can those hours count towards my EMT recertification?
If you are currently attending EMT classes for a higher level, the hours you have attended will count towards your continuing education requirement. If however, you are attending a program for a different medical profession, please contact the EMS Office. You may e-mail Leslie Huntington at mtu2@teleport.com phone number (503) 931-0659, or Donna Wilson ohdmtu@teleport.comphone number (503) 807-5850.
Q 12: I work in another medical job and volunteer as an EMT. Can the continuing education classes I take for my job count towards my EMT recertification continuing education hours?
This would depend on what classes you are taking. It would need to be discussed with Leslie Huntington at mtu2@teleport.com phone number (503) 931-0659, or Donna Wilson at ohdmtu@teleport.comphone number (503) 807-5850.
Q 13: Do I need to submit my CPR/ACLS/skills proficiency documentation of recertification/continuing education hours?
No. When the EMT signs their recertification form they are stating that they have met all continuing education requirements to recertify at their current EMT level. You may be audited at a later date, so keep a record of your continuing education for the last four years.
Q 14: I don't have a current CPR card and I can't get a class until July (or later).
An EMT Basic and Intermediate must always have current CPR cards. If you don't have a current CPR card, you are not eligible to be working without a current CPR card and you will not be recertified without one. EMT Paramedics do not need to have a CPR card or ACLS card to recertify. Instead you will need to demonstrate skills proficiency to your supervising physician.
Q 15: Do I need to recertify my National Registry certificate?
No, to work in Oregon you only need an Oregon certificate. But, here are several reasons why you may want to continue recertifying you National Registry certificate: if you move out-of-state, it may make the certification process in your new state easier; some jobs require you to have a National Registry certificate; and, it's easier to maintain your National Registry certificate than to try to reinstate it later. If you meet the continuing education for National Registry recertification, you will have met the continuing education requirement for Oregon. After re-registering as a NREMT-Basic or NREMT-Paramedic, your new NREMT certificate can be used to demonstrate continuing education requirements as described Section 0110 and Section 0130 in OAR 333-265. You can view this section by clicking http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARs_300/OAR_333/333_265.html
In addition, you still must have an agency chief or his/her authorized designee sign your form that you have successfully performed the skills proficiency demonstrations necessary to recertify as an Oregon Paramedic.
Q 16: If I am not required to have a current N.R. certificate, why are you asking for my N.R. certificate number and expiration date?
All newly certified Basics and Paramedics testing in Oregon receive a National Registry certificate and the Oregon EMS office is collecting this data for statistical purposes.
Q 17: I want to drop my certification to a lower level. What do I do?
EMT-Paramedics and EMT-Intermediates can revert to an EMT-Basic by marking on their recertification application that they are reverting to a Basic, meeting the continuing education hours for a Basic and paying the Basic fee. Note: EMT-Paramedics cannot automatically revert to an EMT-Intermediate. If you wish to certify as an Intermediate you must apply for and successfully complete the Division’s EMT-Intermediate written and practical examinations. If you later wish to reinstate your EMT-P certification, the process requires you to take a reinstatement program for that level, and successfully complete the written and practical exams.
To view the rules (OAR 333-265. SECTION 0900) pertaining to this question, please click the address below http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARs_300/OAR_333/333_265.html
Q 18: I am currently on medical disability leave. Can I recertify? [Or] We have an employee that is on medical disability leave. Can we send in their recertification forms and fee along with the group agency's EMT forms?
An EMT recertifying who has developed a physical disability/condition/or injury lasting longer then 30 days but expected to return to work within the recertification period should submit recertification paperwork as follows:
The certificate holder should report as prescribed in OAR 333-265-0160 which can be viewed by clicking http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARs_300/OAR_333/333_265.html
If the certificate holder has met the requirements for recertification prescribed by the Oregon EMS Office then page #2 of the recertification paperwork should be filled out and signed by the appropriate parties granted that authority and the certificate holder.
Page #3 - the certificate holder should fill in personal history question #1 with a yes response and provide a brief explanation regarding the physical impairment.
In Summary; in this manner, and in good faith, the EMT who finds that due to a temporary disability/condition or injury may recertify by: meeting the educational and proficiency demonstrations; providing the EMS office with an explanation, and by meeting the OAR and ORS reporting requirements.
Q 19: I sent in my recertification material but I still haven't received the certificate and now it has expired. Am I ok to work without the certificate?
No. You are required to have a current Oregon EMT certificate to work in Oregon. If you sent in a complete packet prior to May 31, 2007 and if there were no problems with the packet you should have received your certificate prior to June 30, 2007. If you did not receive your certificate by June 30, 2007, then you need to contact the EMS office at (971) 673-0520. However, if you sent it in after May 31, you need to remember that it takes 4-6 weeks to process.
Q 20: I am thinking of not recertifying this year. [Or] I will not be able to recertify on time this year. What would I need to do if I let my certificate lapse and later decide to recertify?
To reinstate an expired EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate or EMT-Paramedic certificate of not more than one year, a person must: a. Submit a completed application for recertification. b. Submit the appropriate recertification fee (the amount on their application form plus $20). c. Successfully complete an audit of their continuing education requirements.
If you would be reinstating after one year, please refer to Section 0100 of the OAR 333-265 on Emergency Medical Technicians. To view click http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARs_300/OAR_333/333_265.html
Q 21: I am a Paramedic, are we suppose to take the paramedic written recertification exam this year?
OAR 333-265-0130 has been amended effective February 1, 2007 to remove the Written Knowledge Assessment Examination referenced in section (9) through (11). Paramedics will not be required to complete a written exam for 2005-2007 recertifications. All other paramedic recertification requirements remain unchanged for the 2005-2007 recertification cycles. Information regarding this rule change is available on the EMS and Trauma Systems Section Website at: or by contacting Gail Stoutt at 971-673-0531.
Q22: I am an Intermediate and I have not taken the Upgrade course yet? Can I still recertify this year?
All Oregon EMT-Intermediates must attend and complete an EMT-Intermediate Bridge Course before June 1, 2008. If you have any further questions about the Intermediate Bridge Course, please contact Leslie Huntington at mtu2@teleport.com phone number (503) 931-0659, or Donna Wilson at ohdmtu@teleport.com phone number (503) 807-5850.
Q 23: How do I find out about the Provider Tax Credit for Rural Volunteers EMTs?
You can find out information through the Office of Rural Health. Their web site is: http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/outreach/oregonruralhealth/providers/taxcredit/provider_tax_credit_emt.cfm There is a look up to see if your station/agency qualifies for rural and then an application which you can download and fill out. For more information, contact Eric Jordan, (866) 674-4376, or by email at jordane@ohsu.edu.
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