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SUBJECT: Information Paper on Continuing Education for Recertification

PURPOSE. To outline procedures to establish a program to monitor, record, and acquire Continuing Education hours.

SCOPE. All certified medics, Platoon Sergeants, Physician Assistants and Physicians

1. CE’s are continuing education hours for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

a. It is required that all certified EMTs accumulate 48 hours or more continuing education hours per two years in order to recertify.

(1) They must be taken during the current certification period
(2) They must be continuing education on anything within the EMT curriculum.
(3) EMT is awarded 1 CE per hour of instruction, with a maximum of 24 coming from any one source.

b. Army wide we have gotten our medics certified, but have failed to guide them in how to recertify. Consequently, a number of certified EMTs are retaking the EMT program at the Centralized Medical Training Classroom because of failure to recertify.

c. Certified medics feel that acquiring 48 CE hours is the hardest aspect of the recertification process. However, a failure to capitalize on current training, is the largest downfall.

2. Some programs currently taught on-post and in the local community have established amounts of continuing education hours based on their national curriculums, and only require a certificate.

a. Current programs taught on post are listed with CE values:

(1) Basic Trauma Life Support - 16 hours


(2) Advanced Cardiac Life Support - 16 hours
(3) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instructor - 12 hours
(4) Pediatric Advanced Life Support - 16 hours

b. Current programs taught in the community are listed with CE values:

(1) Pediatric Basic Trauma Life Support - 16 hours
(2) Ambulance Driving Skills - 12 hours
(3) Child Cardiac Care Course - 16 hours
(4) Pediatric Basic Trauma Life Support Refresher - 8 hours
(5) Advanced Basic Trauma Life Support - 16 hours

c. College course are also worth CE’s if they deal with aspects of medicine. Only a copy of the report card is required. Listed are some examples of acceptable courses and their CE values:

(1) Biology I - 24 hours
(2) Biology II - 24 hours
(3) Microbiology - 24 hours
(4) Anatomy - 24 hours
(5) Physiology - 24 hours
(6) Organic Chemistry - 24 hours

3. The above is not the only way to acquire CE’s as many soldiers are unaware. Any training done, that deals with the EMT curriculum can be credited as CE’s. Some examples of these done by almost all medics are listed as follows:

a. EFMB training - 24 hours
b. MOS Proficiency Training - 24 hours
c. Unit level medical training
d. Sick call assessment training (algorithms) - 16 hours
e. NBC training (HAZMAT)
f. Skill level sustainment training

4. The following procedures will ensure that soldiers are getting the credit deserved, for training they have accomplished.

a. Documentation is the key to success, and it starts with the Platoon Sergeants. Platoon Sergeants should document all training and maintain sign-in rosters. At the completion of training, a memorandum should be created outlining the following”

(1) Break down of training to include sub-tasks
(2) Total instruction hours
(3) Date and time of training
(4) Attached sign-in roster to include SSNs

b. The documentation must be signed by a medical training officer, and for military purposes this is considered a Physician or Physician Assistant.

(1) Physician Assistant will verify accuracy of memorandum. (e.g. 12 hours for “how to splint”)
(2) That the training related to EMT curriculum.

c. Completed and signed memorandums will be distributed at a minimum to:

(1) Individual EMTs
(2) Brigade Surgeons
(3) Division Surgeon
(4) Medical Training Coordinator

5. Physician Assistants can receive CE by utilizing the Distance Learning Program in the Knowledge Exchange (KE) at ke.army.mil/pa

(EMTs can also utilize these CEs).

6. Once EMTs receive their recertification packet from the National Registry, they must review their individual file with the EMT coordinator.

a. Bring a copy of all records of training, signed by Physician or Physician Assistant.
b. Bring a copy of all certificates received during current certification period.
c. Bring a copy of current Health Care Provider CPR card.
d. Completion paperwork from an EMT-refresher course.

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U.S. Army EMS Office Pamphlet