Section 515.580  Paramedic Continuing Education

a)         Continuing education classes, seminars or other types of programs shall be approved by the Department before being offered to Paramedics.  An application for approval shall be submitted to the Department by an EMS Medical Director, on a form prescribed, prepared and furnished by the Department, at least 60 days prior to the scheduled event. The application will include, but not be limited to, the following:

1)         Name of applicant, agency and address;

2)         Lead Instructor's name, license number, address and contact information;

3)         Name and signature of the EMS MD and the EMS System Coordinator;

4)         Type of education program;

5)         Dates, times and location of the education program (submit course schedule);

6)         Goals and objectives;

7)         Methods and materials, text books, and resources, when applicable;

8)         Content consistent with the national EMS education standards;

9)         Description of evaluation instruments; and

10)         Requirements for successful completion, when applicable.

b)         Approval will be granted provided the application is complete and the content of the program is based on topics or materials from the national EMS education standards, as modified by the Department.  Upon approval, the Department will issue a site code to the course, seminar or program.

c)         An EMS System may apply to the Department for a single System site code to cover CE activities conducted or approved by the System solely for System Paramedics when an urgent education need arises that requires immediate attention or when other appropriate education opportunities present outside of the scheduled approved offerings.  Activities conducted under the System site code shall not require individual approval by the Department. The single System site code is not intended to replace routine CE pre-approvals required by this Section and Sections 515.560 and 515.570.

d)         A Paramedic functioning within an EMS System shall submit written proof of CE attendance to the EMS System Coordinator pursuant to System policy.  A Paramedic not functioning within an EMS System shall submit written proof of CE attendance to the Department Regional EMS Coordinator upon licensure renewal request.

e)         The EMS MD or designee of the EMS System Paramedic's primary affiliation shall verify whether specific CE hours meet the criteria for educational credit towards active status or renewal purposes required by Section 515.590(a)(2)(B).

f)         An EMS System that requires clinical CE shall specify in the System Program Plan the number of hours required, and the manner in which those hours must be earned, submitted and verified.

g)         A Paramedic shall maintain copies of all documentation concerning CE programs or activities that he or she has completed for a period of not less than four years.

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 17632, effective September 20, 2018)