(a) All ambulance attendants shall obtain a valid emergency medical technician certificate unless an exception is granted pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department.
(b) The Department shall develop and approve curricula for the necessary classification of emergency medical technicians and approve the training program for the necessary classifications of emergency medical technicians.
(c) Any person desiring certification as an emergency medical technician must complete the appropriate emergency medical technician course and apply to the Department. The Department shall make a determination of the applicant's qualifications and shall issue the appropriate certificate to the applicant. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians licenses shall be acceptable to obtain a state emergency medical technician's certificate.
(d) A certificate is valid for a period not exceeding three years from the date of issuance and may be renewed every three years from the date of original certification subject to the holder completing a refresher course and examination during the three-year certification period as required by the department and provided for by this chapter. Upon successful completion of an approved in-service training program directed by the medical control physician during the three-year certification period and passage of the skills evaluation as provided for by the department, the refresher course requirements and the practical skills evaluation may be waived. Failure to pass the written examination after two attempts will require completion of the refresher course and reexamination. The curriculum for in-service training programs required in this subsection shall include but not be limited to subject matter prescribed by the department. The in-service training programs shall consist of classroom and skills phases that may be conducted at ambulance services, educational facilities, or hospitals throughout the State. The medical control physician who evaluates the skills of an emergency medical technician applying for certificate renewal may also grant a waiver of taking the written exam. The waiver must certify that the emergency medical technician is knowledgeable, proficient, and capable of performing the duties of an emergency medical technician. The accomplished waiver substitutes for the written exam, and all others are required to take the prescribed written exam before renewal.
(e) The department shall suspend or revoke a certificate so issued at any time it is determined that the holder no longer meets the prescribed qualifications set forth by the department or has failed to provide to patients emergency medical treatment of a quality deemed acceptable by the department or is guilty of misconduct as outlined by the rules and regulations.
(f) All instructors of emergency medical technician training courses shall be certified by the Department pursuant to requirements established by the Board; and all such training courses shall be supervised by certified instructors.