Chapter 4765-12 | First Responder Certification

Rule 4765-12-01 | General provisions.

• Effective: June 15, 2018
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Pursuant to division (A)(2) of section 4765.30 of the Revised Code, the board may waive the requirement that an emergency medical responder may only be a volunteer for a non-profit entity if an applicant makes a written request to the board which demonstrates the following:

(A) The applicant has a compelling need to become an emergency medical responder;

(B) Becoming an emergency medical responder will benefit the applicant's workplace or community in which the applicant wishes to serve.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 11:55 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4765.11
Amplifies: 4765.30
Five Year Review Date: 8/1/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/27/2003

Rule 4765-12-03 | Emergency medical responder continuing education.

• Effective: January 1, 2024
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

[Comment: For dates and availability of material incorporated by reference in this chapter, see rule 4765-1-03 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Except as otherwise provided in section 4765.31 of the Revised Code and this chapter, when applying for renewal of a certificate to practice, a person certified as an emergency medical responder shall document compliance with one of the four following continuing education requirements:

(1) Completion of a total of at least fifteen hours of continuing education, including a minimum of one hour devoted to each of the following topics:

(a) Patient assessment;

(b) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(c) Airway management and oxygen administration;

(d) Automated defibrillation;

(e) Illness and injury management;

(f) Trauma issues;

(g) Identifying and interacting with individuals with dementia;

(h) Anaphylaxis and patient-assisted auto-injector epinephrine administration.

(2) Completion of an emergency medical responder refresher program as outlined in paragraph (D) of rule 4765-12-02 of the Administrative Code or in paragraph (E) of rule 4765-12-05 of the Administrative Code, as evidenced by a certificate of completion issued in accordance with section 4765.24 of the Revised Code;

(3) Current registration with the national registry of emergency medical technicians at the emergency medical responder or equivalent level;

(4) A passing score within three attempts on an examination approved by the board, pursuant to rule 4765-8-05 of the Administrative Code, to demonstrate competence to have a certificate to practice as an emergency medical responder renewed without completing an EMS continuing education program. This examination may only be taken during the last six months of an emergency medical responder's current certification period or during a board approved extension granted pursuant to rule 4765-19-03 of the Administrative Code.

(B) An individual that receives a board approved extension to complete continuing education requirements listed in paragraph (A) of this rule, must complete the requirements and submit an "EMS Renewal Application" to the division, no later than the expiration date of the granted extension.

Last updated January 2, 2024 at 9:21 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4765.11
Amplifies: 4765.16, 4765.24, 4765.31, 4765.162
Five Year Review Date: 8/1/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 8/1/2014, 6/15/2018

Rule 4765-12-04 | Emergency medical responder scope of practice.

• Effective: January 1, 2024
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) In accordance with section 4765.35 of the Revised Code, an emergency medical responder may perform the following emergency medical services:

(1) Open and maintain the airway;

(2) Oropharyngeal airway adjunct;

(3) Nasopharyngeal airway adjunct;

(4) Manual removal of obstructed airway;

(5) Oral suctioning;

(6) Oxygen administration, including the following:

(a) Nasal cannula;

(b) Non-rebreather mask;

(c) Mouth-to-barrier devices;

(7) Ventilation management, including the following:

(a) Bag-valve-mask;

(b) Ventilation with a flow-restricted oxygen-powered device;

(8) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(9) Automated external defibrillation;

(10) Spine board (long and short);

(11) Splinting devices;

(12) Cervical immobilization device;

(13) Soft tissue management;

(14) Controlling of hemorrhaging;

(15) Taking and recording of vital signs;

(16) Patient care report documentation;

(17) Assisting in emergency childbirth management;

(18) Identifying and interacting with individuals with dementia;

(19) Trauma triage determination pursuant to rule 4765-14-02 of the Administrative Code.

(B) In accordance with division (B) of section 4765.35 of the Revised Code, an emergency medical responder may perform the following additional emergency medical services only pursuant to the written or verbal authorization of a physician or of the cooperating physician advisory board, or authorization transmitted through a direct communication device by a physician, physician assistant designated by a physician, or registered nurse designated by a physician, or in accordance with written protocols as specified in division (B) of section 4765.35 of the Revised Code:

(1) Body substance isolation precaution/administration;

(2) Assisted administration of epinephrine auto-injector, which shall consist of either of the following:

(a) Patient's prescribed epinephrine upon the patient's request and with written protocol;

(b) EMS-provided epinephrine with written protocol.

(3) Administration of epinephrine auto-injector, which shall consist of either of the following:

(a) Patient's prescribed epinephrine upon the patient's request and with written protocol;

(b) EMS-provided epinephrine with written protocol.

(4) Apply and obtain readings of pulse oximeter and CO-oximeter, capnography equipment, or capnometry equipment;

(5) Administration of naloxone via intranasal route or via auto-injector with written protocol;

(6) Eye irrigation;

(7) Apply and utilize chest compression assist devices;

(8) Management of suspected fractures;

(9) Any other services approved by the board pursuant to rule 4765-6-01 of the Administrative Code;

(10) Any other services pursuant to a research study approved by the board under rule 4765-6-04 of the Administrative Code and within the parameters established by the board for such study.

(C) A physician or cooperating physician advisory board that serves as the medical director for any EMS organization may limit, but not exceed, the scope of practice for those emergency medical responders who provide emergency medical services under the auspices of the physician's certificate to practice medicine and surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery, issued under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code.

(D) An emergency medical responder shall not perform emergency medical services within this rule unless the emergency medical responder has received training as part of an initial certification course or through subsequent training approved by the board. If certain emergency medical services, within the emergency medical responder scope of practice, were not included in the training specified in this paragraph, the emergency medical responder must have received training regarding such services approved by the local medical director before performing those services.

Last updated January 2, 2024 at 9:21 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4765.35, 4765.11
Amplifies: 4765.35, 4765.162
Five Year Review Date: 8/1/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/27/2003, 6/15/2018

Rule 4765-12-05 | Emergency medical responder curriculum.

• Effective: January 1, 2024
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

[Comment: For dates and availability of material incorporated by reference in this chapter, see rule 4765-1-03 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Effective September 1, 2012, an EMS training program for a certificate to practice as an emergency medical responder or an emergency medical responder refresher program started on or after this date, shall be taught in accordance with this rule. Prior to September 1, 2012, an EMS training program for a certificate to practice as an emergency medical responder or an emergency medical responder refresher program may, but is not required to, teach the curriculum in accordance with this rule.

(B) An EMS training program for emergency medical responder certification shall be conducted in accordance with division (B) of section 4765.16 of the Revised Code and this rule. The EMS training program shall be conducted in accordance with the "National EMS Education Standards" approved by NHTSA, the "Ohio Approved EMS Curriculum Standards" approved by the board, and consistent with the scope of practice set forth in rule 4765-12-04 of the Administrative Code. The national and Ohio approved standards referenced in this paragraph are required core competencies for instruction in an EMS training program. Elements of the scope of practice not referenced in the "National EMS Education Standards" or the "Ohio Approved EMS Curriculum" are added competencies that may be taught at the discretion of the EMS training program. Such EMS training program shall consist of a minimum of forty-eight hours to include all of the following:

(1) Preparatory; to include body substance isolation precaution/administration;

(2) Anatomy and physiology;

(3) Medical terminology;

(4) Physiology;

(5) Life span development;

(6) Public health;

(7) Pharmacology;

(8) Airway management, respiration, and artificial ventilation, to include:

(a) Bag valve mask;

(b) Ventilation with flow restricted oxygen powered device;

(c) Pulse oximeter capnography or capnometry equipment application and reading.

(9) Patient assessment;

(10) Medicine, to include:

(a) Auto-injector epinephrine administration;

(b) Naloxone administration via auto-injector or intranasal route;

(c) Oxygen administration;

(11) Shock and resuscitation;

(12) Trauma, to include:

(a) Application of spinal immobilization devices;

(b) Application of splints and management of suspected fractures;

(c) Trauma triage determination pursuant to rule 4765-14-02 of the Administrative Code.

(13) Special patient populations;

(14) A minimum of two hours on identifying and interacting with individuals with dementia;

(15) EMS operations.

(C) An accredited institution offering an EMS training program as set forth in paragraph (B) of this rule, shall provide for regular written and practical evaluations of student performance and achievement throughout the course of the program. Evaluations shall include a comprehensive written examination and an examination of practical skills, prior to issuance of a certificate of completion.

(D) An accredited institution may grant a maximum of four hours of credit towards the forty-eight hour emergency medical responder training program requirements, set forth in paragraph (B) of this rule, if the student provides current, valid documentation of successful completion of a health care provider course or professional rescuer course provided through one of the following:

(1) American red cross;

(2) American heart association; or

(3) American safety and health institution.

(E) An emergency medical responder refresher program shall consist of fifteen hours according to the "Emergency Medical Responder Refresher Training Program" approved by the board, for the number of hours in each of the following subject areas:

(1) Two hours on preparatory considerations;

(2) Two hours on airway management and ventilation, to include oxygen therapy;

(3) Two hours on patient assessment;

(4) Two hours on cardiac management, to include cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated defibrillation;

(5) Two hours on illness and injury management, to include both of the following:

(a) Assisting patients with epinephrine auto-injectors;

(b) Eye irrigation.

(6) One hour on childbirth and pediatric issues;

(7) One hour on geriatric issues;

(8) One hour on identifying and interacting with individuals with dementia;

(9) Two hours on trauma issues.

(F) An accredited or approved institution offering a refresher program, as outlined in paragraph (E) of this rule, shall provide for regular evaluations of student performance and achievement through written and practical examinations, prior to issuance of a certificate of completion.

Last updated December 5, 2024 at 10:11 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4765.11
Amplifies: 4765.16, 4765.162
Five Year Review Date: 8/1/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 2/6/2012