OARs 333-250 and 333-265 - Licensing Requirements for Paramedics and Military Service Members and their Spouse or Domestic Partner
The Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, EMS and Trauma Systems Program is proposing to permanently adopt and amend Oregon Administrative Rules in chapter 333, division 265 and division 250 relating to requirements to license a Paramedic and requirements to issue a license to a military service member, or the spouse or domestic partner of a military service member stationed in Oregon and who is licensed in another state.
These rules are being amended in response to concerns raised by community partners regarding the Paramedic workforce shortage. The proposed amendments modify associate degree requirements for a person seeking to be licensed as a Paramedic, replacing the current Paramedic Provisional license with a Transitional Paramedic license. Persons currently licensed as a Provisional Paramedic will still be required to comply with the provisional rule but may apply for a Transitional Paramedic license. A person who does not have an associate degree may obtain a Transitional Paramedic license if currently certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) as a Paramedic and is sponsored by a licensed ambulance service and meets specified requirements. A Transitional Paramedic license would be valid for 24 months, and may be renewed, allowing an individual up to 48 months to obtain an associate degree and to apply for a Paramedic license. A Transitional Paramedic may submit a request for hardship status which may provide an additional 12 months to obtain the associate degree for a total of 60 months.
Additional changes include:
- Modifying the work experience necessary for a person to obtain a Paramedic license by reciprocity from three of five years, to allow proof of having at least two of the last five years of advanced life support, first response Paramedic experience; and
- Adopting a new rule to comply with ORS 670.400, ORS 676.308, and new federal legislation allowing the program to issue a license to a service member or the spouse or domestic partner of a service member that is stationed in Oregon, and who has a license or certificate to practice as an EMS provider in another state. Rules specify documentation and other requirements necessary.
Please see the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for further details.
Persons are being invited to review these proposed rules and to comment on them. Persons who wish to present oral testimony, a public hearing will be held via video/teleconference on September 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. To provide oral testimony during the hearing, please contact publichealth.rules@odhsoha.oregon.gov to sign-up and receive the link for the Microsoft Team video conference. Alternatively, persons may dial 971-277-2343, Phone Conference ID 838 810 5# for audio only.
Written comments may be filed before 5:00 p.m. on September 25, 2023, to the Public Health Division Rules Coordinator at the following address:
OHA, Public Health Division
Brittany Hall, Administrative Rules Coordinator
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 930
Portland, Oregon 97232
Final rules will be filed after consideration of all comments.
For more details, please see the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including the Statement of Need and Fiscal and Racial Equity Impact, and the full text of these proposed rules:
Accessibility Statement: For individuals with disabilities or individuals who speak a language other than English, OHA can provide information in alternate formats such as translations, large print, or braille. Contact the Public Health Division at 971-673-1222, 711 TTY or
publichealth.rules@odhsoha.oregon.gov.