It is the personal responsibility of the EMS provider to maintain their certifications and licenses. A certification is an acknowledgement by a certifying agency or company that a candidate has demonstrated minimal competency of the certification. At the time of this writing, Georgia utilizes the testing processes of the National Registry of EMT’s. The exams of National Registry are conveyed in 2 parts: a written and psychomotor (hands on) exam. Once the candidates complete both exams, they are awarded certification by the National Registry of EMT’s. To maintain a National Registry certification, a certified EMS provider will need to complete various continuing education requirements set forth by National Registry.

A license to practice differs from a certification in that it grants the licensee holder privileges and typically specifies a ‘scope of practice’. A scope of practice is a list of skills and privileges a licensee is allowed to do under the law (in this case, the Georgia Department of Public Health). A license can be revoked for various reasons. In Georgia, the Department of Public Health licenses the following EMS provider levels:

1. Emergency Medical Responder
2. Emergency Medical Technician
3. Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
4. Emergency Medical Technician -Intermediate (outdated license level)
5. Cardiac Technician (outdated license level
6. Paramedic

Both the Department of Public Health and National Registry of EMT’s require continuing education from their licensees and certificate holders alike. Both entities charge fees for renewal and both require renewal every 2 years.

It is the responsibility of each EMS provider to remain current on their skills. Concurrent experience does not always equate to competency. When it’s determined that an EMS provider is incompetent or negligent, the Georgia Department of Public Health will investigate the matter and revoke the license of the errant caregiver. If the errant EMS provider is criminally negligent or has committed a crime, the Department of Public Health could charge the errant EMS provider in criminal court resulting in fines or even a jail sentence.