(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an applicant for a license as a paramedic shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Commissioner of Public Health that the applicant has successfully (1) completed a paramedic training program approved by the commissioner, (2) for applicants applying on and after January 1, 2020, completed mental health first aid training as part of a program provided by an instructor certified by the National Council for Behavioral Health or any other certifying organization with substantially similar certification requirements, as determined by the commissioner, and (3) passed an examination prescribed by the commissioner.

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(b) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (1) is licensed or certified as a paramedic in another state or jurisdiction whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state and that the applicant has no pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaint against him or her, or (2) (A) is currently licensed or certified as a paramedic in good standing in any New England state, New York or New Jersey, (B) has completed an initial training program consistent with the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards, as promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the paramedic scope of practice model conducted by an organization offering a program that is recognized by the national emergency medical services program accrediting organization, (C) for applicants applying on or after January 1, 2020, has completed mental health first aid training as part of a program provided by an instructor certified by the National Council for Behavioral Health or any other certifying organization with substantially similar certification requirements, as determined by the commissioner, and (D) has no pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaint against him or her.

(c) Any person who is certified as an emergency medical technician-paramedic by the Department of Public Health on October 1, 1997, shall be deemed a licensed paramedic. Any person so deemed shall renew his license pursuant to section 19a-88 for a fee of one hundred fifty-five dollars.

(d) On or after January 1, 2020, each person seeking certification as an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician shall apply to the department on forms prescribed by the commissioner. Applicants for certification shall comply with the following requirements: (1) For initial certification, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A) has completed an initial training program consistent with the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards, as promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician curriculum, (B) has passed the examination administered by the national organization for emergency medical certification for an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician as necessary for the type of certification sought by the applicant or an examination approved by the department, and (C) has no pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaints against such applicant, (2) a certificate issued under this subsection shall be renewed once every two years in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-88 upon presentation of evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A) has successfully completed continuing education for an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician as required by the national organization for emergency medical certification or as approved by the department, or (B) presents a current certification as an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician from the national organization for emergency medical certification, or (3) for certification by endorsement from another state, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A) is currently certified as an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician in good standing by a state that maintains certification or licensing requirements that the commissioner determines are equal to or greater than those in this state, or (B) holds a current certification as an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician from the national organization for emergency medical certification.

(e) On or after January 1, 2022, each person seeking renewal of a certification as an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician under subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such person has, in the previous six-year period, completed (1) the evidence-based youth suicide prevention training program administered pursuant to section 17a-52a, or (2) not less than two hours of training or education, approved by the Commissioner of Public Health, on (A) screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (B) suicide prevention.

(f) On or after January 1, 2020, each person seeking certification as an emergency medical services instructor shall apply to the department on forms prescribed by the commissioner. Applicants for certification shall comply with the following requirements: (1) For initial certification, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A) is currently certified by the department as an emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician or licensed by the department as a paramedic, (B) has completed a program of training as an emergency medical instructor based on current national education standards within the prior two years, (C) has completed twenty-five hours of teaching activity under the supervision of a currently certified emergency medical services instructor, (D) has completed written and practical examinations as prescribed by the commissioner, (E) has no pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaints against the applicant, and (F) effective on a date prescribed by the commissioner, presents documentation satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant is currently certified as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic by the national organization for emergency medical certification, or (2) for renewal certification, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A) has successfully completed continuing education and teaching activity as required by the department, (B) maintains current certification by the department as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or licensure by the department as a paramedic, and (C) effective on a date as prescribed by the commissioner, presents documentation satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant is currently certified as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic by the national organization for emergency medical certification.

(g) A certified emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or emergency medical services instructor shall document the completion of his or her continuing educational in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. A certified emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or emergency medical services instructor who is not engaged in active professional practice in any form during a certification period shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section, provided the emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or emergency medical services instructor submits to the department, prior to the expiration of the certification period, an application for inactive status on a form prescribed by the department and such other documentation as may be required by the department. The application for inactive status pursuant to this subsection shall contain a statement that the emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or emergency medical services instructor may not engage in professional practice until the continuing education requirements of this section have been met.

(h) The commissioner may issue a temporary emergency medical technician certificate to an applicant who presents evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that (1) the applicant was certified by the department as an emergency medical technician prior to becoming licensed as a paramedic pursuant to section 20-206ll, or (2) the applicant’s certification as an emergency medical technician has expired and the applicant’s license as a paramedic has become void pursuant to section 19a-88. Such temporary certificate shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year and shall not be renewable.

(i) An applicant who is issued a temporary emergency medical technician certificate pursuant to subsection (h) of this section may, prior to the expiration of such temporary certificate, apply to the department for: (1) Renewal of such person’s paramedic license, giving such person’s name in full, such person’s residence and business address and such other information as the department requests, provided the application for license renewal is accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant was under the medical oversight of a sponsor hospital, as those terms are defined in section 19a-175, on the date the applicant’s paramedic license became void for nonrenewal; or (2) recertification as an emergency medical technician, provided the application for recertification is accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant completed emergency medical technician refresher training approved by the commissioner not later than one year after issuance of the temporary emergency medical technician certificate. The department shall recertify such person as an emergency medical technician without the examination required for initial certification specified in regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 20-206oo.

(j) Any person certified as an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or emergency medical services instructor pursuant to this chapter and the regulations adopted pursuant to section 20-206oo whose certification has expired may apply to the Department of Public Health for reinstatement of such certification, provided such person completes the requirements for renewal certification specified in this section. Any certificate issued pursuant to this section shall remain valid for ninety days after the expiration date of such certificate and become void upon the expiration of such ninety-day period.

(k) The Commissioner of Public Health shall issue an emergency medical technician certification to an applicant who is a member of the armed forces or the National Guard or a veteran and who (1) presents evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such applicant holds a current certification as a person entitled to perform similar services under a different designation by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, or (2) satisfies the regulations promulgated pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 19a-179. Such applicant shall be exempt from any written or practical examination requirement for certification.

(l) For the purposes of this section, “veteran” and “armed forces” have the same meanings as provided in section 27-103.