Subdivision 1.Approval required.

(a) All education programs for an EMT, AEMT, or paramedic must be approved by the board.

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(b) To be approved by the board, an education program must:

(1) submit an application prescribed by the board that includes:

(i) type and length of course to be offered;

(ii) names, addresses, and qualifications of the program medical director, program education coordinator, and instructors;

(iii) names and addresses of clinical sites, including a contact person and telephone number;

(iv) admission criteria for students; and

(v) materials and equipment to be used;

(2) for each course, implement the most current version of the United States Department of Transportation EMS Education Standards, or its equivalent as determined by the board applicable to EMT, AEMT, or paramedic education;

(3) have a program medical director and a program coordinator;

(4) utilize instructors who meet the requirements of section 144E.283 for teaching at least 50 percent of the course content. The remaining 50 percent of the course may be taught by guest lecturers approved by the education program coordinator or medical director;

(5) have at least one instructor for every ten students at the practical skill stations;

(6) maintain a written agreement with a licensed hospital or licensed ambulance service designating a clinical training site;

(7) retain documentation of program approval by the board, course outline, and student information;

(8) notify the board of the starting date of a course prior to the beginning of a course;

(9) submit the appropriate fee as required under section 144E.29; and

(10) maintain a minimum average yearly pass rate as set by the board on an annual basis. The pass rate will be determined by the percent of candidates who pass the exam on the first attempt. An education program not meeting this yearly standard shall be placed on probation and shall be on a performance improvement plan approved by the board until meeting the pass rate standard. While on probation, the education program may continue providing classes if meeting the terms of the performance improvement plan as determined by the board. If an education program having probation status fails to meet the pass rate standard after two years in which an EMT initial course has been taught, the board may take disciplinary action under subdivision 5.

Subd. 2.AEMT and paramedic requirements.

(a) In addition to the requirements under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), an education program applying for approval to teach AEMTs and paramedics must be administered by an educational institution accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

(b) An AEMT and paramedic education program that is administered by an educational institution not accredited by CAAHEP, but that is in the process of completing the accreditation process, may be granted provisional approval by the board upon verification of submission of its self-study report and the appropriate review fee to CAAHEP.

(c) An educational institution that discontinues its participation in the accreditation process must notify the board immediately and provisional approval shall be withdrawn.

(d) This subdivision does not apply to a paramedic education program when the program is operated by an advanced life-support ambulance service licensed by the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board under this chapter, and the ambulance service meets the following criteria:

(1) covers a rural primary service area that does not contain a hospital within the primary service area or contains a hospital within the primary service area that has been designated as a critical access hospital under section 144.1483, clause (9);

(2) has tax-exempt status in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, section 501(c)(3);

(3) received approval before 1991 from the commissioner of health to operate a paramedic education program;

(4) operates an AEMT and paramedic education program exclusively to train paramedics for the local ambulance service; and

(5) limits enrollment in the AEMT and paramedic program to five candidates per biennium.

Subd. 3.Expiration.

Education program approval shall expire two years from the date of approval.

Subd. 4.Reapproval.

An education program shall apply to the board for reapproval at least three months prior to the expiration date of its approval and must:

(1) submit an application prescribed by the board specifying any changes from the information provided for prior approval and any other information requested by the board to clarify incomplete or ambiguous information presented in the application; and

(2) comply with the requirements under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clauses (2) to (10).

Subd. 5.Disciplinary action.

(a) The board may deny, suspend, revoke, place conditions on, or refuse to renew approval of an education program that the board determines:

(1) violated subdivisions 1 to 4 or rules adopted under sections 144E.001 to 144E.33; or

(2) misrepresented or falsified information on an application form provided by the board.

(b) Before taking action under paragraph (a), the board shall give notice to an education program of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14. If an education program requests a contested case hearing within 30 days after receiving notice, the board shall initiate a contested case hearing according to chapter 14.

(c) The administrative law judge shall issue a report and recommendation within 30 days after closing the contested case hearing record. The board shall issue a final order within 30 days after receipt of the administrative law judge’s report.

(d) After six months from the board’s decision to deny, revoke, place conditions on, or refuse approval of an education program for disciplinary action, the education program shall have the opportunity to apply to the board for reapproval.

Subd. 6.Temporary suspension.

(a) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the board may temporarily suspend approval of the education program after conducting a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the board believes that the education program has violated a statute or rule that the board is empowered to enforce and determining that the continued provision of service by the education program would create an imminent risk to public health or harm to others.

(b) A temporary suspension order prohibiting the education program from providing emergency medical care training shall give notice of the right to a preliminary hearing according to paragraph (d) and shall state the reasons for the entry of the temporary suspension order.

(c) Service of a temporary suspension order is effective when the order is served on the education program personally or by certified mail, which is complete upon receipt, refusal, or return for nondelivery to the most recent address provided to the board for the education program.

(d) At the time the board issues a temporary suspension order, the board shall schedule a hearing, to be held before a group of its members designated by the board, that shall begin within 60 days after issuance of the temporary suspension order or within 15 working days of the date of the board’s receipt of a request for a hearing from the education program, whichever is sooner. The hearing shall be on the sole issue of whether there is a reasonable basis to continue, modify, or lift the temporary suspension. A hearing under this paragraph is not subject to chapter 14.

(e) Evidence presented by the board or the individual may be in the form of an affidavit. The education program or counsel of record may appear for oral argument.

(f) Within five working days of the hearing, the board shall issue its order and, if the suspension is continued, notify the education program of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14.

(g) If an education program requests a contested case hearing within 30 days of receiving notice under paragraph (f), the board shall initiate a contested case hearing according to chapter 14. The administrative law judge shall issue a report and recommendation within 30 days after the closing of the contested case hearing record. The board shall issue a final order within 30 days after receipt of the administrative law judge’s report.

Subd. 7.Audit.

The board may audit education programs approved by the board. The audit may include, but is not limited to, investigation of complaints, course inspection, classroom observation, review of instructor qualifications, and student interviews.