CA to OH Reciprocity questions

[dminna]

I just became nationally registered in OH and I am moving to CA next week. I researched the training requirements and realized that its not going to be as easy as I first thought.

With my current training and an OH license I found that I still require about 150 didactic hours, 20 ALS calls and 400 field hours. How do I go about completing these requirements? If I cant practice skills in CA then how am I able to get the necessary training? Also, where can I take classes that will count toward my training hours?

Any info would help, I'm really stressed out about it.

 

[Cawolf86]

First question - nationally registered in ohio? Do you have your NRP (National Registry Paramedic)?

And can you provide a link to your school?

 

[dminna]

While living in Ohio I became Nationally registered, which makes me licensed in Ohio. Through research I realized that being nationally registered does not make you licensed to practice in California.

I want to know how I go about completing the additional requirements in California.

 

[Cawolf86]

Have you been working as a paramedic or just have your initial license? It makes a difference. Your medical director can sign off on the ALS contacts with concurrent submission of duplicate run sheets (or start saving them if you are working currently).

Did your school only require 80 field hours? CA only requires 480.

Didactic hours can be completed through a refresher course or by comparing course structure to the DOT guidelines.

I could try to give you a complete answer if you could please provide detailed information on your schooling, CE, and work experience as a paramedic.

Thanks.

 

[dminna]

I just got my license yesterday, I'm moving to California in 5 days. My school is only able to give me 80 hours for the training I have completed.

What I have on paper:
Didactic/Labratory 301 hrs
Clinical Component 348 hrs
-20 ALS calls (giving me 40 hrs)
-40 field mentoring (giving me 40 hrs)

I spent well over 200 hours at fire houses but there is not documentation to prove that. I only have hours based on calls, I can break it down further if that will give you more info that you think would be helpful.

Im interested in hearing about the DOT guidelines...
I will post the info I have in the next reply.

 

[dminna]

This is my coursework, the number of hours is located to the right of each individual section.

Didactic/Laboratory -301 Contact
Hours

Division 1: Preparatory - 49
EMS Systems
Well Being of the Paramedic
Illness and Injury Prevention
Medical Legal
Ethics
General Principles of Pathology
Pharmacology
Venous Access and Medication administration
Therapeutic Communication
Life Span Development

Division 2: Airway - 12
Airway Management and Ventilation

Division 3: Patient Assessment - 20
History Taking
Techniques of Physical Examination
Patient Assessment
Clinical Decision Making
Communications
Documentation

Division 4: Trauma -35
Trauma Systems and Mechanisms of Injury
Soft Tissue Trauma
Burns
Head and Facial Trauma
Spinal Trauma
Thoracic Trauma
Abdominal Trauma
Musculoskeletal Trauma

Division 5: Medical – 126
Respiratory
Cardiology
Neurology
Endocrine Emergencies
Anaphylaxis
Gastroenterology
Renal Urology
Toxicology
Hematology
Environmental Conditions
Infectious and Communicable Diseases
Behavioral / Psychiatric Disorders
Gynecology
Obstetrics

Division 6: Special Considerations - 32
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Geriatrics
Abuse and Assault
Patients with Special Challenges
Acute Interventions for the Chronic Care Patients



Division 7: Assessment Based Management - 16
Assessment Based Management

Division 8: Operations 11
Ambulance Operations
Mass Casualty Incidents
Rescue Awareness and Operations
Hazardous Material Incidents
Crime Scene Awareness

 

[atropine]

what part of cali are you moving to?

 

[dminna]

This is all of my field experience mixed in with my hospital/clinical experience.

Clinical Component = 348 Contact Hours
Area
Skills
Requirement
Total
Hours
IV Successfully Established
25
6.5
Endotracheal Intubation
Live = 2
1.0
Ventilation
5
1.25
Medications
Subcutaneous Injections = 3
0.75
Intramuscular Injections = 3
0.75
Intravenous Injections = 12
3.0
Nebulized = 3
0.75
Airway Suctioning
3
0.75
14.5
Patient Assessments
Requirement
Total
Hours
Pediatric (0-17 yrs)
Neonate (0-1 month) = 5
10
Infant (1 -12 months) = 5
10
Toddler (13 – 36 months) = 5
10
Preschool (3 – 5 yrs) = 5
10
School Age (6 – 12 yrs) = 5
10
Adolescents (13 – 17 yrs) = 5
10
Adult (18-64 yrs)
60
120
Geriatric (64 + yrs)
30
60
240
Field Experience
Requirement
Total
Hours
Field Mentoring
40
40
ALS Calls
20
40
80
Professional Development
16
16
Grand Total
350.5
Patient’s Primary Presenting Problem
Number to Achieve
Abd Pain
10
Altered Mental Status
10
Chest Pain
15
Obstetrics (Vaginal Deliveries)
2
Psychiatric
10
Resp Adult
6
Resp Pediatric
4
Syncope
5
Trauma
20
Clinical Competency Assessment
Done during EMS 139
MICU Team Leader
10 ALS Calls
Medical Director Time
1 session
Field Evaluation
1 session

 

[dminna]

Orange County

 

[atropine]

Well then if you plan to work as a medic, I would suggest calling one of the local counties, like LA, San berdu, riverside, or San Diego and ask the medical director how to go about getting the required field time, you might have to pay for a preceptor and UCLA offers the required hours in their refreshr course, you can get that info online. Good luck, and the market sucks out here.

 

[dminna]

I know the market sucks. I have lived there my whole life, I just moved out here for school. I know of a FD that will let me work as a reserve FF/medic but I should call the medical director first. Im hoping that after reviewing my coursework I can just get someone to sign me off. Although, extra schooling has never hurt anyone. Im just excited to get out there and start working.

Its really too bad that the EMS office hasn't gotten back to me and Ive left a message every day for the last 4 days...

 

[atropine]

hopes it's not Santa Ana FD, LA County EMS might be able to help you I know they mess with the state alot.

 

[Cawolf86]

You did not provide your school so I couldn't check - but a key factor is that if your school meets DOT or NEMS standards than the hours don't factor in.

Also - I think you said you are from there but hopefully you are aware that private paramedic jobs in OC are non-existant.

 

[dminna]

I plan on looking for work in SD and Riverside. I went to Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.

 

[Cawolf86]

It does not appear to be a program meeting DOT or NEMS standards - based on the infor on their site and the hours of the program. Therefore I would speak to a EMS agency representative directly to find out what you would need.

Hours and training would be able to be completed through a training agency.

Best of luck.