Got a phone call saying I could lose my certification...

S

Skyebluedestiny

Forum Ride Along
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
1
I'm currently with a station on probation. I got my EMT certification through them. Due to family circumstances, I now live an hour away and it's really hard for me to do things. I have been considering quitting. Today, someone called and warned me that if I don't complete my service hours, I'll get kicked out of the firehouse and will lose my certification because I'm not affiliated with a firehouse. Is that true?
If so, can I join another firehouse near where I live now and then stop volunteering for the other firehouse so I don't lose it?

Thanks.
 
Let's see we don't know where you are, what you exactly are talking about in regards to your certification, and you need to clarify overall what you are talking about when you are told you are losing your certification.
 
I have an EMT-B certification. This firehouse paid for it. I'm currently in Maryland and the original firehouse is in Maryland. And they told me that if I leave the firehouse then I lose my certification (because I won't be attached to a firehouse).
 
Check with the state EMS office, EMT certs belong to an individual. Chances are you may owe the firehouse money if you agreed to work with them for X amount of time in order for them to pay for your certification
 
Okay, thank you. There was no agreement (it's a very rural area and they take basically all volunteers). So even if I'm not attached to a firehouse I will not lose it?
 
I've never heard anyone losing certification because they leave a volunteer department? I could see you owing them money for not fulfilling agreement, but I don't know what that has to do with you actually holding your certification.
 
Okay, thank you. I didn't think that it sounded right, but I also didn't want to chance it.
 
They may be referring to affiliation. Some states require affiliation to renew your certification, but you wont outright lose it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
 
Doesn't NREMT require affiliation for recertification? When it came time to renew my NREMT I had an issues since I was not currently working in EMS so I ended up letting it lapse where as my state license was not an issue. So if anything it would be an issues if you were unaffiliated when it was time to renew your license not that they revoke it on the spot once leaving the fire department.
 
Chase said:
Doesn't NREMT require affiliation for recertification?
Click to expand...
I think they require that you are working in some capacity that uses your EMS skills, even if it isn't as an EMS practitioner per se (e.g. if you are an ED tech or lifeguard, etc.)?

As far as MD EMT certs go, it appears that you must be affiliated with an agency to recertify (or to initially certify -- strangely enough).
 
Thanks so much for the help guys. I guess I'll stay with this station until I am able to transfer completely.
 
Based on the information you provided, there is nothing I've found that requires you to be actively affiliated with an EMS service in order to maintain a license.

In order to be [initially] certified as an EMT in Maryland, the candidate must be affiliated with an approved pre-hospital EMS operational or commercial program. The candidate may however, complete the above steps without being required to affiliate. All non-affiliated reciprocity candidates will receive a letter of completion until such time when they become affiliated -source.
Click to expand...

I'd drop your current affiliation and re-affiliate when you're in a better position.

Good luck!
 
Skyebluedestiny said:
Today, someone called and warned me that if I don't complete my service hours, I'll get kicked out of the firehouse and will lose my certification because I'm not affiliated with a firehouse. Is that true?
Click to expand...
Quite simply, no.

What can happen is you cannot practice as an EMT when you aren't affiliated with an agency (due to lack of medical direction, etc). But no, the state will not yank your certification because you are not affiliated with a FD.
 
NREMT won't pull your card because you're unaffiliated. You will transition to inactive if you haven't affiliated by the time you have to recert.

As for Maryland, call the states ems office and ask them. I can't see you outright losing your cert(as in having to repeat the class and exams), but your state may operate like the NR, In which case you could lose your authorization to practice while unaffiliated.

In terms of debt to your sponsoring agency, if there is a contract, read it. It should spell out your obligations, up to and including financial recompense to the agency. If there is no contract, chances are they can huff and puff all they want, but they can't revoke your card.

Bottom line, call the powers that be and ask them. They can give you the most accurate, up to date
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top