By Laura French
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has issued an executive order allowing the state’s EMS regulatory board to extend the expiration date for state-issued EMS certifications by three months.
EMT, AEMT and paramedics with certifications issued by the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) that expire on March 31, 2020 now have until June 30, 2020 to renew them, according to an EMSRB announcement.
The order also allows certificate learners to complete their continuing education requirements remotely.
Earlier this month, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) announced a deadline extension for nationally registered personnel, also moving the expiration dates for certificates from March 31, 2020 to June 30, 2020.
Additionally, the NREMT approved provisional certifications during the national emergency due to the closing of psychomotor exam centers.
The EMSRB has urged Minnesota EMS agencies to maintain normal operations as much as possible during the crisis, after the state’s peacetime emergency declaration on March 13 lifted some requirements for items and equipment to be carried on ambulances, responder certification and emergency driver qualifications.
Additional resources
Learn more about COVID-19 response and state EMS actions with these resources:
- NREMT extends 2020 recertification deadline, modifies requirements due to COVID-19
- NREMT approves provisional certifications during national emergency
- Minnesota issues ‘5-day Emergency Suspension of Ambulance Services’ memo
- Minn. EMS agencies asked to maintain normal operations during emergency
- EMS Compact declared operational
- How to continue EMT, paramedic course instruction during COVID-19 pandemic