West Virginia

Drema Mace, PhD., Director
Lee B. Smith, MD, FACEP, Medical Director
WV Office of EMS
350 Capitol Street, Rm. 425
Charleston, WV 25301-3714
304/558-3956, Fax 304/558-3856
www.wvoems.org

EMT-Basic: Skills include: Skills within the DOT National Standard Curriculum plus administration of aspirin, epinephrine 1:1,000, and nitroglycerin. Hours of training: 124 hours. Certification requirements: National Registry or WV state examination. Initial certification for 3 years, ending on December 31. Recertification requirements: Recertification period of 3 years based on 33-hour refresher course or alternative in-squad continuing-education program of 40 hours. State written and practical examinations required.

EMSA-Intermediate: Skills include: Skills within the DOT National Standard EMT-I 1999 curriculum. Hours of training: 450 hours. Certification requirements: National Registry examination. Certification period 4 years ending December 31. Recertification requirements: 36-hour refresher and 36 hours additional to include 8 hours of MCI training.

EMT-Paramedic: Skills include: Skills within the DOT National Standard EMT-P Curriculum. Hours of training: 1,000. Certification requirements: National Registry examination for initial certification. Recertification requirements: 48-hour DOT EMT-P refresher course, minimum, with two options: Recertification every 2 years, if EMS agency qualifies, and 24 additional hours of continuing education with no written or practical exam (but Medical Director must validate skills/knowledge); or every 4 years with 48 hours of additional CE and a written and practical exam. Both option periods end on December 31.

Responsible certification agency: Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Reciprocity: Legal recognition with National Registry certification or state certification. State certification requires verification of equality of training and current certification. Classes and examinations may be required for completion of legal recognition. Squad medical director must sign verifying squad affiliation and/or residency within the state.

Salary ranges: Basic EMT: $16,000-$28,000/yr.; Paramedic: $18,000-$36,000/yr.

Number of licensed ambulance vehicles (public and private) in the state: 668 (ground & air).

Numbers of EMS personnel: Currently state-certified First Responder, 259; EMT-B, 3,674; EMSA, Intermediate 58; EMT-P, 1,384; EMSA-Registered Nurse 55, EMSA- Flight Nurse, 68E; EMSA-Physicians Assistant, 4; EMSA-Physician, 3; EMT-Miner, 4,803. Total all certifications: 10,313

Numbers of EMS services: 219 licensed EMS agencies.

Description of statewide data-gathering system: All transporting providers are reporting electronically via NEMSIS compliant web or third-party system.

Federal/government funding: Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, HRSA EMS-C Grant, ASPR Hospital Preparedenss Grant, Homeland Security communications grants.

State funds allocated to run state EMS office: $1,769,072 + $546,142 certification & licensing fee funds.

Special projects or programs operated by EMS office: State-level disaster and special event management for the Department of Health and Human Resources, Pediatric EMS Equipment funding, broadband communications build-out, statewide Medical Coordination Center, trauma center designation, stroke facility designation, Always Ready for Kids voluntary facility evaluation

Outlook/changes for coming year: Implementing total revision of EMS Legislative Rules impacting EMS systems, EMS data, EMS personnel, EMS vehicles, disciplinary actions and EMS educational institutes. CAAHEP Accreditation of ALS training institutes. Protocol revisions.

Job outlook/areas of greatest need: Good. Agencies need EMTs and paramedics.