Wisconsin

Brian Litza, Section Chief
Department of Health Services
Division of Public Health
Bureau of Communicable Disease and Emergency Response
EMS Section
P.O. Box 2659
Madison, WI 53701-2659
608/266-1568, Fax 608/261-6392
http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/ems/
E-mail: brian.litza@dhs.wisconsin.gov

EMT-Basic: Skills include: All those included within the 1994 National Standard DOT course, plus epinephrine, albuterol, glucagon, aspirin and non-visualized advanced airways. No invasive skills are included. Hours of training: 144. Certification requirements: Training must be equivalent to National Standard DOT Basic EMT course. Licensure examination is the National Registry exam. Licensure is renewed biennially. Continuing education is 30-hour DOT refresher course every 2 years; current CPR plus non-visualized advanced airways.

EMT-Intermediate: Skills include: Patient assessment, evaluation of shock and triage principles; airway management: PTL, Combitube, or both; endotracheal intubation with additional training and medical director approval; IV infusion therapy; draw blood samples; administer subcutaneous injections; administer selected drugs and solutions including epinephrine, 50% dextrose and Narcan. Hours of training: Minimum of 100. Certification requirements: Minimum 40 hours didactic, minimum 40 hours clinical and supervised field experience. Certification requires successful completion plus National Registry exam. Local medical director must provide and certify continuing education for recertification. Recertification requirements: Biennially. Continuing education 30-hour DOT refresher course (Basic); 12-hour Intermediate refresher course; current CPR.

EMT-Paramedic: Skills include: Render rescue, emergency care and resuscitation services; administer parenteral medications; perform CPR and defibrillation on pulseless non-breather; administer IV solutions; perform gastric and endotracheal intubations, rapid-sequence intubation. All skills detailed in National Standard DOT EMT-Paramedic training program. Hours of training: Minimum of 1,000. Certification requirements: Clinical and didactic and supervised field experience. Successful completion of training. Must take National Registry EMT-Paramedic exam and provide documentation by system medical director that applicant is proficient in clinical skills. Local medical director must provide and certify continuing education for recertification. Recertification requirements: Biennially. Continuing education of 48 hours based on DOT curriculum, current ACLS and CPR.

Responsible certification agency: Licensure of all ambulance personnel is the responsibility of the EMS Section, Division of Public Health Department of Health Services. A Medical director is required for all systems.

Reciprocity: EMT-Basic requires current registration with National Registry. Such persons are granted licensure by reciprocity. Other persons who can document training and certification to the National Standard Curriculum are allowed to take the Registry exam in Wisconsin to qualify for licensure. No formal reciprocity exists for licensure. No formal reciprocity exists for EMT-D, EMT-I or EMT-P. Evaluation is done on case-by-case basis.

Salary ranges: Basic and Intermediate EMT: $18,000–$25,000/yr.; Paramedic: $22,500–$48,000/yr.

Number of licensed ambulance vehicles (public and private) in the state: Approximately 1,500.

Numbers of EMS personnel: Currently state-certified Basic EMTs, 9,318; currently state-licensed Intermediate EMTs, 3,126; currently state-licensed Paramedics, 2,552; first responders, 4,659.

Numbers of EMS services: First Responder Services, 326; Basic EMT Services 160; Intermediate Services, 155; Paramedic Services, 133.

Number of requests for emergency medical service in the most recent available 12-month period: 510,750.

Statewide uniform ambulance reporting form: Yes. It is part of the Wisconsin Ambulance Run Data System (WARDS).