FIGURE 4-2 Core content and scope of practice for various provider levels.

NOTE: The figure is illustrative only. It does not include the numbers and names of EMS provider levels determined by the process for the National EMS Scope of Practice Model.

SOURCES: NHTSA and HRSA, 2005.

a national model to aid states in developing and refining their scopes of practice and licensure requirements for EMS personnel. The purpose of the effort is not to impose national scope of practice standards, but to encourage greater consistency across the states. The committee supports this effort, but further recommends that state governments adopt a common scope of practice for emergency medical services personnel, with state licensing reciprocity (4.1). Doing so would promote greater uniformity in provider services across states and would alleviate current limitations relating to workforce mobility (see below).

The task force released its final report in 2005. The report describes scope of practice models for emergency medical responders (EMRs), EMTs, and paramedics. It also creates scope of practice standards for a new category of personnel termed advanced emergency medical technicians (AEMTs). Plans for a proposed advanced practice paramedic level have been deferred (NHTSA, 2005).

Curricula developed on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have provided the basis for the education of first responders, EMT-Bs, EMT-Is, and EMT-Ps. These National Standard Curricula (NSC) have undergone revision over time to reflect changes in accepted practice patterns and the evidence base for specific procedures. The curriculum for