Browse the corpus

Broadly defined, the scope of practice defines the healthcare services that a prehospital provider is authorized to perform under professional licensure. The scope of practice in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is regulated by state-level licensure. To become licensed, an EMS provider must provide evidence of satisfactory completion of an accredited education program, a certification examination, and state licensure. For clarity, certification verifies a knowledge or experience base. Licensure bestows permission to perform specific duties and skills. Each level of EMS provider has a defined scope of practice delineated by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): The National EMS Scope of Practice Model. This scope was developed based on a uniform educational curriculum. It included knowledge and skills critical to each level of care, meaning any provider with that level of certification and licensure should be equipped to perform these skills. According to the NHTSA, the EMS scope of practice encompasses "Defined parameters of various duties or services that an individual may provide with specific credentials. Whether regulated by rule, statute, or court decision, it represents the limits of services an individual may legally perform." However, states may choose to expand or limit the scope of practice regarding specific skills. This expansion would require additional training and certification beyond the standard curriculum before licensure. Other training courses may be completed for certifications that allow for an expanded scope of practice, although this is still often regulated by states individually.