Colorado EMT License
The Colorado EMT license is also called a Colorado EMT certification or a Colorado EMT State certification. The Colorado EMT certification is different from the NREMT Colorado certification because it is a State certification.
The NREMT is a National certification and does not specifically allow EMTs to work in individual states. To apply for a Colorado State EMT license/certification applicants need to go online and fill out an application with the CDPHE.
Here is the information to contact them by phone, mail, and also email.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
HFEMSD – EMTS – C1
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, Colorado 80246-1530
Phone: (303) 691-4932
Fax: (303) 691-7720, Attn: EMTS Branch
Email: cdphe.emtcert@state.co.us
Colorado issues a 3-year certificate to first time EMS providers whose applications are approved by the department. However, there are prerequisites required before an application will be approved.
Colorado EMT License Requirements
When you apply for your Colorado EMT license from the CDPHE you will need to make sure you have met their requirements to get approved for the state license. Once all the prerequisites are met, Colorado EMTs can complete the Application for Initial Certification to get a Colorado EMT license.
• Complete a full EMS provider course at the level that you wish to practice at.
• Get a NREMT certification by passing both NREMT exams (written and psychomotor).
• Provide an image of lawful presence document such as a driver license or passport.
• Create an OATH account and fill out an “Application for Initial Certification” on the CDPHE website.
• Submit a fingerprint-based background check to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
• Provide an image of your current and valid BLS CPR for the HCP card.
• Paramedic applicants must provide an image of their current and valid ACLS card.
When filling out the application for a Colorado EMT certification on the OATH account you can expect to be asked the following questions about your Background:
– Have you EVER been arrested or charged with a misdemeanor or felony (excluding traffic) in this or any other state or nation?
– Have you EVER been convicted of, pled guilty or no contest to, or received a deferred sentence for a misdemeanor or felony (excluding traffic) in this or any other state or nation?
– Have you EVER been or are you currently the subject of an investigation by any health care licensing jurisdiction?
– Have you EVER had any disciplinary action taken against you in connection with the performance of health care-related activities in this or any other state or nation?
If you answer “Yes” to any of the Background Questions above, you can upload official documentation to the OATH account and explain the situation.
Colorado EMS Scope of Practice
The Colorado EMS scope of practice is a set of EMS protocols that guide Emergency Medical Response Personnel. The EMS scope of practice defines the maximum skills and medications that can be delegated to all levels of emergency medical responders by a medical director in Colorado.
Colorado EMT training prepares all levels of EMS provider to practice within their scope of practice competently. This includes the Basic EMT (EMT-B), Advanced EMT (AEMT), Intermediate EMT (EMT-I), and the Paramedic.
Knowing your scope of practice is important and allows Colorado EMTs to manage emergency situations safely while providing the correct emergency medical care and treatment interventions for patients.
Along with the set skills and medications that EMTs are always allowed to perform and administer, there are some other skills and medications that can only be included in specific situations.
These require direct orders, which can be written or verbal orders, delivered in real-time by a Supervising Physician.
Colorado EMT Scope of Practice
-
- Use of Pulse Oximetry.
- Perform Upper airway suctioning.
- Insert Oropharyngeal and Nasopharyngeal airways.
- Insert Supraglottic airways (Ex: CombiTube, King LT, i-gel).
- Oxygen Administration. (Nasal Cannula, Simple Face Mask, NRB, Venturi)
- Use of Humidifiers with Oxygen administration.
- Use of Bag Valve Mask Device.
- Perform Carbon Monoxide Monitoring.
- Apply CPAP.
- Use of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ventilation.
- Perform Sellick’s Maneuver to apply Cricoid Pressure.
- Use of End Tidal CO2 Monitoring/ Capnometry/ Capnography.
- Use of Flow Restrictive Oxygen Powered Ventilatory Devices.
- Use of Inspiratory Impedence Threshold Device.
- Perform Tracheostomy Maintenance.
- Perform Cardiac Monitoring (Apply electrodes and transmit data).
- Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
- Perform Automated & Semi-Automated Defibrillation (AED).
- Use of External Pelvic Compression.
- Perform Bleeding Control.
- Use of Tourniquet for Hemorrhage Control.
- Use of Mechanical CPR Device.
- Apply Spinal Immobilization (Cervical Collar, Long Board, Seated Patient, Manual Stabilization).
- Perform Splinting (Manual, Rigid, Soft, Vacuum, & Traction).
- Assist with Childbirth.
- Perform Capillary Blood Sampling.
- Perform Blood Glucose Measurement.
- Apply Dressings & Bandages.
- Perform Noninvasive Eye Irrigation.
- Perform Physical Assessments.
- Use of Restraints (Verbal & Physical).
- Maintenance of Urinary Catheterizations.
EMT Routes of Medication Administration
Aerosolized
Atomized
Auto-Injector
Buccal
Intramuscular (IM)
Intranasal (IN)
Nebulized
Oral
Sublingual
TopicalEMT Medications
- Activated charcoal
- Albuterol
- Aspirin
- Epinephrine 1:1,000 IM or SQ Only
- Epinephrine Auto-Injector
- Naloxone
- Nerve agent antidote
- Ondansetron
- Oral Glucose
- Over-the-counter-medications
- Oxygen
- Sorbitol
- Topical Hemostatic agents
The following medications can only be administered by Colorado EMTs with a Direct Order (DO), either written or verbal, from a physician in real-time.
– Patient assisted Bronchodilator meter dose inhalers. DO
– Specialized prescription medications to address acute crisis. DO
– L-Albuterol DO
– Patient assisted Sublingual Nitroglycerin DOAdvanced EMT Scope of Practice Colorado
Colorado AEMTs can perform all the skills listed above and also administer the medications that an EMT can. In addition, the Colorado AEMT scope of practice includes the following skills and medications:
- Perform Tracheobronchial Suctioning.
- Perform Intraosseous needle insertion.
- Initiate Peripheral IV’s (Including External Jugular).
- Use of Peripheral indwelling Catheter for IV medications (Not PICC).
- Interpret Blood Lactate Results.
- Obtain Venous Blood Samples.
- Maintain facility initiated crystalloids.
AEMT Routes of Medication
Intraosseous
Intravenous (IV) Push
SubcutaneousAEMT Medications
- Glucagon
- IV Dextrose
- Lidocaine (for intraosseous needle insertion)
- Sublingual Nitroglycerin
- Ondansetron IM/IVP
- Vaccine administration in conjunction with county public health departments and local EMS medical direction.
AEMTs can administer the following medications as long as they are authorized by a direct written or verbal order from a physician in real-time. Medications and skills that require a direct order are marked with a DO.
– Diphenhydramine DO
– Glucagon DO
– Ipratropium DO
– Nitroglycerin topical paste DO
– Nitrous oxide DOIntermediate EMT Scope of Practice Colorado
An Intermediate EMT can also perform everything that’s included in the EMT and AEMT scope of practice along with the following:
- Perform Needle Decompression of the chest.
- Perform Orotracheal Intubation.
- Perform Extubation.
- Perform Laryngoscopy for removal of airway obstruction.
- Peak Expiratory Flow Testing.
- Perform Cardiac Monitoring with Rhythm interpretation.
- Perform Manual Defibrillation.
- Use of Transcutaneous Pacing.
- Use of Mechanical Infusion Pumps.
- Perform Eye Irrigation Morgan Lens.
- Use of Chemical Restraints.
- Maintain Central Venous Catheter.
- Maintain Medicated IV Fluids.
- Maintain facility initiated colloids (non-blood component) infusions.
EMT-I Medication Administration Routes
Endotracheal Tube (ET)
Extra-abdominal umbilical vein
Intradermal
Intravenous Piggyback (IVPB)
Ophthalmic
RectalEMT-I Medications
- Amiodarone
- Antibiotic Infusions
- Cyanide Antidote
- Lidocaine Infusion
- Opthaine
- Tetracaine
- Patient assisted Bronchodilator meter dose inhalers.
- Total parenteral nutrition and/or vitamins.
EMT Intermediates can administer the following medications as long as they are authorized by a direct written or verbal order from a physician in real time. Medications and skills that require a direct order are marked with a DO.
– Adenosine DO
– Amiodarone DO
– Atropine DO
– Atropine (aerosol/nebulized) DO
– Dexamethasone DO
– Diazepam DO
– Diphenhydramine DO
– Droperidol DO
– Epinephrine DO
– Fentanyl DO
– Furosemide DO
– Haloperidol DO
– Hydrocortisone DO
– Lidocaine DO
– Lorazepam DO
– Magnesium sulfate – bolus infusion only DO
– Metaproterenol DO
– Methylprednisolone DO
– Metoclopramide DO
– Midazolam DO
– Morphine sulfate DO
– Olanzapine DO
– Prednisone DO
– Promethazine DO
– Racemic Epinephrine DO
– Sodium bicarbonate DO
– Solucortef DO
– Vasopressin DO
– Ziprasidone DOSkills that require a direct order for the intermediate EMT to perform in Colorado.
– Use of Therapeutic Induced Hypothermia (TIH). DO
– Esophageal Temperature Probe for TIH. DO
Colorado Paramedic Scope of Practice
A Colorado Paramedic can perform all of the above skills of the EMT, AEMT, and EMT-I along with the following:
- Perform surgical and needle Cricothyroidotomy.
- Perform Gastric Decompression using NG/OG Tube Insertion.
- Perform Nasotracheal Intubation.
- Maintain and Replace Tracheostomy.
- Use of automated transport ventilators.
- Perform Cardioversion.
- Perform Carotid Massage.
- Use of Therapeutic Induced Hypothermia (TIH).
- Use of Esophageal Temperature Probe for TIH.
- Initiate Urinary Catheterization.
- Maintain facility initiated blood component infusion.
- Initiate facility supplied blood component infusions.
- Monitor Chest Tube.
Paramedic Medication Administration Route
Nasogastric
Colorado Paramedic Medications
- Adenosine
- Amiodarone
- Atropine
- Atropine (aerosol/nebulized)
- Benzocaine spray-Topical Anesthetic
- Bumetanide
- Calcium chloride
- Calcium gluconate
- Dexamethasone
- Diazepam
- Diltiazem
- Diphenhydramine
- Dopamine
- Droperidol
- Epinephrine
- Fentanyl
- Furosemide
- Glucagon
- Glycoprotein inhibitors
- Haloperidol
- Heparin (unfractionated)
- Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH)
- Hydrocortisone
- Hydromorphone
- Insulin
- Ipratropium
- L-Albuterol
- Lidocaine
- Lidocaine jelly
- Lorazepam
- Magnesium sulfate
- Mannitol
- Metaproterenol
- Methylprednisolone
- Metoclopramide
- Midazolam
- Morphine sulfate
- Nicardipine
- Nitroglycerin
- Nitrous oxide
- Norepinephrine
- Octreotide
- Olanzapine
- Oxytocin
- Pantoprazole
- Potassium chloride
- Pralidoxime
- Prednisone
- Prochlorperazine
- Promethazine
- Racemic Epinephrine
- Short Acting Bronchodilator meter dose inhalers (MDI)
- Sodium bicarbonate infusion
- Solucortef
- Terbutaline
- Thiamine
- Vasopressin
- Verapamil – bolus infusion only
- Ziprasidone
- Post-exposure or employment related Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Influenza, PPD placement & interpretation.