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National EMS Scope of Practice Model Now Available

April 9, 2019

The National EMS Scope of Practice Model represents the foundation for the knowledge and skills necessary for the four levels of EMS clinicians.  The 2019 version, just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of EMS represents the first significant revision since the Model was first published in 2007. It identifies the minimum recommended practice expectations in advance of gaining field experience (and prior to supervised or individual work experience), not the limits for EMS practice determined by the state and/or EMS medical director. An expert panel considered data from a systematic review of literature, national evidence-based guidelines, and input from the EMS community over a period of 2 years.  Rationale for specific changes are described in the document. The 2019 National EMS Scope of Practice Model is now available at

https://www.ems.gov/pdf/National_EMS_Scope_of_Practice_Model_2019.pdf