Rule 4765-7-19 | Online education and distance learning delivery systems for EMS training courses offered through an accredited program.
(A) The board may approve an accredited course to provide EMS training courses online education or through distance learning, as defined in rule 4765-1-01 of the Administrative Code, if the accredited program meets the following requirements:
(1) Submits a written request to the division to offer online education or distance learning EMS training via alternative delivery systems. a request shall indicate the level(s) of EMS training program(s) proposed to be offered and shall include documentation of how the accredited institution meets the requirements set forth in this rule.
(a) The request shall indicate the level or levels of EMS certification training proposed to be offered.
(b) The request shall include course materials associated with the proposed course, as well as documentation of how the accredited program meets the requirements set forth in this rule.
(2) Has maintained a certificate of accreditation at or above the level of the EMS training course for which the institution seeks to provide the online education or distance learning for at least the preceding three full years from the date of accreditation.
(3) Has completed at least one EMS training course in the traditional classroom setting at or above the level of the EMS training course for which the institution seeks to provide the online education or distance learning.
(4) It is in good standing as defined in rule 4765-1-01 of the Administrative Code.
(5) Has written policies, which will be made available to each student, regarding all of the following:
(a) Admission requirements;
(b) Minimum requirements for technological needs for students enrolling in an EMS certification training course utilizing online education or distance learning to include, but not limited to, hardware, software, and internet connection speed;
(c) Technological support that will be provided by the accredited institution to include at a minimum, the hours of support and the method(s) in which the support will be provided;
(d) A schedule identifying weekly access to the instructors while the training course is in session to allow for direct communication between instructors and students. This should include, but not be limited to, telephone numbers, email addresses and office hours;
(e) Security parameters protecting the students' financial and personal information in accordance with state and federal laws;
(f) Online procedures for course administration and completion;
(g) Method(s) to transition from the online education and distance learning EMS training course into the classroom version for the same course in order to complete the required training. This policy shall include a reasonable time frame in which the transition process must be completed.
(6) Maintains the following for all EMS training courses utilizing online education or distance learning:
(a) A technology infrastructure that facilitates sound security, including user authentication and authorization procedures and technologies;
(b) Access control procedures and technology that supports EMS training programs utilizing the online education or distance learning systems;
(c) Technological support to meet student needs;
(d) An appropriate security solution to ensure course and systems integrity, especially financial and personal information, in transit and at rest;
(e) A risk management plan to include identification of foreseen risks, continuity and disaster recovery, and incidence response;
(f) Assurance that course data is readily, securely, and reliably available by electronic or printed means to the division and the division's authorized recipients;
(g) A means to access student and course information to facilitate state audits to verify compliance with rules approved by the board. If the technical support, application server host, or data storage facilities are located outside the state of Ohio, the accredited institution shall submit, upon request of the division, a report encompassing the rules of this chapter to meet the audit requirements. The accredited institution shall provide the division with an audit amendment describing any significant system changes within thirty days of enabling those changes. An enterprise shall make student records available to the division online, in a password-protected environment, upon request.
(7) Creates and maintains a complete student course data file to demonstrate student activity and ensure that the following information, at a minimum, is collected and retained:
(a) Student's name.
(b) Dates and times of student activity in the EMS training course and verification of the amount of total time spent utilizing the online education and/or distance learning portion of the program.
(c) The reason a student was suspended or failed to complete the EMS training course utilizing online education or distance learning.
(d) Name or identity number of an accredited institution staff member accessing or entering student records.
(8) Ensures that the EMS training course's final cognitive and psychomotor exams are administered and scored in a traditional classroom setting.
(9) Ensures that an initial EMS training course taught utilizing an online education and/or distance learning delivery system meets all of the following:
(a) Obtains written approval of the training course content from the accredited program director prior to instruction utilizing online education or distance learning systems.
(b) Obtains prior written approval of medical content from the program medical director.
(c) Has been developed and is facilitated by a certified instructor under the auspices of an accredited institution.
(d) Possesses written documentation of clear objectives, course content and method of delivery that meet all curricula requirements as set forth in this chapter of the Administrative Code.
(e) Ensures that the didactic portions of each EMS training course curriculum may be taught utilizing online education, distance learning delivery, or traditional classroom settings.
(f) Ensures that the skills practicum instruction, laboratory sessions, and testing portions of each EMS training course curriculum shall not be provided through online education or distance learning.
(g) Ensures that clinical experience and prehospital internships shall be conducted at sites in accordance with affiliation agreements with clinical and/or prehospital organizations.
(h) Ensure that in-class public speaking presentation shall be:
(i) Completed in the traditional classroom setting;
(ii) Observed directly by an instructor trainer affiliated with an accredited training program;
(iii) Be dispersed throughout the course so as to foster development of public speaking ability.
(i) In-class public speaking presentations may be completed through online education or distance learning providing both of the following apply:
(i) The presentations are conducted in a virtual, instructor-led (synchronous) training environment; and
(ii) The request was preapproved by the division.
(10) Requires written evaluations, completed by each student, of each EMS training course offered through online education or distance learning. The evaluation may be in electronic or hard copy formats and include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Clarity of written policies associated with the training course;
(b) Course content;
(c) Means of delivery and systems availability;
(d) Availability of certified instructors.
(B) An accredited institution approved to utilize online education or distance learning may do so in conjunction with traditional classroom-based instruction.
(C) An accredited institution approved to utilize online education or distance learning shall annually provide the division with information, statistics and data specific to the EMS training courses offered through online or distance learning, in a manner approved by the division as set forth in rule 4765-7-03 of the Administrative Code.
(D) An accredited institution approved to utilize online education or distance learning shall maintain documentation that demonstrated compliance with the hours and curricula requirements set forth in this chapter of the Administrative Code.
(E) An accredited institution approved to utilize online education or distance learning shall ensure competency-based learning objective in the EMS training courses are equal to the requirements in the same EMS training course conducted in a traditional classroom environment.
(F) Approval to conduct training utilizing online and/or distance learning delivery systems is specific to the EMS training course level and type of delivery system.
(G) An accredited institution approved by the board to utilize online training or distance learning, which subsequently receives board approval to operate an advanced level of EMS training, shall teach at least one EMS training course in the traditional classroom at that level before becoming eligible to request to teach such course through online or distance learning. The accredited institution must meet all requirements in paragraph (A) of this rule in order to conduct online and/or distance learning formats at the higher level.
Last updated September 1, 2026 at 8:50 AM
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