Q: I sent in my continuing education (CE) audit material like you asked and it was sent back to me. What do I do to clear the CE audit?
- A: You may have been one of the people who sent us a personal CE log, attendance roster or group training record. All of these items are unacceptable evidence of CE completion. We will accept documents that record completion, such as course certificates, verification letters written on official letterhead, or notification from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Education Program of the number of hours allowed from academic records.
- Course certificates - the CE provider shall furnish each participant documentation of completion specifying the CE provider, title, date and location of program, content areas and contact hours, and grades or Pass/Fail, if applicable.
- Verification letter written on official letterhead - signed letter from a provider or training coordinator, specifying the CE provider, title, date and location of program, content areas and contact hours, and grades or Pass/Fail, if applicable.
- Notification from the DSHS, Education Program of the number of hours accrued from academic records - a letter from the Education Program notifying you of the number of CE hours you have been awarded after evaluation of your academic records.
Q: One of my co-workers has been selected for CE audit. Does this mean you suspect her of cheating on her CE Summary Report form?
- A: DSHS may audit CE summary forms in response to a complaint, or if there is reason to suspect that a candidate may have falsified CE documentation. Most of the CE audit participants are selected by computer on a random basis.
Q: I took a course and was never given a course certificate. What do I need to show you to prove I completed the course?
- A: Contact the provider and ask for a copy of the course certificate or verification in writing. The CE provider shall furnish each participant documentation of completion specifying the CE provider, title, date and location of program, content areas and contact hours, and grades or Pass/Fail, if applicable. CE providers are required to keep program records for a minimum period of five years from the date of completion.
Q: I have completed two courses at a local college. How do I get CE credit for the course work?
- A: You MUST have your courses evaluated by DSHS prior to claiming the hours for CE credit. For CE credit consideration send:
- your transcript, courses with a grade of at least "C" may be evaluated
- a course description, syllabus or catalog description
Mail the above items your local region office. Click here to link to the region office websites. They will notify you of the number of CE hours you have been awarded through your academic records. You will be responsible for assigning CE hours to appropriate content areas and submitting your CE's if selected for a CE audit. .
Q: Why was I picked for CE audit?
- A: We randomly pick participants. The CE rule requires that we randomly audit a statistically valid sampling of CE summary forms. We determined the population size to be the number of EMS certificates issued, which is not more than 15,000 per year. The sample size was taken from the "Table for Determining Sample Size from a Given Population." The number of CE summary form audits will be at least 375 per year.
The department may audit CE's of a specific certificant in response to a complaint, or if there is reason to suspect that a certificant may have falsified CE documentation. The department may also audit any records of the CE provider.
Q: What type of CE documentation will you accept for the CE audit?
- A: Documents that record completion, such as course certificates, verification letters written on official letterhead, or notification from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Education Program of the number of hours accepted from academic records.
Initial course completion certificates must include the following, plus a statement indicating program was in compliance with EMS rules and student's successful completion:
| Program Info |
Coordinator/Instructor Info |
Student Info |
| Program name |
Coordinator' name |
Student' name |
| DSHS approval # |
SS# or EMS ID# |
SS# or EMS ID# |
| Location (City) |
Signature |
|
| Date of completion |
|
|
| Course level |
|
|
- If you are fortunate to work for a provider that furnishes CE and a training coordinator who keeps your records, we will accept a letter on official letterhead that includes the above information plus the number of CE hours and content areas, and grades for each CE class.
Ultimately, the burden of proof of CE participation/completion shall rest solely on the certificant.
Q: I've moved and can't find all of my CE documentation. What should I do?
- A: You will need to contact the CE provider and ask for another document of completion.
Q: Will my certification be jeopardized if I do not comply with the CE audit request?
- A: The department may suspend or decertify your certificate if you fail to complete requirements of CE Rule 157.38. Providing copies of CE documentation to the department within 15 days is one of the requirements of the CE rule.
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