12VAC5-31-1423. Course announcement requirements. 

A. BLS certification courses and continuing education programs that award Category 1 (required)  continuing education credits shall be announced by an EMT instructor or EMS education coordinator. An EMT instructor or EMS education coordinator shall be present in the classroom at all

times except:

1. In courses offered by the Office of EMS accredited programs, or 

2. In BLS continuing education programs.

B. ALS certification courses and continuing education programs that award Category 1 (required) continuing education credits shall be announced by an ALS coordinator or EMS education coordinator.

12VAC5-31-1447. Maximum BLS or ALS course enrollment.

A. Initial and bridge certification course size shall be limited to a maximum of 30 enrolled students.

1. Additional students seeking continuing education credit may be admitted as reasonably allowed by facility size and instructional staff availability.

2. The group size for practical or lab skill sessions shall not exceed six students per instructor aide (6:1 ratio).

12VAC5-31-1449. Lesson instructors.

A. In addition to the lead instructor for each lesson, arrangements must be made to provide for instructor aides to assist in all practical skill sessions. Instructor aides shall be providers certified at or above the level of instruction.

12VAC5-31-1423: The requirement for an “EMT Instructor or EMS Education Coordinator shall be present in the classroom at all times” conflicts with 12VAC5-31-1449. Lesson instructors.

12VAC5-31-1447. requires that initial certification programs shall not exceed six students per instructor aide (6:1 ratio).  12VAC5-31-1423 requires these “instructor aids” be either EMT Instructors or EMS Education Coordinators. If a program has students separated in to groups of 6 or less performing skills in separate rooms the wording in 12VAC5-31-1423 would require every instructor aid to be either an EMT Instructor or EMS Education Coordinator for all skills sessions. This is unrealistic at least, and probably impossible given the few certified EMT Instructors available in the Commonwealth.  The wording in 12VAC5-31-1423 “ An EMT instructor or EMS education coordinator shall be present in the classroom at all times” needs to be removed.