Paramedicine Regulations
made under Sections 4, 13, 14 and 177 of the
Regulated Health Professions Act
S.N.S. 2023, c. 15
O.I.C. 2024-181 (effective June 3, 2024), N.S. Reg. 107/2024
Table of Contents
Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
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Interpretation
Citation
Definitions
Regulator
College of Paramedics of Nova Scotia continued
Bylaw authorization
Number of public representatives on Board
Scope of Practice
Scope of practice of paramedicine
Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories
Registration and Licensing
Practising licence categories
Conditional licence categories
Application and criteria for registration in practising register
Criteria for practising licence
Criteria for registration in conditional register
Criteria for conditional licence
Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions
Restriction on practice of paramedicine
Restriction on use of “paramedic” title or description
Restriction on use of “emergency medical responder” title, description or designation
Restriction on use of “primary care paramedic” title, description or designation
Restriction on use of “advanced care paramedic” title, description or designation
Restriction on use of “critical care paramedic” title, description or designation
Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation
Services not prohibited by Act, regulations or bylaws
Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication
Fines
Professional conduct fines
Transition from Former Act to Act
Bylaw consultation exemption and notice
Interpretation
Citation
1 These regulations may be cited as the Paramedicine Regulations.
Definitions
2 In these regulations,
“Act” means the Regulated Health Professions Act;
“Board” is further defined to mean the board of the Regulator;
“competency framework” means a framework approved by the Board establishing
the competencies that registrants are required to possess to practise safely and
ethically within the scope of practice of their designation or licensing category;
“former Act” is further defined to mean Chapter 33 of the Acts of 2015, the
Paramedics Act;
“General Regulations” means the Regulated Health Professions General
Regulations made under the Act;
“paramedicine diagnosis” means a paramedic’s interpretation of a client’s health
condition following the paramedic’s assessment of the client that guides the
paramedic’s care of the client and is made within the paramedic’s individual scope
of practice in accordance with the applicable competency framework, standards of
practice and practice guidelines approved by the Board;
“registration and licensing decision maker” means the registrar, the registration and
licensing committee or the registration and licensing review committee, as
applicable;
“Regulator” means the Nova Scotia Regulator of Paramedicine;
“title protection” means the restriction on the use of a title associated with a
particular category of licence to persons registered and licensed in that category of
licence.
Regulator
College of Paramedics of Nova Scotia continued
3 The College of Paramedics of Nova Scotia is continued as a regulatory body under the
name Nova Scotia Regulator of Paramedicine with the purpose of regulating the
profession of paramedicine in accordance with the objects set out in Section 6 of the Act.
Bylaw authorization
4 The Regulator is authorized to make bylaws under clauses 12(2)(k), (l) and (m) of the
Act in accordance with the Act and these regulations.
Number of public representatives on Board
5 In addition to the requirement of subsection 7(2) of the Act, the number of public
representatives on the Board must be no fewer than 3 and no more than 4.
Scope of Practice
Scope of practice of paramedicine
6 (1) The scope of practice of paramedicine is the application of specialized and
evidence-based paramedicine knowledge, skills and judgment that meet all of the
following requirements:
(a) they have been taught in an approved education program or are set out in
the competency frameworks, standards of practice and practice guidelines
approved by the Board;
(b) they are applied in collaboration with other regulated health professionals as
needed.
(2) The scope of practice of paramedicine as described in subsection (1) includes the
performance of any or all of the following activities:
(a) assessing clients across the lifespan;
(b) making a paramedicine diagnosis;
(c) treating and managing acute and chronic health conditions in any setting,
including emergency, urgent, acute and primary care;
(d) promoting health and injury prevention;
(e) performing any other services, roles, functions and activities included in the
scope of practice of the designations and licensing categories set out in the
bylaws.
(3) The scope of practice of paramedicine also includes research, education, inter-professional collaboration, consultation, management, administration, advocacy,
regulation or system development that is related to the activities and application of
specialized and evidence-based paramedicine knowledge, skills and judgment
described in subsections (1) and (2).
Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories
7 Under clauses 12(2)(k) and (l) of the Act, the Regulator may make bylaws setting out all
of the following:
(a) the scope of practice of each designation and licensing category established
(i) in the regulations, and
(ii) in the bylaws;
(b) the title protection authorized for each designation and licensing category.
Registration and Licensing
Practising licence categories
8 The following are the practising licence categories for paramedicine:
(a) emergency medical responder practising licence;
(b) primary care paramedic practising licence;
(c) advanced care paramedic practising licence;
(d) critical care paramedic practising licence;
(e) any other category of practising licence established in the bylaws.
Conditional licence categories
9 The following are the conditional licence categories for paramedicine:
(a) emergency medical responder conditional licence;
(b) primary care paramedic conditional licence;
(c) advanced care paramedic conditional licence;
(d) critical care paramedic conditional licence;
(e) any other category of conditional licence established in the bylaws.
Application and criteria for registration in practising register
10 (1) An applicant for registration in a practising register must submit all of the
following to the registrar:
(a) a completed application in a form approved by the registrar;
(b) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the
applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the
criteria are waived under Section 59 of the Act:
(i) they are a graduate of 1 of the following:
(A) an education program approved for registration in the practising
register in which they seek to be registered,
(B) an education program that, in the opinion of the registration
and licensing decision maker, is equivalent to an education
program approved for registration in the practising register in
which they seek to be registered,
(C) an education program that, together with the applicant’s
additional education and experience and in the opinion of the
registration and licensing decision maker, provides the
applicant with the competencies to practise in the scope of
practice of registrants in the practising register in which they
seek to be registered,
(ii) they have successfully completed any examinations required by the
Board for registration in the practising register in which they seek to
be registered,
(iii) they have completed a competence assessment, if directed to do so
by the registration and licensing decision maker,
(iv) they have successfully completed any bridging education required for
registration that was determined to be necessary by a competence
assessment,
(v) they have demonstrated proficiency in the English language, in the
manner prescribed by the registrar,
(vi) they are a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to live and work in
Canada,
(vii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and
ethically engage in the practice of paramedicine without conditions or
restrictions,
(viii) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions,
agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other
registration or licensing authority that would preclude registration in
a register other than a conditional register,
(ix) they are the person named in the documentation submitted in support
of the application,
(x) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws,
they are eligible for a practising licence that corresponds with the
practising register in which they seek to be registered,
(xi) they meet any additional criteria for registration in a practising
register set out in the bylaws;
(c) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a
method acceptable to the registrar.
(2) The registrar must process the application and associated information, documents
and fee described in subsection (1) in accordance with Section 36 of the Act and as
soon as practicable.
(3) If the registrar refers an application to the registration and licensing committee
under clause 36(1)(d) of the Act, the registration and licensing committee must
review and make a decision regarding the application in accordance with Sections
37 and 38 of the Act and as soon as practicable.
Criteria for practising licence
11 (1) An applicant for a practising licence must submit all of the following to the
registrar:
(a) a completed application in a form approved by the registrar;
(b) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the
applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the
criteria are waived under Section 59 of the Act:
(i) they meet the criteria in subclauses 10(1)(b)(iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii)
and (ix),
(ii) they are registered in the practising register that corresponds with the
licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence,
(iii) they have professional liability insurance or another form of
malpractice coverage or liability protection in the form and amount
set by the Board,
(iv) they meet the requirements of the continuing competence program
for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising
licence,
(v) they meet the currency of practice requirements for the licensing
category for which they are seeking a practising licence,
(vi) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions,
agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other
registration or licensing authority that limit their ability to practise,
(vii) they have completed any assessments or education required by the
Board for the licensing category for which they are seeking a
practising licence,
(viii) they meet any additional criteria for the issuance of a practising
licence set out in the bylaws;
(c) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a
method acceptable to the registrar.
(2) The registrar must process the application and associated information, documents
and fee described in subsection (1) in accordance with Section 36 of the Act and as
soon as practicable.
(3) If the registrar refers an application to the registration and licensing committee
under clause 36(1)(d) of the Act, the registration and licensing committee must
review and make a decision regarding the application in accordance with Sections
37 and 38 of the Act and as soon as practicable.
Criteria for registration in conditional register
12 (1) The registrar must enter a person’s name in a conditional register if the person is 1
of the following:
(a) an existing registrant in a practising register who has
(i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise,
or
(ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise
imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process;
(b) an applicant for registration in a register who meets all of the following
requirements:
(i) they meet all of the criteria for registration in a practising register,
except for the criteria in subclauses 10(1)(b)(vii) and (xi),
(ii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and
ethically engage in the practice of paramedicine with conditions or
restrictions,
(iii) they have
(A) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to
practise, or
(B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise
imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process,
(iv) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws,
they are eligible for a conditional licence that corresponds with the
conditional register in which they seek to be registered,
(v) they meet any other requirements for registration in a conditional
register in the bylaws,
(vi) they have paid the applicable fee, within the time determined by the
registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.
(2) The registrar must process an application for an applicant described in clause (1)(b)
in accordance with Section 36 of the Act and as soon as practicable.
(3) If the registrar refers an application for an applicant described in clause (1)(b) to
the registration and licensing committee under clause 36(1)(d) of the Act, the
registration and licensing committee must review and make a decision regarding
the application in accordance with Sections 37 and 38 of the Act and as soon as
practicable.
(4) Despite subclause (1)(b)(i), if an applicant has not passed the registration
examinations required for conditional registration, but has otherwise met the
requirements of subsection 13(1), the registration and licensing decision maker
may grant conditional registration pending the passing of the registration
examinations.
Criteria for conditional licence
13 (1) The registrar must issue a conditional licence to a person under Section 43 of the
Act if the person meets all of the following criteria:
(a) the person is 1 of the following:
(i) an existing registrant with a practising licence who has
(A) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to
practise, or
(B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise
imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process,
(ii) an applicant for a licence who meets all of the following
requirements:
(A) they meet all of the criteria for registration in a practising
register, except for the criteria in subclauses 10(1)(b)(vii) and
(xi),
(B) they are registered in a conditional register that corresponds
with the licensing category for which they are seeking a
conditional licence,
(C) they meet the requirements for a practising licence in
subclauses 11(1)(b)(iii) and (vii),
(D) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and
ethically engage in the practice of paramedicine with conditions
or restrictions,
(E) they meet any additional criteria for the issuance of a
conditional licence in the bylaws,
(F) they either
(I) agree to the registration and licensing decision maker’s
imposition of conditions or restrictions that limit their
ability to practise, or
(II) have had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability
to practise imposed by the registration and licensing
decision maker or a statutory committee;
(b) they have paid the applicable fee, within the time determined by the
registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.
(2) The registrar must process an application for an applicant described in subclause
(1)(a)(ii) in accordance with Section 36 of the Act and as soon as practicable.
(3) If the registrar refers an application for an applicant described in subclause
(1)(a)(ii) to the registration and licensing committee under clause 36(1)(d) of the
Act, the registration and licensing committee must review and make a decision
regarding the application in accordance with Sections 37 and 38 of the Act and as
soon as practicable.
(4) Despite paragraph (1)(a)(ii)(A), if an applicant has not passed the registration
examinations required for registration, but has otherwise met the requirements of
subsection (1), the registration and licensing decision maker may issue a
conditional licence pending the passing of the registration examinations.
Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions
Restriction on practice of paramedicine
14 No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of paramedicine or describe
their activities as “paramedicine” unless they are 1 of the following:
(a) a registrant holding a practising or conditional licence;
(b) otherwise authorized to practise paramedicine, in accordance with the Act,
these regulations or the General Regulations;
(c) exempt from the application of the Act, these regulations or the General
Regulations.
Restriction on use of “paramedic” title or description
15 No person may take or use the title or description of “paramedic” or a derivation or
abbreviation of it alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless
the person is 1 of the following:
(a) a registrant holding a licence in 1 of the following licence categories:
(i) primary care paramedic practising licence,
(ii) advanced care paramedic practising licence,
(iii) critical care paramedic practising licence,
(iv) primary care paramedic conditional licence,
(v) advanced care paramedic conditional licence,
(vi) critical care paramedic conditional licence,
(vii) a category of licence set out in the bylaws that allows for use of the
title “paramedic”;
(b) otherwise authorized to use the relevant title or description, in accordance
with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws.
Restriction on use of “emergency medical responder” title, description or designation
16 (1) No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “emergency
medical responder”, the abbreviation of “EMR” or a derivation of either of them
alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person
is 1 of the following:
(a) a registrant holding an emergency medical responder practising licence or
an emergency medical responder conditional licence under these regulations
or the bylaws;
(b) otherwise authorized to practise as an emergency medical responder or to
use the relevant title, description or designation, in accordance with the Act,
these regulations or the bylaws.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a person who has met all of the requirements for
registration on the emergency medical responder practising register, except for
passing registration examinations approved by the Board, and who has been issued
an emergency medical responder conditional licence pending the passing of the
registration examinations approved by the Board may call themselves a graduate
emergency medical responder and use the abbreviation “Graduate, EMR”.
Restriction on use of “primary care paramedic” title, description or designation
17 (1) No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “primary care
paramedic”, the abbreviation of “PCP” or a derivation of either of them alone or in
combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the
following:
(a) a registrant holding a primary care paramedic practising licence or a
primary care paramedic conditional licence under these regulations or the
bylaws;
(b) otherwise authorized to practise as a primary care paramedic or to use the
relevant title, description or designation, in accordance with the Act, these
regulations or the bylaws.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a person who has met all of the requirements for
registration on the primary care paramedic practising register, except for passing
registration examinations approved by the Board, and who has been issued a
primary care paramedic conditional licence pending the passing of the registration
examinations approved by the Board may call themselves a graduate primary care
paramedic and use the abbreviation “Graduate, PCP”.
Restriction on use of “advanced care paramedic” title, description or designation
18 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “advanced care
paramedic”, the abbreviation of “ACP” or a derivation of either of them alone or in
combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the
following:
(a) a registrant holding an advanced care paramedic practising licence or an
advanced care paramedic conditional licence under these regulations or the
bylaws;
(b) otherwise authorized to practise as an advanced care paramedic or to use the
relevant title, description or designation, in accordance with the Act, these
regulations or the bylaws.
Restriction on use of “critical care paramedic” title, description or designation
19 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “critical care
paramedic”, the abbreviation of “CCP” or a derivation of either of them alone or in
combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the
following:
(a) a registrant holding a critical care paramedic practising licence or a critical
care paramedic conditional licence under these regulations or the bylaws;
(b) otherwise authorized to practise as a critical care paramedic or to use the
relevant title, description or designation, in accordance with the Act, these
regulations or the bylaws.
Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation
20 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of a licensing category
established in the bylaws by the Board under clause 12(2)(l) of the Act unless the person
is 1 of the following:
(a) a registrant holding a licence in the category that authorizes the use of that
title or designation;
(b) otherwise authorized to practise within the scope of the designation of or to
use the title, description or designation of that licensing category, in
accordance with the Act, these regulations or the bylaws.
Services not prohibited by Act, regulations or bylaws
21 In addition to the services set out in Section 164 of the Act, nothing in the Act, these
regulations or the bylaws prohibits the provision of the following services:
(a) the practice of paramedicine during an interprovincial or international client
transfer;
(b) the practice of paramedicine in the Province by or the recovery of fees or
compensation for professional services rendered by a person registered in
the profession of paramedicine in another country, state, territory or
province who, once engaged, must accompany and temporarily care for a
client during the period of the engagement, if that person does not represent
or hold themselves out as a person registered under the Act or these
regulations;
(c) the practice of paramedicine by a non-registrant through delegation or
assignment of tasks by a registrant, if the practising and delegation is
performed in accordance with the requirements approved by the Board.
Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication
22 (1) A person may only use any of the following alone or in combination with other
words, letters or descriptions in any advertisement or publication, including
business cards, websites and signage, if they are authorized to do so by these
regulations and any activities referred to in the advertisement or publication fall
within the scope of practice of paramedicine:
(a) the title of “paramedic”, the designation of “emergency medical responder”
or any other designation protected by these regulations or the bylaws;
(b) any derivation or abbreviation of the title or designations described in clause
(a).
(2) A person must only describe their activities as “paramedicine” in any
advertisement or publication, including business cards, websites and signage, if
they are authorized to do so under Section 15 and the referenced activities fall
within the scope of practice of paramedicine.
Fines
Professional conduct fines
23 If the professional conduct committee finds a respondent has engaged in professional
misconduct or conduct unbecoming the profession, it may impose a fine for each of the
proven allegations, but the total amount of all fines must be no more than $50 000.
Transition from Former Act to Act
Bylaw consultation exemption and notice
24 (1) The Regulator is exempt from the bylaw consultation requirements in subsections
12(3) and (4) of the Act and Section 4 of the General Regulations for a period of
60 days after the date the Regulator is established under these regulations.
(2) The Board must send a copy of all new and amended bylaws approved by the
Board during the 60 day period referred to in subsection (1) to all of the following
within 5 business days of the date that they are approved:
(a) each registrant;
(b) the Minister;
(c) the Regulated Health Professions Network;
(d) any other relevant person or organization identified by the Board.
The following regulations are not
yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation: