This consolidation is unofficial and is for reference only.  For the official version of the regulations, consult the original documents on file with the Office of the Registrar of Regulations, or refer to the Royal Gazette Part II.
Regulations are amended frequently.  Please check the list of Regulations by Act to see if there are any recent amendments to these regulations filed with our office that are not yet included in this consolidation.
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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.
Click here to go to the text of the regulations.

 

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.




 

 


 

Legislative History
Reference Tables

Paramedicine Regulations

N.S. Reg. 107/2024

Regulated Health Professions Act

Note:  The information in these tables does not form part of the regulations and is compiled by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations for reference only.

Source Law

The current consolidation of the Paramedicine Regulations made under the Regulated Health Professions Act includes all of the following regulations:

N.S.
Regulation

In force
date*

How in force

Royal Gazette
Part II Issue

107/2024

Jun 3, 2024

date specified

Jun 14, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following regulations are not yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation:

N.S.
Regulation

In force
date*

How in force

Royal Gazette
Part II Issue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*See subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act for rules about in force dates of regulations.

Amendments by Provision

ad. = added
am. = amended

fc. = fee change
ra. = reassigned

rep. = repealed
rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

..........................................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note that changes to headings are not included in the above table.

Editorial Notes and Corrections

 

Note

Effective
date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repealed and Superseded

N.S.
Regulation

Title

In force
date

Repealed
date

 

 

 

 

Note:  Only regulations that are specifically repealed and replaced appear in this table.  It may not reflect the entire history of regulations on this subject matter.

 


Webpage last updated: 28-06-2024