Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
PARAMEDIC TRAINING AND EXAMINATIONS
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
Senate Bill 249 as reported from House committee Analysis available at
Sponsor: Sen. Kevin Hertel http://www.legislature.mi.gov
1st House Committee: Health Policy
2nd House Committee: Government Operations
Senate Committee: Health Policy
Complete to 5-1-24
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 249 would amend the Public Health Code to change examination requirements for
a person to be licensed as a paramedic. Currently, among other things, a candidate for licensure
must pass written and practical evaluations that are approved or developed by the National
Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or another organization approved by the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The bill would keep this path as a option,
but would also require DHHS to develop or prescribe, by two years after the bill takes effect,
a different written and practical examination to be allowed for licensure. The bill also would
modify provisions concerning the accreditation of entities that provide paramedic education
programs.
Under the bill, a person would have to pass either of the following (in addition to meeting other
requirements) to become licensed as a paramedic in Michigan:
• The written examination proctored by DHHS or a designee of DHHS and a practical
examination proctored by DHHS or a designee of DHHS. 1 An individual taking these
examinations would have to pay the fee for it directly to the National Registry of
Emergency Medical Technicians or another organization approved by DHHS. [These
exam requirements are identical to those that now apply.]
• A written and practical examination developed or prescribed by DHHS other than the
examination described above. DHHS would have to develop or prescribe this
examination within two years after the bill takes effect. DHHS could charge a fee for
this examination that does not exceed the fee for the examination described above.
In addition, the code requires DHHS to review and approve entities called education program
sponsors that conduct training for licensed emergency medical services professions. An
education program sponsor that conducts education programs for paramedics is considered to
be approved by DHHS if it receives accreditation from the Joint Review Committee on
Educational Programs for the EMT-Paramedic or an equivalent organization approved by
DHHS, verifies the accreditation to DHHS, and maintains the accreditation. 2
1
As used here, examination would mean an evaluation approved or developed by the National Registry of Emergency
Medical Technicians or another organization with equivalent national recognition and expertise that is approved by
DHHS. Note that, to makes the changes described above concerning examinations for paramedics, the bill would
remove a definition for examination that now applies to several professions at once and instead define that term for
each profession separately. But the bill would not change current licensure examination requirements or options for
any profession other than paramedics.
2
The Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs for the EMT-Paramedic was renamed the Committee on
Accreditation of Emergency Medical Services Professions in 2000. See https://coaemsp.org/
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
 The bill would require an education program sponsor that conducts education programs for
paramedics and is not accredited as described above to notify an individual seeking licensure
as a paramedic that the sponsor is not accredited before offering an education program to that
individual.
MCL 333.20904 et seq.
BACKGROUND:
The bill is identical to House Bill 6086 of the 2021-22 legislative session as that bill was passed
by the House.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Senate Bill 249 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state expenditures to the
Department of Health and Human Services and have no fiscal impact on local units of
government. Under the provisions of the bill, the department would be obligated to develop or
prescribe a new written and practical examination option for paramedics and could charge and
collect a fee. Currently paramedic examination fees are paid directly to the National Registry
of Emergency Medical Technicians, a non-state examination entity.
In previous fiscal years, it has been estimated that establishing an examination program would
have a cost of $2.0 million, with annual costs of $1.6 million per year, including 15.0 FTEs to
implement, support, and maintain the examination program. It is likely that a fee would be
charged to take the examination, producing revenue which would help to offset the costs of the
examination program. The fee must not exceed the fee charged by the National Registry of
Emergency Medical Technicians, which is currently $152. In previous fiscal years, the
department has estimated that a fee similar to the current non-state exam of $152 would
produce revenue of $152,000.
POSITIONS:
Representatives of the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union testified in support of the
bill. (3-13-24)
The following entities indicated support for the bill:
• Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs (3-13-24)
• Michigan Association of Ambulance Services (4-24-24)
The Michigan College of Emergency Physicians indicated opposition to the bill. (3-13-24)
Legislative Analysts: Rick Yuille
Josh Roesner
Fiscal Analyst: Sydney Brown
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency SB 249 as reported Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 333.20904
As Passed by the Senate: 333.20904
As Passed by the House: 333.20904
Public Act: 333.20904
Senate Enrolled Bill: 333.20904