Certain offenses will prevent you from getting your Texas EMS certification. These offenses can also get your EMS certificate or license revoked.
Anyone who has been convicted of, placed on deferred adjudication community supervision, or deferred disposition for any of the criminal offenses listed below are NOT qualified to obtain or maintain an EMS certification:
(1) murder [Texas Penal Code (PC) Section 19.02],
(2) capital murder [PC Section 19.03],
(3) indecency with a child [PC Section 21.11 (a)(1)],
(4) aggravated kidnapping [PC Section 20.04],
(5) aggravated sexual assault [PC Section 22.021],
(6) aggravated robbery [PC Section 29.03],
(7) substance abuse offenses, as described in Health and Safety Code, Chapter 481, for which punishment is increased under:
(a) Health and Safety Code, §481.140, regarding the use of a child in the commission of an offense; or
(b) Health and Safety Code, §481.134(c), (d), (e) or (f), regarding an offense committed within a drug free zone, if it is shown that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense for which punishment was increased under one of those subsections;
(8) sexual assault; [PC Section 22.011]
(9) An offense, other than an offense committed on or after September 1, 2009, for which the person is subject to register as a sex offender under Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 62.
All other criminal offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis. The following includes some of the factors we use to determine whether a criminal offense directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of EMS personnel and uses. This helps us decide the person’s ability to carry out those duties and responsibilities.
-
The nature and seriousness of the crime,
-
The relationship of the crime to the purposes for requiring a certification to engage in emergency medical services,
the extent to which certification might offer an opportunity to engage in further criminal activity of the same type as that in which the person previously had been involved,
-
The relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities of EMS personnel,
-
The extent and nature of the person’s past criminal activity,
-
The age of the person when the crime was committed,
-
The amount of time that has elapsed since the person’s last criminal activity,
-
The conduct and work activity of the person before and after the criminal activity,
-
Evidence of the person’s rehabilitation or rehabilitative effort while incarcerated or after release,
-
Evidence the person has maintained a record of steady employment; supported their dependents; maintained a record of good conduct; paid all outstanding court costs, supervision fees, fines and restitution ordered in any criminal case.
In addition, we will also apply these for the same or similar criminal offenses, resulting in a conviction, deferred adjudication or deferred disposition under other state law, federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice.