In August 2008, the EMS Licensing and Certification and the Prehospital Technical Advisory Committees began reviewing the prehospital law. Many EMS stakeholders and interested parties participated in this review. Their input and recommendations informed the department on new standards for the state's prehospital EMS system.

The Washington State Department of Health made changes to the Prehospital Emergency Medical Services law. (WAC 246-976-010 through 400 and 890, 920 and 950)  The changes are effective May 15, 2011. 

The department adopted these changes because prehospital EMS is changing throughout the United States. Some of these changes include:

·         Standardizing certification levels for EMS care providers.

·         Standardizing the education process used to train EMS care providers.

·         Standardizing the scope of care provided by each level of certified EMS provider.

The adopted changes align Washington State with the national education and certification standards.  They also align Washington's levels of EMS certification with the rest of the country.  The changes mean more lives saved by including greater efficiencies and national best practice into the delivery of emergency medical services and trauma systems.