Under Virginia law, certain individuals are ineligible to become affiliated with EMS agencies. See below for a full list of disqualifications.
MEMBERSHIP DISQUALIFICATION
Background Check
All applicants must complete a background and driving records investigation, including fingerprinting, DMV records check (Virginia and other states), along with state and federal background checks. If any of the below statements apply to you, you may be disqualified from joining HCVRS. We do review each application and are happy to discuss your particular situation.
Criminal History
Under Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) Regulation 12VAC5-31-910, Criminal or enforcement history:
General Denial
Application for or certification of individuals convicted of certain crimes present an unreasonable risk to public health and safety. Thus, applications for certification by individuals convicted of the following crimes will be denied in all cases:
1. Felonies involving sexual misconduct where the victim's failure to affirmatively consent is an element of the crime, such as forcible rape.
2. Felonies involving the sexual or physical abuse of children, the elderly or the infirm, such as sexual misconduct with a child, making or distributing child pornography or using a child in a sexual display, incest involving a child, or assault on an elderly or infirm person.
3. Any crime in which the victim is an out-of-hospital patient or a patient or resident of a healthcare facility including abuse of, neglect of, theft from, or financial exploitation of a person entrusted to the care or protection of the applicant.
4. Serious crimes of violence against persons such as assault or battery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault and battery, murder or attempted murder, manslaughter except involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery of any degree, or arson.
5. Has been subject to a permanent revocation of license or certification by another state EMS office or other recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body.
Presumptive Denial
Application for or current certification by individuals in the following categories will be denied except in extraordinary circumstances, and then will be granted only if the applicant or provider establishes by clear and convincing evidence that certification will not jeopardize public health and safety.
1. Application for certification by individuals who have been convicted of any crime and who are currently incarcerated, on work release, on probation, or on parole.
2. Application for or certification by individuals convicted of crimes in the following categories unless at least five years have passed since the conviction or five years have passed since release from custodial confinement whichever occurs later:
3. Is currently under any disciplinary or enforcement action from another state EMS office or other recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body. Personnel subject to these disciplinary or enforcement actions may be eligible for certification provided there have been no further disciplinary or enforcement actions for five years prior to application for certification in Virginia.