The Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate CompAct, also known as REPLICA, is an
interstate compact that extends a "privilege to practice" in the United States from a 'home state' to 'remote states' for qualified Emergency Medical Services personnel. For a state to participate in the compact, a state must pass the model legislation into law. On October 11, 2017, when Georgia signed the REPLICA legislation into law, the EMS Compact was formalized and the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice was established. [1]
Within five years of passing the legislation, utilize a fingerprint or biometric background check that is compliant with the FBI requirement
For personnel
A qualified EMS personnel must:
Be licensed in good standing in a home state as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), a
Paramedic, or a level in between EMT and Paramedic[21]
Must be at least 18 years of age
Must practice under the supervision of a physician medical director
History
Early history
In 2012, EMS leaders recognized the need for qualified EMS personnel to respond across state lines in both day-to-day duties, in non-Governor level declared disaster situations, and planned large-scale events, and the requirement for state EMS licensing authorities to better share licensure information. In 2013 a National Advisory Panel held multiple meetings conceptualize the solution.
On the recommendation of the National Advisory Panel, a draft team was formed in mid-2013 to draft the model legislation.[22] The twelve member drafting team included:
Five members from National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO)
The Council of State Government, (CSG) National Center for Interstate Compacts (NCIC)
Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS)
International Association of Flight and Critical Care Paramedics (IAFCC)
International Association of Firefighters (IAFF)
National EMS Management Association (NEMSA)
National Association of EMT’s (NAEMT)
Vedder Price (legal counsel)
On 7 September 2017, the National EMS Advisory Council passed a Final Advisory in support of the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate CompAct.[23]
Early Activation
The EMS Personnel Licensure Compact was originally scheduled to become active on July 1, 2020. However, with so many emergency services personnel taken out of action by quarantines associated with the COVID-19 outbreak, the decision was made to go live on March 16, 2020. Interstate Commission Chairman Joe Schmider reported that this type of emergency was what the EMS Compact was developed to accommodate. [24]