TR-C Recertification

TR-C Recertification

Recertification options for the Certified Tactical Responder (TR-C) credential include the following:

• Retake the written certification examination
• Complete the required continuing education (CE) credits

Eligibility Requirements for Recertification

• Maintain current TR-C certification
• Hold an unrestricted license or certificate to practice as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), or Law enforcement Officer (LEO)
• Submit copy of current certification and or licensure
• Complete 16 hours of tactical casualty care education consistent with current TCCC/TECC guidelines that are state, provincial or CAPCE approved.

If not currently certified at the minimum EMR level, the candidate must submit 3 items:

• A letter requesting an exception from IBSC policy that the candidate does not hold current EMR or higher licensure but has a medical role on the tactical team.
• A letter from the TEMS medical director endorsing their request for continued TR-C certification.
• A letter outlining 32 hours of continuing medical education appropriate to the candidates skill level that has been accomplished in the prior 4 years.
• Medical Director Competencies (CANADA)

• Pay the required recertification fees

Continuing Education Definition

Different terminology is used for continuing education credit.

TR-C Recertification uses the measurement of contact hours in which one contact hour equals 50 minutes of actual educational materials. The following guidelines are useful in determining contact hours:

• 1 contact hour equals 1 CECH, 1 CERP, 1 CEARP, or 1 CME
• 1 CEU or continuing education unit equals 1 contact hour
• 1 academic semester credit equals 15 contact hours
• 1 academic quarter credit equals 10 contact hours
• 1 academic trimester credit equals 12 contact hours

General Guidelines

• Continuing Education (CE) must have a clear and direct application to the practice of tactical medcine
• Acceptable accredited college courses include educational offerings that have a clinical focus, such as:
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Chemistry/ Organic Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • This category includes any educational offerings related to the professional practice of paramedicine in the austere environment. Examples include topics such as:
    • Building Collaboration with First Responders
    • Legal Aspects of Tactical Medicine
    • Team Safety in Austere Environments
    • Politics and the Law
  • Acceptable accredited college courses include educational offerings that have a non-clinical focus, such as:
    • Advanced Firearm Operations
    • Evidence Collection & Documentation
    • Defensive Tactics
  • For continuing education (CE) credits to be applicable for renewal, they must have occurred during the four-year period of certification
  • For example, if the certification expires March 31, 2020, the four-year period of certification is from April 1, 2020 until March 31, 2024
  • Continuing education (CE) credits obtained outside of this timeframe will not be accepted
  • The IBSC recognizes there are accredited CE programs, which consist of multiple lectures, such as national/regional symposiums, or IBSC approved review courses
  • Although a CE provider or approver may categorize the CE courses, it is the certificant's responsibility to ensure the appropriate categorization of CE
  • The IBSC will make the final determination as to category and acceptability of each submission
  • Supporting documents can be uploaded in your IBSC account starting four months prior to certification expiration (processing fees will apply)
  • All supporting documents submitted less than thirty (30) days prior to the certification expiration date will incur a $125 late processing fee. The late processing fee DOES NOT guarantee your credentials will be approved before the expiration date.
  • Renewal requests submitted beyond the certification expiration date will not be accepted – there is no grace period
  • Candidates who are wanting to renew their credentials after the expiration date will need to register for – and pass the examination – to test to maintain their credential
  • Renewal requests will be processed according to when they are received by the IBSC and the certification expiration date
  • Candidates who successfully meet all program requirements will have their credential renewed for an additional four-year period
  • Candidates who do not meet the renewal program requirements must successfully pass the TR-C certification examination to have their credentials reissued
  • The IBSC audits 100% of all continuing education (CE) activity
  • All renewal fees are nonrefundable

  Non-Acceptable Sources of Continuing Education

  • Academic course work not clinically or professionally related (e.g. English literature)
  • In-services less than 50 minutes in length
  • New Employee Orientation
  • BCLS Provider/Instructor (CPR) courses
  • ACLS/ACLS-EP Provider/Instructor courses
  • PEPP/PALS/ENPC Provider/Instructor courses
  • PHTLS/BTLS/ITLS/TNCC Provider/Instructor courses.
  • AMLS Provider/Instructor courses
  • TECC or TCCC Instructor Courses
  • Basic Firearms Instructor Course

  Acceptable Sources of Continuing Education

  • It is recommended, but not required, that an accredited organizational body approve CE obtained through seminars and independent studies
  • CE certificates received from an accredited organizational body have all the essential information needed to ensure content validity
  • Examples of accrediting bodies are national associations such as:
  • American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
  • Air Medical Physicians Association (AMPA)
  • Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
  • Many state EMS boards
  • Many state level professional law enforcement boards
  • Approvers are those groups that approve continuing education while Providers are those responsible for development and delivery of the program
  • For example, a hospital may have a course and be the provider of the course. However, on the certificate, a statement would identify who approved their continuing education offering. Often the Approver and Provider are not the same entity
  • Continuing education not approved by an accredited paramedic/physician organization is acceptable if the content is beneficial to paramedicine and is a minimum of 50 minutes in duration
  • Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs specific to physician’s, dependent upon the content
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) is acceptable for TR-C recertification hours
  • STABLE is acceptable for TR-C recertification hours

  Accrediting Bodies

  The IBSC is not a continuing education accrediting body. If you have questions related to the number of contact hours approved for a particular educational course or seminar or to have a course approved, contact an accrediting organization (i.e.: CECBEMS)

  College Courses

  • These courses can be used, dependent upon their topic
  • A grade of "C" or better must be obtained for renewal usage from an accredited institution
  • The courses must be applicable to the practice of flight medicine

  Delivering Presentations or Teaching an Accredited Paramedic Course

  • Each lecture may be used only once during the renewal period
  • Each lecture must be a minimum of 50 minutes in length
  • The category of CLINICAL or OPERATIONAL will be determined by the content
  • Submit course schedule outlining areas taught and how many hours – this must be on the organization’s letterhead

  Publications – (Authoring the Chapter of a Book, Authoring a Book, Writing a Journal Article)

  • The written piece must be of educational value and have acceptable references
  • The category of CLINICAL or OTHER will be determined by the majority of the content (or main theme) of the publication
  • Publications written by more than one author will have the allowable credit evenly distributed among all authors
  • Contact hours will be awarded in the following amounts:
    • Chapter of a book equals 10 contact hours
    • Authoring of a book to a maximum of 150 pages equals 25 contact hours
    • Authoring of a book more than 150 pages equals 50 contact hours
    • Authoring a journal article equals 5 contact hours
    • Reviewing a journal article for a peer reviewed journal equals 1 contact hour

  Item Writing

  • Item writing for professional usage, such as a publication, is acceptable for TR-C Renewal
  • Each item will be considered 0.5 contact hours.

  Detailed Content Outline or Exam Blueprint

  The Detailed Content Outline or exam blueprint is what the item writers follow when creating examination questions. This can be found at: TR-C DCO

  Review Material/Item Writing References

  • Review materials can be found on the exam prepartion page located here

  Application Procedure

  To renew by CE, the following documentation must be submitted to your IBSC account 2-4 months prior to your expiration date:

  • Copy of your current license/credential
  • Continuing education certificates/documentation as outlined on this page

  All applicable recertification fees

  • Note – a $125 late processing fee applies to all renewals received less than 30 days from certification expiration date. This late processing fee does not guarantee your credential will be approved before its expiration date

  For additional information please review the Frequently Asked Questions or contact us at help@ibsc.org 

  
  
  
  
  Begin Recertification