Council policy
In December 2007 Council revised its policy in keeping with its designation as the competent authority as per the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (SI 139 2008). Applications from non-EU States will be accepted subject to the same Council Rules with the exception of the additional requirement for evidence of language competency. Under legislation PHECC is prohibited from carrying out any systematic English language assessment for persons from EU Member States. It is the responsibility of prospective employers to satisfy themselves in relation to the language competency of their employees.
Role of PHECC
As set out in PHECC’s Establishment Order and subsequent Amendment Order, the role of PHECC is to assess the equivalence of professional qualifications in pre-hospital emergency care and award the NQEMT as appropriate. Implicit in this is to protect the public through maintaining standards in respect to entry to the Register. Council welcomes applications from overseas- trained practitioners and aims to assist them in the application process. However, before an applicant is deemed eligible for PHECC registration, Council must be satisfied that there is evidence to support such a decision.
Application procedure
The first step to PHECC registration for overseas-trained applicants is to successfully complete the recognition of equivalence process, irrespective of nationality. Applications for recognition are examined on a case-by-case basis and there is no provision to recognise an applicant’s professional qualification automatically. An applicant’s professional education and training received overseas is evaluated and compared to the appropriate Irish Standard. The scope of an applicant’s practice is also evaluated, acknowledging the variance in Emergency Medical Systems across the globe.
After consideration of an application, one of the following outcomes is possible:
- Application accepted, qualifications recognised subject to the same conditions as persons trained in Ireland including registration requirements
- Compensation mechanism required (period of adaptation or aptitude test)
- Application rejected.
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Country of training |
Total number of applications |
|
| |
Australia |
10 |
|
| |
Canada |
7 |
|
| |
Czech Republic |
1 |
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| |
France |
1 |
|
| |
Germany |
6 |
|
| |
Poland |
16 |
|
| |
Slovakia |
3 |
|
| |
South Africa |
12 |
|
| |
UK |
52 |
|
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USA |
43 |
|
| |
Zimbabwe |
1 |
|
| |
Total |
152 |
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Table 1: No. of applications for the recognition of equivalence of professional qualifications listed by country of training
(2001- April 2008)
Successful applicants
If an application is successful, or the compensation mechanism is successfully completed, the applicant is awarded the NQEMT at the level of Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic or Advanced Paramedic. The successful applicant is then eligible to apply for registration at the appropriate division on the PHECC Register.
Unsuccessful applicants
Unsuccessful applicants have the right to appeal to Council within 60 days from the date of the outcome letter. Applicants are also informed that they may appeal to the High Court any decision of the PHECC, or any failure of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council to make a decision, in relation to an application. A decision of the High Court on an appeal under the Recognition of Professional Qualifications shall be final and not appealable.
Application forms and guidance notes are available for download from www.phecc.ie or by emailing info@phecc.ie.
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Country of training |
Total number of PHECC-registered practitioners: |
|
| |
Australia |
5 |
|
| |
Canada |
1 |
|
| |
Germany |
1 |
|
| |
Slovakia |
3 |
|
| |
South Africa |
4 |
|
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UK |
26 |
|
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USA |
12 |
|
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Total |
52 |
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Table 2: No. of PHECC registered overseastrained practitioners (EMT, Paramedic and Advanced Paramedic) listed by country of training (April 2008)
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