Under regulations adopted by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (CalEMSA), your paramedic license can be revoked, suspended, and placed on probation for up to 5 years. You can also be fined to $2,500 per violation of California Health and Safety Code section 1798.200, subdivision (c).
CalEMSA can also require you to complete approved educational programs and coursework, attend stress or anger management programs, attend ethics training, undergo a psychiatric or medical evaluation, be placed on a performance improvement plan, and pass practical skills or oral examinations to the satisfaction of a 3-member review board consisting of an EMS physician, a paramedic, and an EMS educator.
While on probation you would be required to appear at the CalEMSA office on demand for in-person for interviews, meetings, and evaluations, file quarterly compliance reports, notify your employer(s) and submit proof you have done so, notify CalEMSA any time you change jobs for any reason and explain in writing why you do so in full detail, and report any criminal citations or arrests (even with no conviction) within 72 hours.
Depending upon your case, you could also be required to totally abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages or other intoxicating substances while on and off duty, be subject to random drug testing within 12 hours on demand, and attend drug addiction, detoxification, or sobriety support program, even for a first-offense DUI or “wet reckless” conviction while off duty.
While on a performance improvement plan, you would be required to attend remedial training by a preceptor in a field or clinical setting, review written policies, and be subject to quality assurance and improvement (QA/QI) audits.
All of this is at your own expense and is a matter of public record, published indefinitely, and searchable to anyone with an Internet connection.
