2026 SESSION

SENATE SUBSTITUTE

26105912D

SENATE BILL NO. 102

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health

on January 22, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Stanley)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-204.4, relating to school boards; courses of instruction; high school courses or dual enrollment programs for certification as a certified nurse aide, emergency medical technician, or firefighter; establishment permitted; requirements.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-204.4 as follows:

§ 22.1-204.4. High school courses or dual enrollment programs for certification as a certified nurse aide, emergency medical technician, or firefighter; establishment; requirements.

A. As used in this section:

"Certified nurse aide" means the same as that term is defined in § 54.1-3000.

"Emergency medical technician" or "EMT" means an individual who holds a valid certificate as an emergency medical technician and who has successfully completed the emergency medical technician training program and emergency medical technician written and practical examinations approved by the Office of Emergency Medical Services, consistent with the requirements of Article 2.1 (§ 32.1-111.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 32.1.

"Firefighting level 1 certification" means certification under National Fire Protection Association 1001, level one, firefighter standards, as administered by the Department of Fire Programs.

"Office of Emergency Medical Services" means the Office of Emergency Medical Services of the Department of Health.

B. Each school board may provide to high school students courses of instruction that prepare students for and that lead students to certification as a certified nurse aide or emergency medical technician, or firefighting level 1 certification, in accordance with the following requirements:

1. Each school board may (i) provide such program on school premises for high school students in accordance with subsection C or (ii) enter into an agreement with a comprehensive community college to provide or make available such courses to high school students, including through a dual enrollment program pursuant to § 22.1-206.3;

2. Any course of instruction for certification as a certified nurse aide shall be (i) approved by and meet the requirements of the Board of Nursing in accordance with Article 4 (§ 54.1-3022 et seq.) of Chapter 30 of Title 54.1 and (ii) taught by an individual who (a) is qualified to provide such instruction, consistent with the requirements of the Board of Nursing and (b) has been issued or meets the requirements to be issued a three-year career and technical education license pursuant to § 22.1-299.6 or meets such other requirements relating to teacher qualifications and licensure as prescribed by the Board of Education;

3. Any course of instruction for certification as an EMT shall be (i) consistent with the requirements established by the Office of Emergency Medical Services for a training program for certification as an EMT and (ii) taught by an emergency medical technician instructor who (a) holds a valid certification issued by the Office of Emergency Medical Services to provide such instruction and (b) has been issued or meets the requirements to be issued a three-year career and technical education license pursuant to § 22.1-299.6 or meets such other requirements relating to teacher qualifications and licensure as prescribed by the Board of Education; and

4. Any course of instruction for firefighting level 1 certification shall be (i) consistent with the National Fire Protection Association 1001, level one, firefighter standards as administered by the Department of Fire Programs and (ii) taught by an individual who (a) is qualified and approved by the Department of Fire Programs to provide such instruction and (b) has been issued or meets the requirements to be issued a three-year career and technical education license pursuant to § 22.1-299.6 or meets such other requirements relating to teacher qualifications and licensure as prescribed by the Board of Education.

C. Any school board that provides any course of instruction on school premises pursuant to clause (i) of subdivision B 1 shall ensure that any individual employed, contracted, or permitted to volunteer to provide instruction in any such course meets the requirements set forth in §§ 22.1-296.1, 22.1-296.2, and 22.1-296.4 relating to criminal history records checks, fingerprinting, data on convictions for certain crimes, and criminal history records checks. However, no individual employed, contracted, or permitted to volunteer to provide instruction in any such course pursuant to subsection B shall be required to obtain any certification or license required for public school teachers.