EMT Certification and Recertification

Applications for both CA EMT certification and recertification may be completed and submitted online. All required documents must be uploaded and attached and successful payment made before the application will be evaluated.

Please read our FAQs before contacting our office.

Initial California EMT Certification

Each applicant for initial CA EMT Certification must provide the following for their online CA EMT Certification application to be evaluated (items 2-5 must be uploaded and attached to the online application):

  1. Complete OCEMS online application for CA EMT certification.
  2. A copy of the “Course Completion Certificate” issued by the initial EMT program attended by applicant:
    1. The Course Completion Certificate is valid for two years from the date of issuance
    2. A valid Course Completion Certificate is required to apply for CA EMT Certification
  3. Provide identification and proof of age: driver’s license, birth certificate, passport or military ID , and a copy for your file.
  4. Submit a completed copy of a LiveScan service processing form. The LiveScan service shall include both a State and Federal criminal history search. EMT candidates must use the OCEMS approved form.
    1. Applicants must perform the Live Scan prior to applying for EMT certification
    2. EMT applicants should wait at least three (3) business days for LiveScan processing prior to calling or coming into OCEMS to verify receipt of State and Federal reporting. OCEMS will not accept an application for CA EMT certification without first receiving both CA and Federal reports
    3. Applicants with previous arrest or convictions may experience a delay in LiveScan processing. Applicants must be aware a delay may take up to thirty (30) days or more from the DOJ or FBI
  5. A copy of the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) 8 ½ x 11” certificate issued as proof of passing the EMT basic exam. CA EMT certification will be issued to expire two (2) years from the date of passing the NREMT exam.
  6. 6. A copy of your valid CPR card.
  7. Submit payment of OCEMS EMT certification and central registry fees as specified in OCEMS Policy 470.00. NO CASH or Personal Checks accepted. For online payment, we only accept American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® and Visa® credit cards, or debit cards with the MasterCard® or Visa® logo.

California EMT Recertification

If you are recertifying, and changing your certifying entity at the same time (for example using OCEMS instead of LA County EMS), you must complete the EMT Initial Certification application, along with a new LiveScan for OCEMS, in addition to the recertification requirements listed below in numbers 2. – 7.

Application for recertification may be made up to six (6) months prior to certification expiration. The effective date of renewed certification shall be the expiration date of current certification. Recertification shall be issued for a two (2) year period. Each applicant for EMT recertification shall provide the following for their online CA EMT recertification application to be evaluated (items 2-5 must be uploaded and attached to the online application):

  1. Complete an OCEMS online application for CA EMT recertification
  2. Provide copies of completing 24 hours of Continuing Education (CE) during the current certification cycle. CE may be performed in the following manner with limitations:
    1. Completion of a 24-hour refresher course
    2. Completion of 24 individual or groups hours of approved continuing education. Performing greater than 12 hours of online CE in a single day is not acceptable to OCEMS and will result in an audit of work performed.
    3. Provide copies of transcripts of college coursework completed.
  3. Submit a completed and signed EMT Skills Competency Verification Form - EMSA-SCV (08/10).
  4. Provide identification and proof of age: driver’s license, birth certificate, passport or military ID, and a copy for your file.
  5. Copy of current EMT certificate
    1. If your certificate has lapsed (expired) please see below for additional recertification requirements
    2. If recertification applicants current CA EMT certification was not issued by OCEMS, a background check will be required. See OCEMS Policy # 455.00 for more information.
  6. 6. A copy of your valid CPR card.
  7. Submit payment of OCEMS EMT recertification and central registry fees as specified in OCEMS Policy #470.00. NO CASH or Personal Checks accepted. For online payment, we only accept American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® and Visa® credit cards, or debit cards with the MasterCard® or Visa® logo.

California EMT Recertification After Lapse

In addition to recertification requirements above, the applicant who has lapsed CA EMT certification shall meet the following. See OCEMS Policy #410.00 for more information:

  1. For a lapse of EMT certification of greater than one day but less than six months ( > 1 day, < 6 months), meet the requirements above under EMT recertification without any additional CE required
  2. For a lapse of EMT certification of greater than six months, but less than 1 year ( lapse of > 6 months, < 1 year); meet the recertification requirements above plus complete and submit an additional 12 hours of CE for a total of 36 hours of CE
  3. For a lapse of EMT certification of greater than 1 year, but less than 2 years (> 1 year, < 2 years); complete and submit an additional 24 hours of CE for a total of 48 hours of CE, perform a new background check as required by OCEMS Policy # 455.00 and successfully complete the National Registry EMT basic written examination
  4. For a lapse greater than 2 years: complete a new EMT course and required NREMT testing