Frequently Asked Questions about Recertification

1.	When I complete the online form, do I still need to mail the form to the NREMT?
	If you are affiliated with an agency, and completed your online submission DO NOT print and mail your form to the NREMT. Your Training Officer and Medical Director (if applicable) will sign your form electronically and it will be automatically forwarded to the NREMT. We recommend you print and SAVE a copy for your personal records.
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2.	How can I tell if I am affiliated with an Agency?
	Log into your NREMT account, click 'My Certification'. Look in the upper left corner, if the agency you work for appears under your National Registry number, you are successfully affiliated. If it says 'Unaffiliated' then you are not currently affiliated with an Agency.
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3.	How can I affiliate with my Agency?
	Follow the steps in FAQ question 'How can I tell if I am affiliated with an Agency', and click on the 'Unaffiliated' link. Then follow the steps to finish selecting your agency.
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4.	What if it shows the wrong Agency?
	Click on the Agency that is listed in the top left hand corner of the screen, then select the correct agency.
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5.	What if my Agency shows "Pending Approval?"
	Please contact your training officer to approve your affiliation request.
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6.	What if my Agency is not listed?
	Please contact your training officer to set up the Agency with the NREMT. The entire process will take about 15 minutes.
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7.	Why is my 'Submit' button missing from my online recertification?
	Usually that means one or more required steps have not yet been completed. Please be sure that you have entered all of your continuing education, and double-check to be sure you are affiliated with your Agency.
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8.	Can I use a credit card to pay for my recertification?
	You may use your credit card only when using the online recertification. The NREMT does not take credit card payments over the phone.
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9.	What does the NREMT accept as valid continuing education?
	The NREMT accepts continuing education that has received official approval through your State EMS office and/or the Continuing Education Coordinating Board of Emergency Medical Services (www.cecbems.org). Continuing education topics may include subject matter contained within the National Scope of Practice as well as other subject matter specifically related to the emergency medical care of patients. Continuing education may be obtained through a variety of delivery methods including didactic sessions, practical drills, workshops, EMS conferences, and distributive education.
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10.	What is distributive education?
	Distributive education is a method of delivering a formal EMS education program that does not require the educator and student to interact in real time. Distributive education may be used in conjunction with a traditional educational program or independently as a virtual classroom using pre-recorded or pre-planned lessons.
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11.	Is continuing education automatically marked as distributive education just because it's on the internet or by phone?
	No. If an instructor and student are able to interact in real time, the hours are not considered distributive education and are not subject to distributive education limitations.
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12.	What are the current recertification requirements?
	Please click on the level you wish to view. Emergency Medical Responder Emergency Medical Technician EMT-Intermediate/85 Advanced EMT EMT-Intermediate/99 Paramedic
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13.	Where can I find a refresher course?
	You should contact your State EMS Office and/or your local EMS educational institution for the location of approved EMS education courses in your state.
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14.	I am an instructor. Can I use teaching hours if I teach EMS courses?
	You can get credit on an "hour for hour" basis for each hour you teach. You may apply EMS teaching hours to the "Refresher Requirements" section and/or "Continuing Education Requirements" section. A good rule of thumb is "if a student receives credit for attending your EMS course, you can receive identical credit for teaching it. The NREMT accepts a maximum of 12 hours of CPR instructor hours per recertification cycle. The NREMT does not accept continuing education hours for attending CPR courses, EMT Instructor courses, or instructor methodology courses. If you are selected for audit, you will need to provide documentation of hours taught (for example: letter from your training officer or program director).
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15.	Who can sign the skills portion of the recertification form?
	First Responder/Emergency Medical Responder (EMR): Your Training Officer can sign the skills portion of the form. EMT-Basic/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Your Training Officer, Program Director, Service Director, Operations Director, or Physician Medical Director can sign the skills portion of the form. Intermediate 85/99, Advanced EMT and Paramedic: Your Physician Medical Director must sign the skills portion of the form.
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16.	Do I need to be practicing in EMS to recertify?
	The NREMT requires all individuals applying for recertification to be actively affiliated with an Agency and using their EMS skills. An Agency may be, but not limited to - fire departments, EMS response units, hospitals, hazmat response teams, rescue teams, private companies who provide EMS care to employees, etc. Individuals who do not meet these requirements must recertify under 'Inactive Status.'
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17.	How do I request Inactive Status?
	Inactive status can only be requested by NREMTs who have completed at least 6 months of EMS patient care during their first registration cycle. Inactive status with the NREMT signifies a National Certified provider who is currently not providing patient care. Often this is misunderstood. Registrants who wish to declare inactive status must continue to meet the NREMT recertification requirements. The NREMT confirms that “inactive” EMS providers are “not working.” Therefore, inactive status is useful for administrators, educators, managers, etc., but not for those who have left EMS and also failed to maintain competency via completion of the recertification education requirements. Inactive status is not for those unable to obtain and meet the educational requirements or those who have had limitations or revocation of a health care license. Registrants who request inactive status at the EMR and EMT levels do not need to obtain verification of skills from their training officers. Again, these registrants must complete all refresher, continuing education and CPR requirements. These registrants are eligible to recertify via examination if they so choose. CPR certification remains a requirement even for those who pass the examination. Registrants who request inactive status at the AEMT or Paramedic levels do not need to obtain verification of skills from their medical directors. Again, these registrants must complete all refresher, continuing education and both CPR and ACLS requirements. These registrants are eligible to recertify via examination if they so choose. CPR and ACLS remain a requirement even for those who pass the examination.
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18.	How do I become Active again?
	Movement from Inactive to Active status requires the registrant to complete Section III of the re-certification requirements. Fundamentally the registrant must work with their future or current employer so that he/she is willing to verify competency of the skills found on the recertification form. In order to do this the registrant must retrieve the form from the NREMT website Click here, have the form completed and then forward it to the NREMT. No fee is required to move from inactive to active status.
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19.	What happens if my certification has lapsed?
	If your certification has lapsed for less than 30 days, you have the option to reinstate your certification provided all other requirements (such as continuing education and CPR/ACLS credentials) for recertification were met before your expiration date. If you mail your recertification materials within 30 days after your certification expiration date, (FR/EMR: September 30; EMT/I85/AEMT/I99/P: March 31) you must provide all recertification documents as well as a $50 re-instatement fee. Please see the chart below for the total cost of reinstating your certification: Certification Level      Total Fee EMR   $60.00 EMT   $65.00 Intermediate/85   $65.00 AEMT   $65.00 Intermediate/99   $65.00 Paramedic   $70.00 If your National EMS Certification lapsed within a two year period or you are currently state licensed as an EMS provider, you can obtain National Certification by completing a state approved Refresher course and successfully completing the cognitive and psychomotor examinations. If your EMS certification expired more than two years ago and you are NOT currently state licensed, you must complete an entire state-approved course and complete the cognitive and psychomotor examinations.
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20.	Can I drop my certification to a lower level?
	You are eligible to recertify at a lower level ONLY if you were Nationally Certified at that lower level in the past. For example, a Nationally Certified Paramedic is able to request recertification at the EMT level provided he or she has been Nationally Certified at the EMT level in the past.
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21.	Why do I have to take a transition course to recertify?
	The Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum is no longer being used, and has been replaced by the National Scope of Practice. Every level of EMS practice had new content added to its respective curriculum. In order to ensure that every provider has the appropriate knowledge of this new content, the NREMT is requiring proof of successful completion of a State approved transition/Refresher course. To review the NREMT Transition Policy click here.
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22.	How many hours are in the transition course?
	This will vary on a state-to-state basis. For additional information, please contact your State EMS Office.
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23.	Can I count those hours toward my recertification requirements?
	Yes. Any hours contained in the transition course may be applied to the "Refresher" section or "Continuing Education" section of the recertification.
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24.	How long will I have to complete a transition course?
	First Responder to EMR 2 recertification cycles (4 years - complete by Sept. 30, 2015/2016) EMT-Basic to EMT 2 recertification cycles (4 years - complete by Mar. 31, 2015/2016) Intermediate/85 to AEMT 2 recertification cycles (4 years - complete by Mar. 31, 2015/2016*^) Intermediate/99 to Paramedic 3 recertification cycles (6 years - complete by Mar. 31, 2018/2019**) EMT-Paramedic to Paramedic 2 recertification cycles (4 years - complete by Mar. 31, 2015/2017) *Certified EMS providers with current I/85 certifications must complete transitions by 2015/2016, including successful completion of the AEMT cognitive examination. ^Candidates who obtain their FIRST I/85 certification between July 2012 and March 31, 2013 have until March 31, 2017 to complete a state approved transition and successful completion of the AEMT cognitive examination. **Certified EMS providers with current I/99 certification must complete transitions by 2018/2019, including successful completion of the Paramedic cognitive examination.
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25.	Does that mean I need to complete two transition courses?
	No. You only need to complete the transition course one time.
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26.	What happens if I do not successfully complete a transition course within my time period?
	If you submit an acceptable recertification application but fail to submit proof of a transition course within your transition period, (see above) you will automatically be recertified at the next-lowest level. For example, if you are an EMT-Basic and submit your completed recertification materials but fail to provide proof of a transition course, you will be issued a certification at the EMR level. Please see the NREMT's Transition Policy for more information.
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