The continuing education option allows the individual to demonstrate continued competency by documentation of continuing education (CE, CEU, CME, competency credits, etc.) completed during the recertification cycle using the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) model. More information about which model you should follow can be found on our website https://nremt.org/document/nccp

Submitting your recertification application online is much more efficient with an approximate processing time of 72 business hours. Mailed applications are by request only and can take up to 8 weeks to process after we receive them.

To apply for recertification, you need to:

+ Meet certification eligibility criteria concerning criminal conviction and licensure limitation statements. 

• Demonstrate competency through continuing education.
• All education must be completed within your recertification cycle dates. 
• National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) total credits required by level.

+ Enter completed education on your transcript. 

• Upload/import supporting documentation or proof of education. 

+ Assign education to national, local, and individual sections under “Manage Education.” 

+ Apply recertification payment and any additional fees, paper processing fees, reinstatement fee, and so on.

+ Complete and submit the recertification application by your expiration date.  

• Applications do not automatically submit once payment is complete. You need to return to the “Recert Application” to submit the completed application. 
• Failure to submit the application will result in the lapsing of your certification.

 

Application Review

If education does not meet the minimum requirements after being reviewed by a National Registry staff member, the application will be marked incomplete. If the application is returned incomplete, the individual will need to check the message center to determine the issues presented with the application and make the necessary changes before resubmission.  

Individuals are encouraged to check their account frequently after submitting their recertification application to ensure no additional actions are needed. 

Any application that is incomplete after the reinstatement period closes cannot be resubmitted and your certification will lapse. (Refer to the IMPORTANT DATES FOR EMT, AEMT, AND PARAMEDICS section).

The National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) has three components: 

+ National Component 

+ Local Component 

+ Individual Component 

All education must either be recognized by the State EMS Office, accredited by CAPCE, or by accepted through the National Registry Alternative Recertification Credit Policy. Each of the components are explained in detail in the following sections. This table lists the required number of credits of continuing education by each level of National EMS Certification and by the specific component:

Table 1. NCCP Hour Requirements

There are currently two different NCCP models and will be used based on your certification expiration date. Use the link in document above to learn more.

Continuing education requirements overview

The National Component replaces the material taught in the traditional refresher and represents 50% of the overall requirements necessary to renew the National EMS Certification. Requirements for the National Component should include the most recent evidence-based guidelines available and an updated scope of practice.   
Topics chosen are influenced by: 

+ Evidenced-based medicine. 

+ Changes in the National EMS Scope of Practice Model. 

+ Science-based position papers that affect EMS patient care. 

+ Patient care tasks that have low frequency yet high criticality. 

+ Peer-reviewed articles that feature contemporary trends in EMS. 

Education or credits claimed within the National Component must be at or above the individual’s certification level.

Individual component

The Individual Component represents 25% of the required continuing education. To satisfy these requirements, an individual may select courses or credits that apply directly to EMS and patient care. 

Recommended topics for the Individual Component may include, but are not limited to: 

+ Changes in local protocols 

+ Tasks that require remediation based upon a quality assurance system +Run reviews and/or grand rounds 

+ Community-based needs assessment 

+ EMS-related training courses required for local or state credentialing 

+ Academic or college-related courses that directly apply to EMS patient care 

+ EMS-related subjects that have personal interest 

+ Extra credits from courses in National or Local components 

Education or credits claimed within the Individual Component can be below, at, or above the individual’s certification level.

Accepted continuing education

In addition to general EMS continuing education courses, which are recognized by the state EMS office or accredited by CAPCE, the following may also be applied to the NCCP Model (National, Local, and Individual Components). 

Standardized Courses/Card Courses 

+ Prior to April 1, 2023: Hour-for-hour credit can be applied for standardized courses to the National, Local, or Individual Components. After April 1, 2023, all courses must follow the Accepted Education and Documentation Policy (see page 18). 

• Further information on courses and what they cover see the table in the appendix.

College courses/academic credit

+ College or academic credit may be applied for general college courses that relate to your role as an EMS professional. 

+ The courses must directly apply to EMS topics or direct EMS patient care.

• College courses before April 1, 2023 can be applied as 1 college credit = 8 CE hours. 
• As of April 1, 2023, per the Academic Credit Policy, college courses will not be allowed within the National Component. 
• As of April 1, 2023, 1 college credit = 10 CE hours.

EMS Education programs

+ Hours from the following can be applied hour-for-hour: 

• Teaching or instructing EMS Programs. 
• EMS Course Instruction. • Critical Care. 
• Wilderness EMS training at or above your current certification level. 

** All courses must be U.S. State EMS Office, DAA (Designated Authorized Agency), CAPCE accredited, from a U.S. Academic Institution, or approved by National Registry Recertification Alternative Credits Policy** 

Continuing education that is not accepted

The National Registry does not accept the following for continuing education: 

+ Performance of duty or volunteer time with agencies: Paid or volunteer working or duty hours for any organization, agency, or medical facility. 

+ Clinical rotations: Clinical rotations that are not part of an EMS Education Program. 

+ Instructor methodology courses: Includes all courses to become an instructor or courses to achieve instructor-level certifications. 

+ Management/leadership courses: Includes business management and leadership, Fire/EMS administrative courses. 

+ Preceptor hours: Courses in which an individual takes to become a preceptor or that cover preceptor methodologies. 

+ Serving as a skills examiner or participant: Includes skills examiner, acting as a patient, or proctor for state level or National Registry psychomotor examinations. 

+ Duplicate courses: Courses that are the same content or title and instructed by the same program, instructor, or organization within the same certification cycle. 

+ College courses: Most core or general education college course topics, such as algebra, statistics, chemistry, biology, sociology, languages, psychology, and so on that do not apply directly to EMS.

 

Update Profile:

Update Profile.

Manage Affiliations: 

For “Active Status,” please check that your agency affiliation is correct.   
*Agency affiliation is not required. You can recertify in the Inactive Status. 

+ Remove any old agency affiliations to avoid your application being denied at the agency level. 

+ Follow up with any pending affiliation requests. + If you are not affiliated with an agency, you will  
    renew as “Inactive.”

Add Continuing Education to your Professional Transcript

*Pro Tip: Use the camera on your phone to take photos of your proof of education and attach these images to your courses within the app. No need to upload to a computer or laptop. 

+ Prepare scanned or digital copies to upload all education you are submitting. 

+ Check account for any education entered by your training officer. 

+ Check for CAPCE education that is available to import from “CAPCE Import function.” 

+ Add all education you are submitting to your transcript.

Manage Your Education: 

Assign education to the National, Local, and Individual sections.  

*Pro Tip: College courses are best placed in the local or individual components. No college courses will be accepted in the National Component after April 1, 2023. College courses must be related to EMS direct patient care. 

+ All sections must be complete to recertify. 

+ In the National Component, all topics and subtopics must be met for it to be considered complete. Assign courses to the corresponding topic, such as diabetic emergencies in the medical topic.  

+ Your state or local EMS agency sets the Local Component. If there are no established local requirements, you can use any EMS direct patient care-related education. 

+ The Individual Component can be any EMS-related education.

Recertification Application

+ Complete the Recertification Application under “My Certification Role.” 

+ Once payment is made and completed, return to recert application screen. 

+ After you complete all sections, click “Submit Application.” 

+ Important: Your application is not submitted until you click “Submit Application.”

Check your status: 

Log in to your account and monitor the progress of your application until a new expiration date appears.

Check your Message Center:

Applications may need further actions due to: 

+ Being selected for a random audit 

+ Being marked incomplete and returned for the individual to make corrections 

+ Pending Training Officer and/or Medical Director verifications

Check your Email:

National Registry frequently sends important information and email reminders for recertification. 

+ Reminders to recertify: If you have submitted your application, and are still receiving emails to recertify, this means you are not yet recertified. Check your account and messages for more information. Action is required. 

+ Application actions: If your application is returned for correction or you are randomly selected for audit, you will be notified by email in addition to receiving a message in your account.