Since 2022, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) has had no limits on the number of hours students can earn while taking online courses, as long as the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE).
CAPCE-accredited NREMT remedial training online usually satisfies state requirements, but it’s essential that you verify state and local EMT-certification requirements before you enroll in a refresher class to make sure the program meets all your needs.
What Is the Difference Between Refresher and Recertification Courses?
The NREMT test is hard, and if you fail it three times, you must take a refresher course before you can register for the exam a fourth time. The refresher course is not a punishment. It’s a way to ensure you learn the material, pass the exam, and start your career as a fully qualified EMT.
The NREMT will provide a diagnostic report on your previous attempts to pass the exam, so you can focus your efforts on the areas with the lowest scores. This report can serve as a roadmap to ensure you can take care of anyone having a medical crisis once you are in the field.
Emergency medical services (EMS) providers are licensed professionals. As such, every two years, they must renew their certifications by passing an exam or completing a specified amount of hours of continuing education covering national, state, and local subject matters. These programs are often called ‘recertification courses.’
Why Is CAPCE Accreditation So Important?
The public needs to trust that the EMT who rushes to help them when they are in need is capable of administering medical treatment in stressful and potentially life-and-death situations. CAPCE is the organization that ensures EMS continuing education is held to the highest standards.
When an EMT successfully completes online or in-person CAPCE-certified courses, they are educated on the latest innovations and best practices in EMS. CAPCE certification also gives ambulance companies, hospitals, fire departments, and other EMT employers a level of comfort that candidates possess the skills and knowledge needed to take care of severely ill or injured patients being transported to hospitals.
The NREMT and most state EMT licensing agencies accept CAPCE-accredited courses. When you complete a CAPCE refresher course, CAPCE automatically transmits the information to NREMT, so you don’t need to worry about that step in the licensing process.
How to Check State EMT Requirements
Many states use NREMT testing and certification as the basis for their own certification, helping to create uniform standards and licensing across the country. Standardization also helps EMTs simultaneously satisfy requirements mandated at both the national and state levels, so they don’t have to repeat classes for different agencies.
However, states have their own rules and requirements about continuing education, too. Before enrolling in any refresher course, it’s essential to double-check with your state EMS office. It is better to rely on the official EMS website rather than the training program’s website because state requirements can change.
Using the official website, ensure that you can meet and comply with all state requirements. In addition to passing the NREMT exam, each state will require that additional documentation be submitted as part of the licensing process (such as proof of competency in EMS topics and protocols in the local area, background checks, etc.). Once you know all the requirements you have to meet, you can do a cost comparison: online versus in-person EMT refresher courses.
The Paramedic Coach Is CAPCE-Certified
The Paramedic Coach offers online refresher courses that you can take at any time and from anywhere. Certification requirements can be confusing, but The Paramedic Coach makes the process simple:
- Watch the videos.
- Take the quizzes.
- Fill out the online evaluation form.
The Paramedic Coach is also available to answer questions and guide you on the path for passing the NREMT exam and starting a career as an EMT. In two years, when you need to renew your license, we can also help you understand what to look for in a high-quality EMT recertification program.
