The CAPCE-accredited National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) recertification program from The Paramedic Coach introduces the most accessible and easy paramedic license renewal approach ever.
Licensure and certification renewals are often seen as complex, but once you know that you need to submit evidence of sixty hours of continuing education every two years, what those hours must cover, and how to split the content according to the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) rules, it’s actually pretty straightforward.
To celebrate the launch of our latest added-value program, developed following demand from the more than 40,000 students we’ve helped fly through their NREMT exams, we’ve put together this concise guide to explain how paramedics earn CE and all the essential aspects of recertification you need to know.
The Recertification Process for NREMT Emergency Medical Professionals
Let’s start by clarifying that recertification applies across the board and is mandatory for retaining your certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). You’ll need to prove you have a valid and recognized certification to the national standards if you want to:
- Continue working in one of the many states that follow the NREMT regulations and guidelines, noting that some don’t require evidence of continuing education but that state-specific licensure is valid only in this jurisdiction
- Apply for any emergency professional role in another state or country or a role that could cross borders or require international travel
- Progress your career and achieve the next level of NREMT qualification; you can’t jump steps or apply to become a paramedic off the bat without first achieving a National Registry certification or obtaining a state license at the EMT level or above
There are two options: either retake the NREMT exam or submit evidence of continuing education. For paramedics, this must be sixty hours of recognized study or learning through an approved provider, reducing to fifty, forty, and sixteen hours, respectively, for AEMTs, EMTs, and EMRs.
How Do You Meet the NREMT Recertification Standards?
The easiest way to meet the requirements is to enroll in The Paramedic Coach’s CAPCE-accredited, user-friendly online recertification program. We’ve done all the background work for you, ensuring your learning is valid, recognized, and approved and covers every content component as set out in the NCCP framework.
The specifics are available on our enrollment pages and video explainer or on the NREMT site, but the basics are that you need to prove that 50% of your continuing education hours cover the national component topics and that 25% cover local or state-level and individual content to meet the 100% requirement.
One of the issues so many talented emergency medical professionals have is that recertification hours can put added pressure on already busy schedules. We’ve designed our video lessons to be accessible, easy to navigate, and clear, with post-lesson quizzes to cement your knowledge and ensure you’ve comprehended everything we’ve covered.
Rather than submitting a form to the NREMT, waiting anxiously for a response, or being unsure whether your study conforms to the standards, we’ll provide a validated certificate and itemized documentation to showcase your compliance. A confirmation will then be sent directly to your inbox immediately after you’ve finished the end-of-program evaluation form; it really couldn’t be simpler!
What Is the Difference Between License Renewal and NREMT Recertification?
We’ve intimated the variances in rules between states, and although these terms tend to be used interchangeably, they mean slightly different things:
- Continuing education and recertification are mandatory to retain your NREMT certification and continue working as an emergency medical professional certified to the national standards.
- State licensure is usually granted on proof of passing the NREMT exam, and some states will expect you to submit the same continuing education evidence to renew your localized license. In contrast, others have no renewal system in place.
However, this doesn’t mean you can skip recertification altogether, nor is it wise, regardless of whether your state has an individual licensure process or expects practicing paramedics and other professionals to comply with continuing education rules.
Our advice is always to keep your national certification up to date. This not only protects your ability to progress in your career in the future but also ensures you access quality continuing education, which is vital for staying current with industry developments.
New knowledge covered during recertification learning means you’ll walk away better than when you started, with information you can apply directly to your patient care!
