To work as an emergency medical technician (EMT) in Arizona, you have to be certified by the state. To maintain that certification, the Arizona Department of Health Services requires EMTs complete twenty-four hours of approved continuing education (CE) every two years.
In addition, any EMT certified by the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) must complete forty hours of approved CE every two years. Some of the hours can be applied to both renewal applications.
How to Obtain Your Approved CE
Continuing education ensures that EMTs are familiar with the latest advances and technologies in the field. Before enrolling, confirm that the course you’re considering is approved by the state and satisfies the continuing education requirements of NREMT.
Recertification courses may have similarities and differences from the Arizona EMT certification prep programs you took when you first became a first responder. Some classes may test practical skills to ensure the EMT possesses the abilities necessary to work in the field.
The continuing education requirements for NREMT recertification include a national component, a local or state component, and an individual component:
National Component
To satisfy the national CE requirement, EMTs need to complete twenty hours of CE as follows:
- Four hours of airway/respiration/ventilation
- Five hours of cardiovascular
- Three hours of trauma
- Six hours of medical
- Two hours of operations
Local/State Component
To satisfy state requirements, EMTs must complete ten hours related to the Arizona emergency medical system. This component allows for programs to be tailored to the specific needs of the Arizona system. This information could include topics like state-specific protocols, local laws, or Arizona Department of Health Services requirements.
Individual Component
To meet individual requirements, an EMT must complete ten hours of training directly related to emergency patient care.
Other Considerations
The Arizona Department of Health Services also requires EMTs to maintain evidence that they completed their CE hours with an approved program. EMTs may take refresher courses, online classes, or attend an approved workshop to fulfill the hours required for their CE requirements.
If the EMT has worked more than 240 hours during the two-year cycle, they can complete CE through continuing education or a refresher course. If the EMT worked fewer than 240 hours, they must complete a refresher course. Five hours of the CE must cover pediatric emergency care.
As an EMT begins to explore how to advance as an EMT in Arizona and the difference between EMT renewal and recertification in Arizona, they need to consider the continuing education requirements involved at each step of the process. For example, advanced EMTs (AEMTs) are required to complete fifty hours of continuing education in the same three categories (national, state/local, and individual) every two years. Paramedics need to complete sixty hours.
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