EMTs recertifying through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) must complete 40 continuing education hours per two-year cycle under the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP). Those hours must be divided across three components: national, state/local, and individual. State-only recertification paths set their own hour totals, which often differ from the NREMT figure. Always confirm your exact requirement with your state EMS office or the NREMT before your deadline.

What Are EMT Continuing Education Hours?

Continuing education (CE) hours are documented units of EMS-relevant instruction you earn during a recertification cycle. They prove to the NREMT and to your state EMS office that you have stayed current with clinical knowledge and patient care practices. Hours are measured in credits, and one credit generally equals one hour of instruction. Every course must be directly related to EMS patient care to count toward recertification.

Activities that cannot be applied to CE requirements include performance of duty (paid or volunteer), clinical rotations outside an initial EMS program, instructor methodology courses, management and leadership courses, preceptor hours, and serving as a skills examiner for psychomotor examinations.
Knowing what does not count is just as important as knowing what does.

How Many Hours Do You Actually Need?

The answer depends on two things: your certification level and whether you recertify through the NREMT or through your state directly.

NREMT Path (National Continued Competency Program)

The EMT NCCP requires a total of 40 credits of continuing education to recertify, structured across three components: a national component, a local/state component, and an individual component.
Other levels follow the same three-component structure but with different totals:

• EMR: 16 credits per cycle.
• EMT: 40 credits per cycle.
• AEMT: 50 credits per cycle.
• Paramedic: 60 credits per cycle.

The national component of the NCCP constitutes 50 percent of the total recertification requirement.
The state/local component covers content your agency or state EMS office specifies, and the individual component gives you flexibility to address personal learning goals, as long as the content stays within EMS patient care.

The NREMT also updated its model beginning in 2025.
The 2025 NCCP Model applies starting April 1, 2025 for EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic providers, and October 1, 2025 for EMR providers.
Review the 2025 NCCP model changes to understand how the updated structure affects your current cycle. You can also verify all hour totals and component breakdowns directly on the NREMT EMT Recertification page.

State-Only Recertification Paths

State-only recertification paths often require additional hours and may include state-specific topics like jurisprudence or protocol updates.
Requirements vary significantly. For example,
the Texas state path requires 72 hours for EMTs, compared to 40 hours on the NREMT path. Some states that require more hours than NREMT will allow you to recert through NREMT.So EMTs in Texas can recert with 40 NREMT hours for both NREMT and Texas, without having to take 72 hours,
Check the requirements by state resource to find the specific totals for your state, and confirm the details with your state EMS regulatory office before relying on any third-party summary.

What Types of CE Are Accepted?

The National Registry accepts state EMS office-approved and CAPCE-accredited education, education from EMS education programs, and U.S.-accredited academic credit or college courses.

CAPCE is an accrediting body charged with the review and accreditation of EMS continuing education.

CAPCE (the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education) is the gold standard for EMS continuing education accreditation in the United States. CAPCE-accredited EMS CE courses are accepted by the NREMT for recertification and by virtually every state EMS regulatory agency for state-level recertification.
You can search for accredited providers directly through the CAPCE official website.

Education can be gathered through online or in-person courses. As of 2022, there are no limits on how much online education you can use on your recertification application.
This makes it practical to complete your full requirement from home between shifts.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete Your EMT CE Hours

1. Know your deadline. NREMT certifications run on a two-year rolling cycle. Log in to your NREMT account to confirm your exact expiration date. Do not estimate it.
2. Identify your path. Decide whether you are recertifying through the NREMT, through your state directly, or both. Each path has its own hour total and topic requirements.
3. Map out the three NCCP components.
   The NCCP streamlines recertification by indicating the continuing education needed and is structured into three categories: national, state/local, and individual components.
   Confirm what your state requires for the state/local component before selecting courses.
4. Choose CAPCE-accredited or state-approved courses. Verify accreditation before enrolling.
   Not all EMS CE providers have CAPCE accreditation, so it is important to verify before enrolling in a course.
5. Track your certificates. Save every completion certificate.
   Certificates of completion must clearly state the number of credit hours and the content covered.
   The NREMT audits a portion of recertification applications and will request documentation.
6. Submit your application on time. Log your hours in your NREMT profile as you go, rather than waiting until the final week. Late submissions can result in fees or lapsed certification.

State-Specific Considerations

State requirements add layers on top of the NREMT baseline. Some states require specific topic coverage, such as state law and protocol modules, that you must complete regardless of how many total hours you have earned. Training officers managing department compliance should check each provider’s individual state page. For example, California and Texas both have topic-specific mandates: see the detailed breakdowns for California EMS recertification requirements and for Texas EMS continuing education requirements.

If you are a training officer managing multiple providers across a roster, note that documentation requirements, portal submission steps, and medical director sign-off rules vary by state. Build your department training calendar around those deadlines, not just the NREMT cycle date.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Counting volunteer duty hours or instructor prep time toward CE totals. Neither qualifies.
• Enrolling in non-CAPCE, non-state-approved courses and assuming they will be accepted.
• Completing all hours in a single category and ignoring the component split the NCCP requires.
• Waiting until the final month of your cycle to start, then missing a deadline due to a course backlog or portal issue.
• Failing to confirm state-specific topic mandates, such as jurisprudence, epinephrine auto-injector training, or similar requirements your state adds on top of the national total.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I complete all of my EMT continuing education hours online?

Yes.
Education can be gathered through online or in-person courses, and as of 2022, there are no limits on how much online education you can use on your NREMT recertification application.
Your state may have its own rules, so confirm with your state EMS office if you are pursuing a state-only or dual recertification path.

What happens if my NREMT certification lapses before I finish my CE hours?

A lapsed certification means your NREMT credential is no longer active. Reinstating a lapsed certification typically involves additional steps and may require retesting, depending on how long the credential has been lapsed. The NREMT outlines the full reinstatement process in its recertification handbook at nremt.org/Handbooks/Recertification. Contact the NREMT directly if you are approaching your deadline without enough hours logged.

Do CAPCE-accredited hours count for both my NREMT and my state recertification?

The NREMT and most states recognize CAPCE-accredited courses as meeting the standard for their recertification requirements.
In many cases the same completed course satisfies both your NREMT profile and your state submission. However, state-mandated topic requirements (such as jurisprudence in Texas) must still be met separately. Always cross-check your completed hours against your state’s specific topic list before you submit.

Ready to start knocking out your EMT continuing education hours with CAPCE-accredited, on-demand courses accepted by the NREMT and state EMS offices nationwide? Create your free CE Solutions account and get access to a full library of courses built to meet your certification level and state requirements.

NREMT Recertification Requirements at a Glance

To maintain National Registry certification, EMS providers must recertify every two years by completing continuing education under the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) or by passing a cognitive examination.
The EMR NCCP requires 16 credits; the program requires continuing education in three components: a national component, a local/state component, and an individual component.

EMTs require 40 credits total.

AEMTs require 50 credits total.

Paramedics require 60 credits total.
All education must be
CAPCE-accredited or accepted by a state EMS office, and all education must be directly related to EMS patient care.

The Two Pathways to Recertify

NREMTs can recertify by either taking the cognitive examination or by completing continuing education.
The continuing education route is by far the most common, and the rest of this guide focuses on that pathway.

Pathway 1: Recertification by Continuing Education (CE)

The continuing education option allows the individual to demonstrate continued competency by documentation of continuing education completed during the recertification cycle using the NCCP model.

The NCCP streamlines the recertification process by indicating the continuing education needed to recertify and is structured into three categories: national, state/local, and individual components.

Pathway 2: Recertification by Examination (RBE)

Providers who prefer to test rather than accumulate CE hours can apply to recertify by sitting for the cognitive examination again.
It is important to confirm that your state EMS office will accept this method; some states require a minimum set of continuing education regardless of how you renew your National Registry credential.

Understanding the 2025 NCCP Model

The National Registry began implementing the 2025 NCCP Model on April 1, 2025 for EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic recertification.

The new 2025 NCCP Model began October 1, 2025 for EMR.
Providers whose certifications expire under the new model should review the updated topic requirements on the NREMT recertification page before planning their CE strategy.

For a detailed breakdown of how the 2025 model changed topic areas, see the CE Solutions overview of the 2025 NCCP model updates.

Component 1: The National Component (50% of Total Credits)

The national component of the NCCP constitutes 50% of the total recertification requirements.

Topics included in the national component reflect current trends in evidence-based medicine, scope of practice changes, and position papers from numerous associations involved with EMS research, with an additional focus on patient presentations that have low frequency but high criticality.

Core topic areas under the national component include airway/respiration/ventilation, cardiovascular, trauma, medical, and operations.
The 2025 model provides more comprehensive topic areas like neurology, stroke, geriatrics, and disaster management under the umbrella of “Medical.”

Component 2: The Local/State Component (25% of Total Credits)

The local component constitutes 25% of the total recertification requirements, and specific topic requirements may be defined by your state, region, or local agency.
If no specific local or state topics are mandated,
these credits are considered flexible, but the education must still qualify for National Registry recertification and be directly related to EMS patient care.

Component 3: The Individual Component (25% of Total Credits)

The individual component accounts for the remaining 25% of the Paramedic continuing education requirement (15 credits). These credits are flexible and may be used for qualifying EMS education selected by the clinician.
The same proportional flexibility applies at all other certification levels. This is an opportunity to address skills gaps, pursue specialized clinical topics, or satisfy additional state requirements.

Accepted Education Sources

Not every course qualifies.
Continuing education must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) or outlined in the National Registry Accepted Education and Documentation, Academic Credit, and Alternative Recertification Credits policies, and must be directly related to the knowledge, skill, or abilities required for clinical patient care in EMS.

Education can be gathered through online or in-person courses, and as of 2022 there are no limits on how much online education you can use on your application.

The following are examples of what the NREMT does not accept:

• Duplicate courses, clinical rotations, instructor courses, management/leadership courses, performance of duty, preceptor hours, serving as a skill examiner, and volunteer time with agencies.

CAPCE-accredited courses are the most straightforward path because they can be imported directly into your NREMT account.
The National Registry updated the recertification application so imported CAPCE courses can be automatically assigned toward NCCP requirements, with credits assigned to an applicable national component topic first; once a required topic is satisfied, remaining applicable credits can flow to the local or state component and then to the individual component.

CE Solutions courses are CAPCE-accredited, which means your completions import directly and apply to the correct NCCP components automatically. Browse available NREMT recertification packages by certification level, or check the CAPCE course locator to verify that any course you plan to use carries CAPCE accreditation before you purchase.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete Your NREMT Recertification

1. Know your expiration date. Log in to your NREMT account and confirm your certification expiration date. All continuing education must be completed within your recertification cycle dates.
2. Identify your credit requirements. Review the NCCP credit totals for your certification level (16 for EMR, 40 for EMT, 50 for AEMT, 60 for Paramedic) and note any state or local topic mandates that apply to your area.
3. Complete CAPCE-accredited or state-accepted CE. Finish all required courses before the application deadline.
   All education must be completed within your recertification cycle dates.
4. Import CAPCE courses into your NREMT transcript.
   Check for CAPCE education available to import from the “CAPCE Import function” and add all submitted education to the transcript.
5. Complete and submit the application.
   Complete the Recertification Application under the “My Certification” role; once payment is made and completed, the application should submit automatically.
6. Watch for audit notification.
   The National Registry frequently sends important information and email reminders. If your application is returned for correction or you are randomly selected for audit, you will be notified by email and by a message in your account.
7. Retain your documentation.
   You must retain verification of attendance for all education submitted for at least 36 months. Failure to submit documentation when audited may result in denial of eligibility to recertify.

Key Deadlines and Late Fees

Most NREMT certifications expire on March 31 of odd-numbered years (EMT, AEMT, Paramedic). EMR certifications expire on September 30.
If the renewal application was not submitted prior to the March 31 deadline, the provider may pay a $50 late application fee and submit until April 30; however, all continuing education requirements must have been satisfied prior to March 31.

For EMRs:
if the recertification application was not received by the September 30 deadline, but all educational requirements were completed by September 30, individuals may seek reinstatement until October 31.

There is a $50 reinstatement fee in addition to the standard recertification fee.

NREMT Recertification vs. State Licensure: An Important Distinction

National Registry certification and state EMS licensure are separate credentials. Completing the National Registry’s recertification requirement does not automatically guarantee renewal of your state license.
Many states accept NREMT recertification as the basis for state license renewal, but some add their own topic mandates or hour requirements on top of the NCCP.

State-specific requirements vary widely. For details on individual states, see the CE Solutions state requirement guides for California EMS recertification and other states in the requirements-by-state library.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my NREMT certification expires before I complete my CE?

Once a certification lapses you cannot simply add hours and renew. Depending on how long it has been expired, the path back may involve a reentry process or retesting. Contact the National Registry directly to find out which applies to your situation.

Does completing NREMT recertification also renew my state EMS license?

Not automatically.
The NREMT encourages you to reference the specific license renewal requirements for every state in which you are licensed to practice.
Your state EMS office sets its own renewal rules, which may differ from the NCCP in both topic requirements and total credit hours. Check the NREMT State EMS Offices directory for direct links to each state agency.

Can I complete all of my NREMT recertification CE online?

Yes. Education can be gathered through online or in-person courses, and as of 2022 there are no limits on how much online education you can use on your application.
The course must still be CAPCE-accredited or state-accepted, and all content must be directly related to EMS patient care. Check with your state EMS office to confirm your state does not impose additional in-person requirements beyond the NCCP.

Ready to Get Started?

CE Solutions has provided EMS continuing education since 1997. Whether you need a full recertification package or just the national component core, all courses are available on demand with instant access and course completion certificates formatted for NREMT import. Create a free account today and complete your NREMT recertification requirements on your schedule.