Planning your Arizona paramedic continuing education starts with one question: which credential are you renewing? The answer determines whether you should be planning for 48 or 60 CE hours.

This guide explains those differences so you can choose an appropriate course plan. For information covering EMTs and AEMTs as well, visit our Arizona EMS recertification requirements page.

Arizona Paramedic CE Hours at a Glance

Sources: ADHS certification and recertification overview, Arizona Administrative Code R9-25-404, and the NREMT recertification model. These are education totals; each renewal pathway also has application and credential requirements.

When Is the 48-Hour Arizona State Route Appropriate?

The state CE-attestation route may fit a paramedic who is maintaining Arizona certification without a critical care endorsement and does not need to maintain National Registry certification for employment or other professional plans.

Under R9-25-404, the education must have been completed within the previous two years and cover topics consistent with the applicable refresher course. This pathway also requires current adult, pediatric, and infant CPR certification and current advanced emergency cardiac life support certification.

Check your agency's expectations before selecting a package. A state renewal pathway does not determine whether an employer requires you to maintain additional credentials.

Keeping NREMT? Plan Your Courses Around the NCCP

If you intend to renew National Registry paramedic certification through continuing education, use the NREMT paramedic recertification requirements to organize your coursework. The total must be distributed across the National Continued Competency Program's national, local/state, and individual components.

Review your transcript by component before buying more courses. A large total can still leave an unmet topic requirement. Ask your training officer about assigned local education and identify the remaining gaps.

Arizona accepts documentation of current National Registry certification at the applicable level as a recertification pathway. You still need to submit your Arizona renewal application. Completing an NREMT CE package alone does not renew either credential.

Critical Care Endorsement Needs Its Own Review

The critical care row in the comparison applies specifically to Arizona's CE-attestation route for continued endorsement. If you instead use the national-certification pathway, Arizona requires current national critical care paramedicine certification in addition to the applicable national EMS certification.

Review your endorsement and specialty credential together before enrolling. A general paramedic CE package should not be assumed to satisfy every requirement for a critical care renewal.

Can You Complete Arizona Paramedic CE Online?

Online courses can be used for continuing medical education, according to the ADHS EMS & Trauma Portal FAQs. ADHS distinguishes online CE from an official traditional refresher course, so confirm which pathway you are using.

NREMT also allows qualifying education to be completed online without a distributive-education limit. Active NREMT renewal still requires agency affiliation and skills verification. Arrange those steps separately from your online coursework.

For a busy shift schedule, start with a weekly study target. For example, a provider beginning a 48-hour plan could reserve six hours per week over eight weeks. Leave additional time before expiration for any remaining credential or application tasks.

Choose an Arizona Paramedic CE Package That Fits Your Plan

CE Solutions offers a 48 EMS CEU package for $149 for eligible Arizona AEMTs and paramedics. Its hour total matches the standard Arizona state CE route for those levels. When selecting courses, make sure your completed education includes the required pediatric content.

Our CAPCE-accredited online EMS education offers self-paced access, a mobile-friendly platform, and course completion certificates. If you are maintaining National Registry certification, compare our NREMT recertification programs with your remaining NCCP requirements.

Have your credential level, renewal date, and completed CE record available when choosing a program. That makes it easier to identify whether you need a full plan or education to fill specific gaps.

Finish the Application Step

Arizona's regular renewal application window opens 90 days before your certification expires. Submit through the Arizona EMS & Trauma Portal and check your application status afterward. CE-attestation applicants must retain supporting documentation for at least three years after applying.

Set a personal completion date before expiration. Keep your course certificates and current credential records together so you can resolve a missing document without searching through multiple accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the five pediatric hours additional to the state CE total?

No. Arizona includes the pediatric emergency care hours within the required CE total. Identify those courses in your records rather than treating pediatrics as an extra five hours.

Does a 48-hour package renew my NREMT paramedic certification?

No. NREMT paramedic renewal by CE requires 60 hours across the applicable NCCP components. Individual courses may contribute toward that total when they meet NREMT's requirements.

Does purchasing CE submit my Arizona renewal?

No. Purchasing and completing coursework are separate from submitting your state application. Verify your renewal status through ADHS.

Requirements reviewed October 15, 2026. Confirm the requirements for your credential and renewal pathway with ADHS and, when applicable, NREMT before finalizing your course plan.