Washington EMT Renewal: CE and Paramedic Refresher Options

Getting ready for Washington EMT renewal or Washington paramedic renewal? Before choosing a continuing education package, find out which training method you follow and what you still need to complete. That makes it easier to choose useful courses, schedule skills evaluations, and keep your renewal on track.

CE Solutions offers CAPCE-accredited online EMS continuing education that fits around shift work and time away from the station. Here is how to plan your Washington EMT CE or paramedic refresher training, with a closer look at where online coursework fits. For an overview covering every certification level, visit our Washington EMS recertification requirements page.

Washington EMT Renewal Starts With Your Training Method

Washington recognizes two recertification methods: continuing medical education and examination, commonly called CME, and an ongoing training and evaluation program, or OTEP. Your agency training officer and county medical program director (MPD) can confirm the method and training plan that apply to you.

CME: Continuing Education and Examination

The CME pathway combines education with demonstrated knowledge and skills. Providers must complete a department-approved knowledge examination during the certification period, along with applicable skills requirements. Online CE can help you complete coursework within your approved plan; completing course exams alone does not replace the state-required examination.

OTEP: Training With Ongoing Evaluation

OTEP is a structured program approved by the county MPD and Washington Department of Health. It evaluates competency throughout training. Because OTEP is competency-based, its class hours can differ from the hour totals used for other education methods. Coordinate any outside coursework with your OTEP program before enrolling.

Choosing Washington EMT CE Online

The best starting point for Washington EMT CE is your remaining training needs. Compare completed courses with your approved plan, then choose education that fills the gaps.

Washington requires MPD approval of training content. CAPCE accreditation helps identify accredited EMS education, while your MPD-approved plan determines how that education fits your Washington renewal.

Before choosing a package, ask your training officer:

• Which topics do I still need to complete?
• Which online courses fit our approved training plan?
• What skills evaluations or local training should I schedule?
• When does the agency need my completion records?

CE Solutions provides self-paced courses with 24/7 access and certificates after successful course completion. You can work through your education on a schedule that suits you and keep your certificates organized for review.

Planning Your Washington Paramedic Renewal

Washington paramedic renewal takes advance planning, especially when you are balancing a substantial CE workload with agency training and clinical responsibilities.

Under WAC 246-976-161(5), when a competency-based education delivery method is not used, the education requirement per certification period is 30 hours for EMTs and 150 hours for paramedics. These figures should not be presented as a universal hour requirement for every OTEP participant.

Break your remaining coursework into manageable sessions. For example, 60 outstanding hours spread across six months means planning for approximately 10 hours each month. Add your skills appointments and agency deadlines to the same calendar so they receive the same attention as your online coursework.

Paramedics also have specific airway education and annual psychomotor requirements. Keep those activities in your training plan alongside your CE courses.

Washington Paramedic Refresher: Choose the Right Type of Training

A Washington paramedic refresher may serve a specific purpose within your renewal plan. Before enrolling, identify whether you need additional state CME, a formal refresher course, or education for National Registry recertification.

Washington DOH publishes a 45-hour paramedic refresher course schedule. Its guidance explains that the course can count toward Washington CME education and covers the national and state content portions of NREMT NCCP recertification. It does not include the additional 15 hours of individual NCCP content.

The guidance permits online delivery of the educational content, while skills must be performed in person and evaluated by a state-approved EMS evaluator. Providers using the refresher toward Washington CME renewal still need the required cognitive assessment.

Use the course description and your training plan together when comparing options. A package labeled “refresher” needs to match the purpose you are buying it for.

Washington Renewal and NREMT Recertification

If you also maintain National Registry certification, track it separately from your Washington credential. NREMT uses a two-year recertification cycle. Its continuing education pathway requires 40 credits for EMTs or 60 credits for paramedics, divided among national, local/state, and individual components.

Some coursework may fit both plans, but check the subject requirements, completion dates, and applicable approvals for each. A completed NREMT package does not automatically establish that every Washington renewal requirement has been met.

CE Solutions offers separate state recertification and NREMT education options. Compare EMS continuing education packages based on the credential you are renewing and the education you still need.

A Practical Washington EMT and Paramedic Renewal Checklist

1. Check your credential. Confirm your expiration date and your agency's internal deadline.
2. Review your training plan. Confirm whether you follow CME or OTEP and identify unfinished education.
3. Choose your courses. Match your online CE to the topics and approvals in your plan.
4. Complete evaluations. Arrange the knowledge examination and skills requirements that apply to your pathway.
5. Organize your records. Keep certificates and skills documentation together. Washington requires providers to retain these records for at least seven years.
6. Complete the renewal process. Coordinate your agency and MPD documentation, then follow the Washington DOH renewal instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can online CE be part of Washington EMT renewal?

Yes. Online education can be part of your approved training plan. Confirm course acceptance with your training officer or MPD and complete the separate knowledge and skills requirements for your renewal method.

Is a Washington EMT refresher the same as an NREMT package?

The labels alone do not establish equivalence. Washington publishes a 30-hour EMT refresher schedule, while NREMT's EMT continuing education pathway requires 40 credits across its three NCCP components. Compare the actual course content and intended purpose before choosing a program.

Does a 45-hour paramedic refresher complete Washington renewal?

It can contribute toward the education portion of CME renewal. Your complete plan may also include additional education, skills verification, the required knowledge examination, and renewal paperwork.

Reviewed October 28, 2026. Sources: Washington education and skills rules, CME requirements, OTEP requirements, renewal procedures, DOH refresher resources, DOH rulemaking updates, and National Registry EMT and paramedic recertification guidance.