An EMT refresher course helps EMTs review patient-care knowledge and complete continuing education for renewal. Before choosing a course, it helps to answer one question: do you need the 20-hour National Component, or do you need all 40 hours of NREMT continuing education?
CE Solutions offers both options: a 20-hour EMT NCCP Core package for $169 and a 40-hour NREMT EMT recertification package for $219. This guide explains the difference, how online education fits into renewal, and what to check before enrolling.
How many hours is an EMT refresher course?
The length of an EMT refresher depends on the purpose of the course. A national Core refresher covers one part of recertification, while a full continuing education package includes all three NCCP components.
Under the National Continued Competency Program, or NCCP, EMTs recertifying through continuing education need the following:
| NCCP component | EMT hours | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| National | 20 | Education addressing the National Registry's required national topics. |
| State or local | 10 | Education addressing requirements established by your state or local agency, where specified. |
| Individual | 10 | Eligible education selected around your patient-care learning needs. |
| Total | 40 | All three continuing education components. |
A 20-hour EMT refresher covering the national component is therefore only part of the full requirement. You still need the state or local and individual hours, whether you earn them through your agency, another accepted source, or a complete recertification package.
Can you take an EMT refresher online?
Yes. The National Registry allows all required continuing education to be completed online. It no longer limits the amount of online education used toward recertification. The education must still qualify for credit and meet the appropriate component requirements.
CE Solutions is a CAPCE-accredited provider offering self-paced, on-demand education with 24/7 access. Courses include video and text-based material, and completion certificates are available after you successfully complete the course requirements.
Online coursework addresses the education portion of renewal. Active-status skills verification and any separate state or agency requirements still need attention. Review the National Registry's EMT recertification requirements alongside your state requirements when planning your courses.
20-hour Core or 40-hour EMT recertification: which should you choose?
Start with the education you already have. Review your completed courses and ask your training officer which remaining hours your agency will provide. Then compare the two CE Solutions EMT recertification options:
| Package | Included EMT education | Price |
|---|---|---|
| EMT NCCP Core | 20 hours covering the national component. | $169 |
| NREMT EMT Recertification | 40 hours covering the national, state or local, and individual components. | $219 |
Choose the Core package if you have the other components covered and need the national hours. For example, your agency might provide the required local education while you earn eligible individual hours through other training.
Choose the 40-hour package if you want education for all three components in one program. At $50 more than the Core package, it is worth comparing the full option before arranging another 20 hours elsewhere.
Whichever option you select, check for specific local topics your agency requires. A package's total hours do not replace a local protocol update or other specifically assigned training.
Does an EMT refresher also meet state renewal requirements?
National Registry certification and state authorization to practice are separate credentials. Their deadlines, required topics, and renewal procedures may differ.
Some of your continuing education may apply to both, but do not assume a national refresher automatically satisfies every state requirement. Start with our EMS continuing education requirements by state, then confirm any questions with your state EMS office.
If you are renewing only a state credential, establish that state's requirements before buying an NREMT package.
How to plan your EMT refresher and finish renewal
- Check your certification dates. Look up your current NREMT cycle and state expiration date before building your schedule.
- Review the education you have completed. Sort eligible courses into the appropriate components to see where you still need hours.
- Select your package. Match your purchase to the gaps in your education record.
- Complete the coursework and save your certificates. With CE Solutions, read or watch the course material, complete the required assessment, and keep the resulting documentation.
- Finish the renewal application. Review your National Registry application, complete any required verification, and monitor its status until your renewal is approved.
Make the schedule realistic. For example, setting aside four hours a week creates a ten-week plan for 40 hours of coursework. That is a planning example, not a completion guarantee; leave additional time for assessments, documentation, and application review.
When should you complete your EMT refresher?
NREMT EMT recertification is due by March 31 of your expiration year. Check the date in your own account rather than assuming you renew every March. Education must fall within your eligible certification cycle.
Plan to finish before the final week so you can address missing records or application corrections. The National Registry's April reinstatement period does not provide an extra month to earn the required education. See its recertification dates and time periods for details.
EMT refresher frequently asked questions
Is an EMT refresher the same as an initial EMT course?
No. A refresher provides continuing education for people who already have EMT training. If you are becoming an EMT for the first time, you need the appropriate initial education and certification pathway.
Can training from my department count toward recertification?
It can, when the education meets the National Registry's acceptance and documentation requirements. Working a shift or responding to calls does not, by itself, earn continuing education credit. Keep records of qualifying training and check how it applies to your remaining components.
How long do I have access to my CE Solutions package?
Packages are valid for one recertification period and expire when you complete the included hours or after one year, whichever comes first. Your certification deadline may arrive sooner, so plan around both dates.
What if my EMT certification has already expired?
Confirm your renewal or reentry pathway with the National Registry and your state EMS office before enrolling. A standard refresher package should not be assumed to satisfy every requirement for regaining an expired credential.
Does finishing the course automatically renew my NREMT certification?
No. Completing education is one step. You must also finish the applicable renewal process and receive confirmation of approval. Keep an eye on your account for requests for corrections or supporting documentation.
Find the EMT refresher option that fits your renewal
CE Solutions has provided EMS continuing education since 1997. Whether you need the 20-hour EMT Core package for $169 or the 40-hour NREMT EMT recertification package for $219, you can complete your coursework online around your schedule.
Compare EMT refresher and recertification packages or create your CE Solutions account to get started.
