Paramedic CE Requirements 2027: How to Meet Your NREMT Recertification Before Your Deadline
Paramedics recertifying with the National Registry in 2027 must complete 60 hours of continuing education under the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP). Those 60 hours divide into three components: 30 national, 15 local or state, and 15 individual. All education must be CAPCE-accredited or accepted by a state EMS office, and certifications expire on March 31, 2027.
What the NREMT Requires for the 2027 Recertification Cycle
If your National Registry Paramedic certification expires March 31, 2027, now is the time to understand your continuing education requirements.
The structure is set by the 2025 NCCP model, which
the National Registry began using for EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics on April 1, 2025, meaning providers recertifying during the 2026 to 2027 season should use the current model when reviewing their National Component requirements.
The Paramedic NCCP requires a total of 60 hours of continuing education to recertify. The model requires continuing education in three components: a national component, a local or state component, and an individual component.
The Three NCCP Components at a Glance
- National Component (30 hours, 50% of total):
Topics in the national component reflect current trends in evidence-based medicine, scope of practice changes, and position papers from associations involved with EMS research.Paramedics are required to complete 30 hours of approved continuing education in this component. - Local or State Component (15 hours, 25% of total):
The local component constitutes 25% of the total recertification requirements. Specific topic requirements may be defined by your state, region, or local agency. - Individual Component (15 hours, 25% of total):
Registrants are free to take any state or CAPCE-approved EMS-related education
to fulfill this portion, giving you the most flexibility of the three components.
The full breakdown is published on the NREMT National Continued Competency Program page.
What Education Counts Toward Paramedic CE in 2027
The NREMT accepts state EMS office-accepted and CAPCE-accredited education, and all education must be directly related to EMS patient care.
CE from a provider that holds neither CAPCE accreditation nor state approval will not count toward your NREMT recertification and may not count toward state renewal either, leaving you with a gap you will need to fill before your deadline.
CAPCE is an accrediting body charged with the review and accreditation of EMS continuing education.
You can confirm a provider’s accreditation status directly at capce.org before enrolling.
CAPCE has noted instances of various continuing education providers who falsely represent that they are accredited by CAPCE,
so verify, do not just take a provider’s word for it.
Courses that cannot be applied toward NREMT recertification include several common activities.
Duplicate courses, clinical rotations, instructor courses, management and leadership courses, performance of duty, preceptor hours, serving as a skill examiner, and volunteer time with agencies
do not count.
For a deeper look at accepted education types, see the CE Solutions CAPCE accreditation overview.
Online vs. In-Person: Does It Matter?
The National Registry permanently removed limits on distributive education, meaning qualifying online education can be used for the entire continuing education requirement, provided the courses otherwise meet National Registry recertification requirements.
That means
a paramedic can complete all 60 continuing education credits online, provided that the education meets National Registry requirements, such as being CAPCE-accredited, accepted by a State EMS Office, or qualifying through another accepted education pathway.
Your State License May Have Separate Requirements
NREMT recertification and state licensure are two different processes. Satisfying the National Registry’s 60-hour NCCP requirement does not automatically renew a state paramedic license. Many states impose their own topic mandates, minimum hour counts, or approval rules on top of the NREMT baseline.
Check your state EMS office directly for state-specific requirements. The California EMS recertification requirements page is one example of how state rules can diverge from the NREMT baseline. For a broader look at state-by-state obligations, the NREMT Recertification page also links state-specific guidance.
Step-by-Step: How to Complete Your Paramedic CE for 2027
- Log in to your NREMT account and confirm your expiration date.
Paramedic certifications expire on March 31 of the expiration year.
Know your exact date before planning your CE schedule. - Review your NREMT transcript.
Review your National Registry transcript, determine which NCCP requirements remain incomplete, and choose qualifying continuing education that fills those requirements. - Choose CAPCE-accredited courses.
Choosing CAPCE-accredited courses is the most reliable way for paramedics to satisfy both NREMT and state recertification requirements from a single source. - Cover your national component topics first. The 30-hour national component has specific topic requirements. Fill those before completing local and individual hours so you are not left with mandatory topics unfinished near your deadline.
- Address your state and local component.
Some states mandate specific topics
within the local component. Confirm your state’s requirements with your state EMS office before selecting courses. - Complete skills verification.
Skills verification is part of the recertification application. For AEMT and Paramedic levels, your Medical Director must approve the skills verification. - Submit your NREMT recertification application. Enter your education and supporting documentation in your NREMT account.
Keep all recertification supporting documentation for at least three years. The National Registry is required to conduct random audits of applications. - Do not let your certification lapse.
If you allow your certification to expire, the re-entry process typically requires completing the CE requirements for your level within a recent timeframe and, in some cases, retaking cognitive and skills examinations.
For support on the re-entry pathway, the CE Solutions NREMT recertification resource walks through both active and re-entry options.
Frequently Asked Questions: Paramedic CE Requirements 2027
How many CE hours does a paramedic need for 2027 NREMT recertification?
The Paramedic NCCP requires a total of 60 hours of continuing education to recertify.
Under the current model, a paramedic needs 60 total credits, including 30 national, 15 local, and 15 individual.
Can I complete all 60 paramedic CE hours online?
Yes.
A Paramedic can complete all 60 continuing education credits online, provided that the education otherwise meets National Registry requirements, such as being CAPCE-accredited, accepted by a State EMS Office, or qualifying through another accepted education pathway.
What happens if my NREMT paramedic certification expires before I finish my CE?
If you allow your certification to expire, the re-entry process typically requires completing the CE requirements for your level within a recent timeframe and, in some cases, retaking cognitive and skills examinations.
Plan to complete all requirements and submit your application well before the March 31, 2027 deadline to avoid this situation.
Start Your Paramedic CE Today
CE Solutions has provided CAPCE-accredited EMS continuing education to paramedics across the country since 1997.
CE Solutions provides CAPCE-accredited online continuing education for EMS professionals, including Paramedic-level courses that can be used toward applicable National Registry recertification requirements.
Create your free account, browse the Paramedic CE catalog, and start completing your 2027 hours at your own pace. Sign up for free and start your paramedic CE now.
