EMS Recertification Requirements, Hours and CE Courses
Everything EMRs, EMTs, AEMTs, and paramedics need to renew a National Registry certification and a state license, plus CAPCE accredited continuing education you can finish online at your own pace.
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What EMS Recertification Means
EMS recertification is the process of renewing your credential before it expires. For most providers that means two separate things happening on two separate clocks:
National certification
Issued by the National Registry of EMTs. Renewed on a two year cycle using the National Continued Competency Program, known as the NCCP model.
State license or certification
Issued by your state EMS office. Each state sets its own hour totals, renewal window, and required topics. Some states accept the NCCP model outright, others do not.
Meeting one does not automatically meet the other. Check both before you start banking hours. Our state by state EMS recertification requirements pages break down what each state office expects.
NREMT Recertification Hours by Level
The NCCP model splits your continuing education into three components: a national component covering topics set by the National Registry, a local component set by your agency or medical director, and an individual component you choose based on your own practice.
| Level | National | Local | Individual | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMR | 8 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| EMT | 20 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
| AEMT | 25 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 50 |
| Paramedic | 30 | 15 | 15 | 60 |
If your agency does not assign local hours: the National Registry allows the local component to be completed through approved continuing education instead. Verify the current policy on the NREMT recertification page before you assume it applies to you.
When Your Certification Expires
National Registry certifications run on a two year cycle that ends March 31. The renewal window opens well before that date, and hours completed inside your current cycle are what count. Waiting until March is the single most common reason providers end up scrambling or lapsing.
State renewal dates are separate and often tied to your original license date rather than a shared calendar deadline. Pull both dates now and put them somewhere you will see them.
How to Recertify, Step by Step
- Confirm your expiration datesLog in to your National Registry account and your state EMS portal. Write down both dates.
- Pull the requirement list for bothNational hours follow the NCCP model. State hours follow your state office. Note any state specific mandatory topics such as pediatrics, airway, or jurisprudence.
- Confirm your provider is CAPCE accreditedHours from a provider that is not accredited may be rejected. CE Solutions is a CAPCE accredited provider.
- Complete your coursesWork through them online at your own pace. Certificates are issued as you finish, and your transcript stays in your account.
- Submit before the deadlineUpload or report your hours to the National Registry and your state, then keep your certificates for the audit window your state requires.
Recertify with CE Solutions
CAPCE accredited
Courses are accredited through CAPCE, so the hours are accepted by the National Registry and by state offices that recognize CAPCE credit.
Built for the NCCP model
Courses are mapped to NCCP components so you can see which requirement each one satisfies instead of guessing.
Fully online, self paced
Start on a shift, finish at home. Progress saves, and certificates are available the moment you complete a course.
Transcripts that stay put
Every certificate you earn stays in your account, so an audit years later is a login rather than a paperwork hunt.
Fire and EMS in one place
Providers carrying both credentials can cover EMS and fire continuing education from the same account.
Agency and department accounts
Training officers can enroll a crew, assign courses, and track completion across the department.
Browse recertification courses
Packages and Pricing
Pick the package that matches what you are renewing. Every package is valid for one recertification period and expires when you finish the included hours or after one year, whichever comes first.
National Registry (NREMT) packages
| Package | Level | Covers | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 Hour Recertification Program | EMR, EMT | National, local or state, and individual components | $219 |
| 60 Hour Recertification Program | AEMT, Paramedic | National, local or state, and individual components | $319 |
| NCCP Core, up to 20 hours | EMR, EMT | National component only. Includes 8 EMR and 20 EMT hours | $169 |
| NCCP Core, up to 30 hours | AEMT, Paramedic | National component only. Includes 25 AEMT and 30 Paramedic hours | $259 |
| 24 Hour Remedial Program | EMR, EMT | Required after a third unsuccessful NREMT exam attempt | $219 |
Core only or full package? Choose a Core package if your agency or medical director already covers your local and individual hours. Choose a full 40 or 60 hour program if you need every component in one place.
State recertification packages
| Package | Level | Covers | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Fire and EMS, Advanced | AEMT, EMT-I, Paramedic | Up to 160 EMS CEUs and 36 Fire CEUs | $179 |
| Full Fire and EMS, Basic | ECA, EMR, EMT | Up to 100 EMS CEUs and 36 Fire CEUs | $159 |
| 24 Hour EMS Package | All EMS levels | Up to 24 EMS CEUs | $109 |
Fire only packages and specialty courses are listed on the full pricing page. Training officers renewing a crew should look at department rates.
EMS Recertification Questions
How many CE hours do I need to recertify?
Under the National Registry's NCCP model the totals are 16 hours for EMR, 40 for EMT, 50 for AEMT, and 60 for paramedic, split across national, local, and individual components. Your state may require a different total, so check both.
Can I complete all of my recertification hours online?
Distributive, meaning online, continuing education is accepted for National Registry recertification when it comes from an accredited provider. Some states cap how much of their requirement can be completed online, and skills verification is handled separately. Check your state office before planning an all online cycle.
What happens if my certification expires?
Once a National Registry 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, and contact your state office separately about your license.
Does CAPCE accreditation matter?
Yes. The National Registry accepts continuing education from CAPCE accredited providers, and many state offices do as well. Hours from an unaccredited source may not be counted, which is a difficult problem to discover during an audit. CE Solutions is a CAPCE accredited provider.
Do national and state requirements count as the same hours?
Often the same course satisfies both, but not always. States that require specific topics or a specific number of hours in a subject may not be fully covered by an NCCP aligned plan. Build to whichever requirement is stricter.
How long does recertification take?
That depends on your level and how much time you can give it. An EMT needing 40 hours who does two hours a week finishes comfortably inside a cycle. Courses are self paced, so most providers spread them out rather than block them together.
What does it cost?
National Registry packages run $169 to $319 depending on your level and whether you need the NCCP core only or every component. State recertification packages start at $109. Full details are in the pricing tables above and on the pricing page.
Get Your Hours Done Early
CAPCE accredited EMS continuing education, online and self paced, from a provider that has been doing this since 1997.
Start recertifying Find your state requirementsLast reviewed: July 2026. Requirements change. Always confirm current rules with the National Registry of EMTs and your state EMS office.
