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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Licensing

Contact Information Full

Customer Contact CenterOfficeMailing Address
  •  

    Florida Department of Health, EMT/Paramedic Certification

    4052 Bald Cypress Way 

    Bin C-85 

    Tallahassee, FL 32399-6330

Applications and Fees (Regular Mail)
  •  

    Florida Department of Health

    P.O. Box 6330 

    Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330


Notice to Paramedic Students!

The State of Florida uses the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examination for its cognitive examination; NREMT requires all paramedic students graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited Paramedic program (or an education program that has been issued a CoAEMSP "Letter of Review") that meets or exceeds the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards for Paramedic. Students that enter a paramedic program that is not accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) will not be eligible for national EMS certification through the NREMT, reciprocity in states that require national EMS program accreditation, or State of Florida Paramedic Certification.

If in doubt, check them out: https://www.caahep.org/students/find-an-accredited-program.

  • Emergency Medical Technician
  • Paramedic
  • Emergency Allergy Treatment
  • Exam and Fees
To be eligible for Florida EMT certification, an applicant must:
  • Submit a completed application
  • Submit proof to the Certification Unit of meeting the required professional education in one of the four following ways:
    • Florida Training - Successful completion of EMT course from a Florida Department of Health approved program within two years of passing the examination. You must submit a copy of the course completion certificate. If your course was taken more than two years before you passed the examination it will not be accepted;

  or

  • Out-of-State Trained - You must submit proof of current NREMT certification.
         or
  • FL Paramedic Certification - A Florida certified paramedic may use his/her paramedic certificate, provided that it is current and in good standing, to satisfy the professional education requirements for certification as an EMT. You must indicate your current paramedic certificate number for us to verify your certification and standing.
  • NOTE: If you were initially trained in Florida, received Florida licensure/certification, but did not maintain the license/certification (null and void), you may apply by Out of State Certification

Submit a copy of one of the following to the Certification Unit:

  • An American Red Cross CPR for Professional Rescuer card;

or

    • An American Heart Association BLS for the Healthcare Provider;
       or
  • Within 2 years after program completion have passed an examination developed or required by the department;
    • Florida Trained applicants that have not passed the NREMT, must apply to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) at www.nremt.org to take the examination. 
    • Applicants that were not trained in Florida and do no hold a current NREMT certification must also apply to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) at www.nremt.org to take the examination.

Criminal History Information
Felony Status - If you have ever been convicted of, pled no contest to, regardless of adjudication, to a crime in any jurisdiction, you will be required to submit the following documentation:

Once all required documents are received, your file will be sent for review. The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the certification office; however, the staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Crimes that cannot be cleared by staff will be sent to the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services for review.


ADA Accommodations
If you need special testing accommodations for the EMT exam please contact the NREMT at (614) 888-4484.

Your scores will be available within 7 - 14 days of your test date. No scores are mailed. Your license will be issued within 30 days of the receipt of a passing score, if all other licensure requirements are met.

Florida trained applicants must pass the required examination within two years of the course completion date. If the applicant is unsuccessful in passing the exam during the above mentioned timeframe, the applicant will be required to retake his or her training course.

To be eligible for Florida Paramedic certification, an applicant must:
  • Submit a completed Application
  • Possess a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) diploma
  • Submit proof to the Certification Unit of meeting the required professional education in one of the following ways:
  • Florida Training - Successful completion of a paramedic course from a Florida Department of Health approved program within two years of passing the examination. You must submit a copy of the course completion certificate. If your course was taken more than two years before you passed the examination it will not be accepted;
or
  • Out of State Certification – You must submit proof of current NREMT certification; 
              or
  • Health Professional Licensure – A Florida licensed physician, physician assistant, dentist, or registered nurse may apply for certification as a paramedic and subsequently challenge the paramedic exam, provided he/she holds a Florida EMT certificate which is current and in good standing  and has successfully completed an advance cardiac life support course. You must indicate your current EMT certificate number for us to verify your certification and standing.
    • NOTE: If you were initially trained in Florida, received Florida licensure/certification, but did not maintain the license/certification (null and void), you may apply by Out of State Certification
  • Submit a copy of one of the following to the Certification Unit:

  • Within 2 years after program completion have passed an examination developed or required by the department;
    • Florida trained Paramedics must take the NREMT examination.
    • NREMT Examination:  You do not need to apply to the Department of Health for an Authorization to Test. You may schedule your examination directly with the NREMT.
      • Please note that you will still need to submit an application for certification along with your application fee before you may receive your state certification. If you do not pass the NREMT examination, you are not required to apply to the Department to retake the examination.

Criminal History Information
Felony Status - If you have ever been convicted of, pled no contest to, regardless of adjudication, to a crime in any jurisdiction, you will be required to submit the following documentation:

Once all required documents are received, your file will be sent for review. The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the certification office; however, the staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Crimes that cannot be cleared by staff will be sent to the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services for review.

Requirements for Certification and Recertification

You must:
  • Be 18 years of age or older:
  • Have or reasonably expect to have as a result of occupation or volunteer status, responsibility for at least one other person who has severe adverse reactions to insect stings; and
  • Successfully complete, within the previous 2 years, a training program that meets the requirements listed below.
  • Complete both pages of the application.



Training Requirements
You must successfully complete a training program from a nationally recognized organization https://www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/ems-system/emergency-allergy-treatment-training-program.html (American Red Cross) or experienced in training laypersons in emergency health treatment or a provider approved by the Department of Health.

Fees
The fee for initial certification or renewal is $25. You may apply online at www.flhealthsource.gov or mail your application and a cashier’s check or money order payable to the Department of Health. Fees are not refundable.

Please mail completed application and fee to:

Department of Health
EMT/PMD/Rad Tech Certification Office
PO Box 6330
Tallahassee FL 32314-6330

Recertification Certificates
All certificates expire on March 1 of each odd-numbered year. A renewal notice will be mailed to your address of record approximately 90 days prior to the expiration date.

All in-state and out-of-state/military trained EMT and Paramedic applicants must meet the exam or certification requirements for licensure in the state of Florida. In-state applicants will meet these requirements by examination, while out-of-state/military-trained applicants will meet these requirements by possessing current NREMT certification.

Exam/Certification Requirements

Florida trained EMT applicants: You must pass the NREMT cognitive exam in order to be eligible for state licensure.

Florida trained Paramedic applicants: You must pass the NREMT cognitive exam (prior approval from the state for testing is not required) to be eligible for state licensure.

Out-of-state/military-trained EMT and Paramedic applicants: You must have (or earn) current NREMT certification before or during the application process to be eligible for state licensure.

*All applications are good for 1 year from the date you apply.

License Fees
Fees must be submitted with your application and request for exam scheduling. Fees are payable to Department of Health or Medical Quality Assurance (MQA). Application fees are non-refundable. A money order or cashier's check should be submitted.

Emergency Medical Technician Fees
Certification Application Fee$35.00
Exam Fee$80.00 (payable to NREMT)
Refresher Equivalent Exam Fee$80.00 (payable to NREMT)

Paramedic Fees
Certification Application Fee$45.00
Exam Fee$125.00 (payable to the vendor)

Make checks or money orders payable to the "Department of Health". Applicants and licensees are responsible for the fees outlined in applicable board or department rule at the time an application is received.