Frequently Asked Questions

Pursuant to rules 401.25, 64J-1.002, 64J-1.003, Florida Administrative Code, every person, firm, corporation, association or governmental entity owning or acting as an agent for the owner of any business or service, which furnishes, operates, conducts, maintains, advertises, engages in, proposes to engage in or professes to engage in the business or service of providing pre-hospital or interfacility advanced life support services or basic life support transportation service, must be licensed as a basic or advanced life support ambulance service, before offering such service to the public.

The requirements are listed on the application for BLS or ALS ambulance licensure. The following is a partial list of the major requirements: Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) from the county commission in the county you wish to operate your service, a medical director (licensed Florida physician) with a Department of Justice-Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration (DEA registration is required for ALS only), vehicle liability insurance, trauma transport protocols and an approved radio communication system. Approval of a radio communication system is completed by Department of Management Services (DMS)-Information Technology Program. Contact DMS for more information on EMS radio communication systems.

Pursuant to section 401.25(7)(a), Florida Statutes, BLS vehicles are required to have, at a minimum, an emergency medical technician (EMT) attending the patient and a driver meeting the requirements in section 401.281, Florida Statutes. Pursuant to section 401.25(7)(b), Florida Statutes, ALS vehicles are required to have, at a minimum, a paramedic attending the patient and an EMT. Pursuant to section 401.252, Florida Statutes, Inter-facility ambulance staffing is based on the patient's condition as determined by the medical director. Aircraft-prehospital air ambulances are required to have, at a minimum, one paramedic.

Pursuant to section 401.281, Florida Statutes, and rule 64J-1.005, Florida Administrative Code, every person, firm, corporation, association or governmental entity owning or acting as an agent for the owner of any business or service, which furnishes, operates, conducts, maintains, advertises, engages in, proposes to engage in or professes to engage in the business or service of transporting by air ambulance, must be licensed as an air ambulance service, before offering such service to the public.

The requirements are listed on the application for AIR ambulance licensure. The following is a partial list of the major requirement: Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) from the county commission in the county you wish to operate your prehospital service, a medical director (licensed Florida physician) with a Department of Justice-Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration (prehospital only), aircraft vehicle liability insurance, trauma transport protocols and an approved radio communication system. Approval of a radio communication system is completed by DMS-Division of Telecommunication. Contact DMS for more information on EMS radio communication systems.

An ambulance driver must meet the following requirements: is at least 18 years of age;
certifies under oath that he or she is not addicted to alcohol or any controlled substance, and is free from any physical or mental defect or disease that might impair their ability to drive an ambulance;
upon initial designation as a driver, has not within the past three years, been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance and has not had a driver's license suspended under the point system provided for in Chapter 322, Florida Statutes. Successfully completed a 16-hour course of instruction on driving an authorized emergency vehicle, which includes, at a minimum, classroom and behind the wheel training. Rule 64J-1.013, Florida Administrative Code for details on the 16-hour course content. Possess a valid American Red Cross or National Safety Council first aid course or its equivalent; and possess a valid American Red Cross or American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation card. Reference section 401.281, Florida Statutes and Rule 64J-1.013, Florida Administrative Code.

Pursuant to Section 401.34, Florida Statutes
$660.00 for a BLS license
$1,375.00 for an ALS and Air license
$25.00 for each vehicle or aircraft you permit under your license.
The license and vehicle permits are issued for two years.

Yes, vehicles and aircraft must be permitted under your service license before operating them.
Florida Administrative Code

Vehicles are permitted either BLS, ALS or dually permitted. Once permitted at that level, the vehicle must be operated at all times at that level with the required staffing and equipment.

Yes, when it is necessary for a permitted vehicle/aircraft to be out of service for routine maintenance or repairs, a substitute vehicle/aircraft meeting the same transport capabilities and equipment specifications as the out of service vehicle/aircraft may be used for a period of time not to exceed 30 days. An unpermitted vehicle/aircraft cannot be placed into service, nor can a BLS vehicle be used at the ALS level unless it is replacing a vehicle that has been temporarily taken out of service for maintenance. When such a substitution is made, the following information shall be maintained by the licensee and shall be accessible to the department:

• identification of permitted vehicle/aircraft taken out of service;
• identification of substitute vehicle/aircraft; and,
• the date on which the substitute vehicle/aircraft was placed into service, the date on which it was removed from service and the date the permitted vehicle/aircraft was returned to service.

The permit WILL expire at the same time your license does.