Becoming an Emergency Medical Services Provider in Virginia

Emergency Medical Technicians or EMTs provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possess the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Emergency Medical Technicians function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Emergency Medical Technicians perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance. The Emergency Medical Technician is a link from the scene to the emergency health care system. The process of becoming an EMT in Virginia requires the following:

• Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the English language.
• Be a minimum of 16 years of age at the beginning date of the EMT course. If you are less than 18 years of age, you must provide your instructor with a completed parental permission form with the signature of a parent or guardian verifying approval for enrollment in the course.
• Have no physical or mental impairment that would render you unable to perform all practical skills required at the EMT level.
• Hold a current certification in an Office of Emergency Medical Services approved cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course by the end date of the EMT course (corequisite). This certification must also be current at the time of state testing.
• Not have been convicted of or found guilty of any crime, offense or regulatory violation, or participated in any other prohibited conduct identified in state EMS regulation 12VAC5-31-910.
• Be clean and neat in appearance.
• May not be under the influence of any drugs or intoxicating substances that impairs your ability to provide patient care or operate a motor vehicle while in class or performing clinicals, while on duty or when responding or assisting in the care of a patient.

Program Rankings Peer-to-Peer Benchmarking

• Emergency Medical Responder Performance  (EMR)
• Emergency Medical Technician Performance (EMT)
• Advanced EMT Performance (AEMT)
• Paramedic Performance (P)

The Office of Emergency Medical Services recognizes all current National Registry certifications for reciprocity.

Anyone coming into Virginia's EMS system with a current National Registry certification will be required to create an account on the Virginia EMS Portal and then make application for reciprocity electronically through the Portal.  You will be required to have the following documentation in a digital format in order to make your application for reciprocity.   A current:

• National Registry certification card
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card
• Driver's license or U.S. Passport

Do not begin the online application process until you have gathered all the necessary documentation in order to prevent your application from timing out.  A Quick Guide for How to Apply can be found by clicking here.  You should obtain your fingerprint background check as soon as possible after you make application through the EMS Portal. 

If already certified with the National Registry, you should not enroll in an initial certification program at the same level of your current certification.

Individuals seeking reciprocity should familiarize themselves with how to maintain their Virginia certification.  Please click here to see Virginia's recertification process.

For questions about reciprocity email Ms. Toni Twyman (toni.twyman@vdh.virginia.gov).

The Virginia Office of EMS will accept and consider application from providers with current EMS certifications from ANY state or U.S. territory for certification in Virginia at the EMT level only through Legal Recognition. Once granted, certification through Legal Recognition will be valid for a maximum of one calendar year OR the time left on the present certification, whichever is shortest.

No initial test is required for Legal Recognition. In order to recertify, providers must complete the required Virginia EMS continuing education criteria prior to their certification expiration date and successfully pass the Virginia practical and National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians cognitive examination.

Approval Process

1. Make application to the Office of EMS using the button below labeled "Click here to Apply."
2. Upon making application as a legal recognition candidate, the Office of EMS will assign you an alpha-numeric Virginia EMS number.

Gaining Eligibility

1. Once the approval e-mail is received, you will be certified as an EMT.  AFTER affiliating with a licensed Virginia EMS agency and under the direction of an endorsed EMS Physician, you can practice as an EMT.
2. You can now begin acquiring the required 40 hours using the assigned number (with the letter B in front of the number) to submit the training hours to our office.
3. After completion of the 40 hours you will be notified of eligibility to move to the testing process below through the Virginia EMS Portal.

The Examination Process

Once you have gained eligibility, you will need to complete the following items:

1. Register for and complete Virginia's Psychomotor Competency Verification.  Click this link for specific instructions regarding the testing requirements.
2. Register to take the National Registry EMT’s cognitive examination at a Pearson VUE Testing Center. National Registry will offer you up to six (6) opportunities to pass the cognitive examination however, after three unsuccessful attempts you would be required to do 20 hours of remedial education.

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), Physician Assistants (PAs) and Military Corpsmen can request to challenge the EMT certification exam.

Candidates seeking to challenge the EMT exam must complete an online application and submit digital copies of EMS credentials to the Division of Accreditation, Certification & Education of the Office of EMS.  Please do not begin the online application process until you have gathered all the necessary documentation in order to prevent your application from timing out.  A Quick Guide for How to Apply can be found by clicking here.

Approval Process

1. Make application to the Office of EMS using the button below labeled "Click here to Apply."
2. Upon making application as a challenge candidate, the Office of EMS will assign you an alpha-numeric Virginia EMS number.
3. You CANNOT begin earning CE until you have received notification that your Application for Challenge has been approved.
4. Once the approval e- mail is received, the applicant can begin acquiring the required 40 hours using the assigned number (with the letter B in front of the number) to submit the training hours to our office.
5. After completion of the 40 hours and being notified of testing eligibility.
6. Once you have gained eligibility, you will need to complete the following items in order:
   1. Register for and complete Virginia’s Psychomotor Competency Verification.
   2. Register to take the National Registry EMT’s cognitive examination at a Pearson VUE Testing Center. National Registry will offer you up to six (6) opportunities to pass the cognitive examination however, after three unsuccessful attempts you are required to do 20 hours of remedial education.

The Examination Process

Once you have gained eligibility, you will need to complete the following items:

1. Register for and complete Virginia's Psychomotor Competency Verification.  Click here to see a list of entities conducting competency verification exams.
2. Register to take the National Registry EMT’s cognitive examination at a Pearson VUE Testing Center. National Registry will offer you up to six (6) opportunities to pass the cognitive examination however, after three unsuccessful attempts you would be required to do 20 hours of remedial education.

EMT Challenge Application Process

You will be required to have the following documentation in a digital format in order to make your application for challenge. A current:

• Copy of your military medic card/nursing license/PA or NP license/medical license
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card
• Driver's license or U.S. Passport

For questions about reciprocity email Ms. Toni Twyman (toni.twyman@vdh.virginia.gov).