Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Provider Licensing Information

Applications and Forms

The following PDF forms are required for completing the application process. Please download and print forms.

Please return all applications to:

Department of Health
Customer Service Office
P.O. Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7877

Call our Customer Service Office at 360-236-4700 if you have questions about emergency medical services (EMS) certification.

Initial Certification – Applying for certification for the first time including upgrade, reciprocity, challenge and reversion
Expired Reactivation – Reissuance of an expired certification
Recertification – Renewal of certification
Instructors
Additional forms

Certification Requirements

Advanced emergency medical technician

Education

Successful completion of department approved advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT) course. Initial course completion certificate issued by the training program.

Applicant must possess a high school diploma or GED.

Postgraduate professional work experience

Applicants are required to be associated with one of the following:

  • An EMS agency licensed by the Department of Health (aid or ambulance service)
  • A law enforcement agency
  • Business with an organized industrial safety team
  • Senior EMS Instructors or coordinators teaching at department approved EMS training programs who are unable to be associated with approved agencies above.

Applicants must be recommended for certification by the physician medical program director (MPD) of the county in which the applicant will be working.

State license verification

Applicant lists all states where credentials are or were held, including where applicant has applied but a credential was not granted. A verification form must be completed and submitted by the jurisdiction where the applicant is or was credentialed. Applicant sends form to jurisdiction for completion. The jurisdiction sends completed form directly to the department.

Personal data questions

Applicant must answer the following personal data questions:

  • Physical and mental health status Lack of impairment due to chemical dependency/substance abuse
  • History of loss of license, certification or registration
  • Felony convictions
  • Loss or limitations of privileges
  • Disciplinary actions, professional liability claims history

An appropriate explanation and required documentation must be sent with positive answers. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint, and the settlement or final disposition. If pending, applicant must indicate status.

Additional information/documents required

  • Proof of age; must be 18 years of age or older to be certified per WAC 246-976-141
  • Copy of current AEMT course completion certificate
  • Successful completion of the AEMT certification examination including written and practical skills exams.

Examination is developed and administered by the National Registry of EMT's (NREMT). Applicant provides proof of successful completion of the NREMT exam.

Process for approving/denying applications

Credentialing staff review the application and supporting documents to make an initial determination of eligibility. The nursing education adviser and licensing manager review and approve applications with questionable verifying documents or otherwise “red flag” applications. Some applications are forwarded to discipline for review and a board member for decision. An applicant will be formally notified of a denial and has the opportunity for a hearing.

Renewal requirements

Advanced emergency medical technicians must renew their license every three years, coinciding with their supervisory EMS agency license expiration month. The licensee must satisfy continuing education requirements for re-certification including knowledge and skills competency. There are no fees charged for EMS recertification.

* Replaces Intermediate Life Support (ILS) and Intermediate Life Support-Airway (ILS-A) technician certifications.

Emergency medical responder

Education

Successful completion of department approved advanced emergency medical responder (EMR) course. Initial course completion certificate issued by the training program.

Postgraduate professional work experience

No professional work experience required

Applicants are required to be associated with one of the following:

  • An EMS agency licensed by the Department of Health (aid or ambulance service)
  • A law enforcement agency
  • Business with an organized industrial safety team
  • Senior EMS Instructors or coordinators teaching at department approved EMS training programs who are unable to be associated with approved agencies above

Applicants must be recommended for certification by the physician medical program director (MPD) of the county in which the applicant will be working

State license verification

Applicant lists all states where credentials are or were held, including where applicant has applied but a credential was not granted. A verification form must be completed and submitted by the jurisdiction where the applicant is or was credentialed. Applicant sends form to jurisdiction for completion. The jurisdiction sends completed form directly to the department.

Personal data questions

Applicant must answer the following personal data questions:

  • Physical and mental health status
  • Lack of impairment due to chemical dependency/substance abuse
  • History of loss of license, certification or registration
  • Felony convictions
  • Loss or limitations of privileges
  • Disciplinary actions, professional liability claims history

Applicant must answer personal data questions. An appropriate explanation and required documentation must be sent with positive answers. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint, and the settlement or final disposition. If pending, applicant must indicate status.

Additional information/documents required

  • Proof of age; must be 18 year of age or older to be certified per WAC 246-987-141.
  • Copy of current EMR course completion certificate
  • Successful completion of the emergency medical responder certification examination including written and practical skills exams. Examination is developed and administered by the National Registry of EMT's (NREMT). Applicant provides proof of successful completion of the NREMT exam

Process for approving/denying applications

Credentialing staff review the application and supporting documents to make an initial determination of eligibility. The nursing education adviser and licensing manager review and approve applications with questionable verifying documents or otherwise “red flag” applications. Some applications are forwarded to discipline for review and a board member for decision. An applicant will be formally notified of a denial and has the opportunity for a hearing.

Renewal requirements

Emergency medical responders must renew their license every three years, coinciding with their supervisory EMS agency license expiration month. The licensee must satisfy continuing education requirements for re-certification including knowledge and skills competency. There are no fees charged for EMS recertification.

Emergency medical technician

Education

Successful completion of department approved emergency medical technician (EMT) course. Initial course completion certificate issued by the training program.

Applicant must possess a high school diploma or GED.

Postgraduate professional work experience

Applicants are required to be associated with one of the following:

  • An EMS agency licensed by the Department of Health (aid or ambulance service
  • A law enforcement agency
  • Business with an organized industrial safety team
  • Senior EMS Instructors or coordinators teaching at department approved EMS training programs who are unable to be associated with approved agencies above.

Applicants must be recommended for certification by the physician medical program director (MPD) of the county in which the applicant will be working.

State license verification

Applicant lists all states where credentials are or were held, including where applicant has applied but a credential was not granted. A verification form must be completed and submitted by the jurisdiction where the applicant is or was credentialed. Applicant sends form to jurisdiction for completion. The jurisdiction sends completed form directly to the department.

Personal data questions

Applicant must answer the following personal data questions:

  • Physical and mental health status
  • Lack of impairment due to chemical dependency/substance abuse
  • History of loss of license, certification or registration
  • Felony convictions
  • Loss or limitations of privileges
  • Disciplinary actions, professional liability claims history

An appropriate explanation and required documentation must be sent with positive answers. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint, and the settlement or final disposition. If pending, applicant must indicate status.

Additional information/documents required

  • Proof of age; must be 18 years of age or older to be certified per WAC 246-976-141
  • Copy of current EMT course completion certificate
  • Successful completion of the EMT certification examination including written and practical skills exams.

Examination is developed and administered by the National Registry of EMT's (NREMT). Applicant provides proof of successful completion of the NREMT exam

Process for approving/denying applications

Credentialing staff review the application and supporting documents to make an initial determination of eligibility. The nursing education adviser and licensing manager review and approve applications with questionable verifying documents or otherwise “red flag” applications. Some applications are forwarded to discipline for review and a board member for decision. An applicant will be formally notified of a denial and has the opportunity for a hearing.

Renewal requirements

Emergency medical technicians must renew their license every three years, coinciding with their supervisory EMS agency license expiration month. The licensee must satisfy continuing education requirements for re-certification including knowledge and skills competency. There are no fees charged for EMS recertification.

Paramedic

Education

Successful completion of department approved paramedic training course. Applicants who graduated from paramedic training after June 30, 1996 are required to have graduated from a paramedic training program that is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Applicant must possess a high school diploma or GED.

Postgraduate professional work experience

Applicants are required to be associated with one of the following:

  • An EMS agency licensed by the Department of Health (aid or ambulance service)
  • A law enforcement agency
  • Business with an organized industrial safety team
  • Senior EMS Instructors or coordinators teaching at department approved EMS training programs who are unable to be associated with approved agencies above

Applicants must be recommended for certification by the physician medical program director (MPD) of the county in which the applicant will be working.

State license verification

Applicant lists all states where credentials are or were held, including where applicant has applied but a credential was not granted. A verification form must be completed and submitted by the jurisdiction where the applicant is or was credentialed. Applicant sends form to jurisdiction for completion. The jurisdiction sends completed form directly to the department.

Personal data questions

Applicant must answer the following personal data questions:

  • Physical and mental health status
  • Lack of impairment due to chemical dependency/substance abuse
  • History of loss of license, certification or registration
  • Felony convictions
  • Loss or limitations of privileges
  • Disciplinary actions, professional liability claims history

An appropriate explanation and required documentation must be sent with positive answers. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint, and the settlement or final disposition. If pending, applicant must indicate status.

Additional information/documents required

  • Proof of age; must be 18 years of age or older to be certified
  • Copy of current paramedic course completion certificate
  • Successful completion of the Paramedic certification examination including written and practical skills exams. Examination is developed and administered by the National Registry of EMT's (NREMT). Applicant provides proof of successful completion of the NREMT exam (WAC 246-976-141).

Process for approving/denying applications

Credentialing staff review the application and supporting documents to make an initial determination of eligibility. The nursing education adviser and licensing manager review and approve applications with questionable verifying documents or otherwise “red flag” applications. Some applications are forwarded to discipline for review and a board member for decision. An applicant will be formally notified of a denial and has the opportunity for a hearing.

Renewal requirements

Paramedics must renew their license every three years, coinciding with their supervisory EMS agency licensure month. Paramedics must satisfy continuing education requirements for re-certification including knowledge and skills competency. Paramedics may be required to successfully complete a protocol and skills knowledge assessment developed and administered by the Physician Medical Program Director of the County in which the applicant is working. There are no fees charged for recertification of the EMS credential. (WAC 246-976-144 and WAC 246-976-161).

Renewals

Renew online with EMS certification online

EMS Certification Online is accessed through SecureAccess Washington (SAW) security portal.

Getting started

To get started you must register with Secure Access Washington (SAW) and sign in to the Department of Health Online Application Portal. Please read Steps 1 and 2 completely before creating your account.

Step 1: Create a Secure Access Washington account.

Go to the Secure Access Washington (SAW) website.

Select "Create One." If you already have a SAW account, sign in with your user ID and password you previously created and continue to "Step 2" below.

Follow the steps to register. You'll create your own user ID and password for SAW.

The system will send you an email confirming your registration.

Select the link in the email that follows this statement: “To activate your new account, select the following link." This step is required to complete the registration process.

If you experience problems with the SAW site, contact Consolidated Technology Services (24 hours) at 888-241-7597 or email servicedesk@cts.wa.gov.

Step 2: create a link to EMS Certification Online

Login to your SAW account using your SAW user ID and password you previously created.

Select the “Add a New Service” link.

On the right column, select “I would like to browse a list of services”

Select ‘Department of Health'

Scroll to “EMS Online Certification”. Select “Apply.”

Click on “My Services” and choose “EMS Online Certification.”

Complete the one-time validation providing your credential number, date of birth and last 4 of your SSN.