EMT Certification in Ohio

The state of Ohio mandates the students to undergo an EMT coursework accredited by the Department of Transportation to secure EMT certificate. It is mandatory for the aspirants to follow the NREMT standards. The National Registry of EMTs provides licenses to those, who have successfully completed the program curriculum, and qualified the psychomotor, as well as cognitive examinations. The EMT curriculum in Ohio is somewhat different from other states of the United States.

The most important thing to be kept in mind is that an EMT-B candidate of another state, who holds only NREMT certification and wants to practice emergency medical care in the state of Ohio, needs to go through an additional program coursework. He/she will also have to learn advanced airway management procedures. After mastering these skills, the candidate can acquire EMT-B certificate in Ohio.

Requirements for EMT Certification


Every state has some set criteria to evaluate the candidate’s skills and knowledge. In Ohio also, the applicants have to meet these criteria to get certified as an Emergency Medical Technician.

General Requirements

  • Completion of EMT program from a state-acknowledged institute is the foremost requirement.
  • Attainment of the age of 18 years or above is compulsory.
  • In order to get a certification at the national level, all the students have to qualify the test, conducted by the NREMT.
  • They also have to show proof of their US citizenship.
  • An applicant is ought to have enough stamina to lift 120 pounds.
  • It is essential for the applicants to carry authenticated driving license.
  • All the students have to pass a drug test, as well as a background check.
  • GED or diploma in high school is a must to apply for the EMT certification.
  • You must be capable of understanding English language.
  • Fingerprint reports are required to be submitted and you also need to undergo various immunizations.

Special Requirements

  • The application fees must be paid along with the application.
  • The state practical examinations are mandatory to clear.

EMT Certification Process

In Ohio, to obtain an EMT certificate and license, the applicants are required to go through the following steps:

1. EMT Program

The basic requirement to become eligible for obtaining a license is to complete the program coursework. In Ohio, the EMT program is offered at four levels, i.e. EMT-B, EMT-I, AEMT, and EMT-P.  You need to get program at that level at which, you want to get certified.

2. Application for National Certification

Once qualifying the EMT exams, the candidate becomes eligible for applying for national certification. The procedure for application is explained below:

  • The first step is to create your own account on http://www.nremt.org/ by clicking on “Create New Account” option.
  • The next step is to click on “Create New Application” option.
  • When the online application procedure is finished, the applicants have to pay the fees. However, they can also opt to make the payment later.
  • Candidates have to check the application status by signing into their account and clicking on “Check Initial Entry Application Status”.
  • After clicking, if “Submitted” option is visible next to “Course Completion Verification” option, it’s the indication that the program specified by you has received your information, but the director of the education program has yet to authorize it.
  • If the option of “Not Submitted” appears next to “Application Payment” option, then it means that the payment of fees is due, and the candidate will receive the ATT letter only after paying the fee.
  • You will see “Print ATT Letter” option on the screen after submitting the fee and getting verified.
  • Get a print out of ATT letter and schedule the examination.


3. Background Check

The candidates will have to pass a background check after taking the examinations.

4. Applying for a License

The last step in the certification process is to apply for a license. The students can fill the application online at https://www.dps.state.oh.us/certrenewal/main.aspx. It is essential for the applicants to carefully read the instructions and furnish all the necessary details. If the application is incomplete and incorrect, it will be rejected. The students are also required to enter their class ID and password as per the guidelines provided by the program director.

Renewal Process of EMT Certification

It is the responsibility of the candidates to renew their license before the expiration. In the state of Ohio, a candidate needs to satisfy some essential requirements to get an Emergency Medical Technician certificate, which are:

  • You must be presently associated with a fire-fighting center, rescue center, or EMS agency.
  • All the required information in the application must be filled completely.
  • You should submit your application before 30th September of the year when the certificate is going to expire.
  • You have to complete continuing education hours to exhibit constant cognitive proficiency.

Continuing Educational Hours for EMTs

  • First Responder (FR): To get certified at this level, you will have to complete the continuing education of 15 hours.
  • EMT-B (EMT-Basic): It is inevitable to complete 40 hours of continuing education, which includes 6 hours of pediatrics, 8 hours of trauma management, and 2 hours of geriatrics. The applicants also need to complete transportation and trauma triage protocols recognized by the NREMT.
  • EMT-I (EMT-Intermediate): 60 hours of continuing education are required for certification at this level.
  • EMT-P (EMT-Paramedic): It is essential to finish 86 hours of continuing education that include 4 hours of geriatrics, 12 hours of pediatrics, 6 hours of emergency cardiac care, and 8 hours of trauma issues.

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