Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in California
- Training hours
- 170 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $104
- Exam
- EMT Certifying Cognitive Examination, EMT Certifying Psychomotor Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), with certification issued locally by the county Local EMS Agency (LEMSA)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. 22 CCR Section 100079(b)(1)-(2): applicant must be 18 years of age or older and complete the State and Federal criminal history background check requirement (Live Scan fingerprinting per Article 4, Chapter 10 of Division 9); the certifying LEMSA must receive the background check results before issuing initial certification. Applicants must also disclose any prior/current certification or licensure actions, pending criminal investigations or charges, and prior convictions. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 170 hours of training (including 24 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Section 100074(a): 'The EMT course shall consist of not less than one hundred seventy (170) hours,' divided into a minimum of 146 hours of didactic instruction/skills laboratory plus a minimum of 24 hours of supervised clinical experience (including at least 10 documented patient contacts). High-fidelity simulation may replace up to 6 of the 24 clinical hours and up to 3 of the 10 patient contacts. California is structured as county-based certification on top of statewide minimum standards: the state Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) sets the Title 22 regulatory floor shown here, but the actual EMT course must be approved by, and the EMT certificate issued by, the county Local EMS Agency (LEMSA) with jurisdiction where the individual trains/certifies -- an EMT 'shall only be certified by one (1) certifying entity during a certification period' (Section 100079(g)). [1]
- 3
EMT Certifying Cognitive Examination
Pass the EMT Certifying Cognitive Examination (fee: $104). 22 CCR Section 100059 defines 'EMT Certifying Cognitive Examination' to mean 'the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT Cognitive Examination' -- California does not run a separate state cognitive exam; NREMT's exam is the certifying exam by regulatory definition. Fee shown is NREMT's national 2026 rate, paid to NREMT/Pearson VUE, separate from any LEMSA certification fee. [1]
- 4
EMT Certifying Psychomotor Examination
Pass the EMT Certifying Psychomotor Examination. 22 CCR Section 100059.1 defines 'Certifying Psychomotor Examination' to mean 'the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT Psychomotor Examination.' No separate NREMT-published national fee for the psychomotor component was found; it is typically coordinated through the candidate's training program, so left null. [1]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), with certification issued locally by the county Local EMS Agency (LEMSA). [1]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), with certification issued locally by the county Local EMS Agency (LEMSA) issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for California.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | None specified |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | None specified |
| EMT Certifying Cognitive Examination [1] | $104 |
| EMT Certifying Psychomotor Examination [1] | None specified |
22 CCR Section 100083: 'A LEMSA may establish a schedule of fees for EMT training program review approval, EMT certification, EMT renewal and EMT reinstatement in an amount sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of complying with the provisions of this Chapter.' There is no single statewide EMT certification/renewal fee -- each of California's ~60 county/regional LEMSAs sets its own fee schedule, so a single number would misrepresent the state; left null by design rather than guessed or averaged across counties. Prospective applicants must check the fee schedule of the specific LEMSA where they plan to certify.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.
22 CCR Section 100079(e)/100080: EMT certificates expire on the last day of the month two years from the effective date. Renewal requires either a 24-hour refresher course from an approved EMT training program, or 24 hours of continuing education from an approved CE provider, both within the 24 months prior to renewal, plus a skills-competency verification form (valid up to 2 years) and (when changing certifying LEMSA) a fresh State/Federal criminal background check. Starting from a specified 24-month phase-in date, first-time renewal also requires documented training in naloxone/opioid-antagonist administration, epinephrine auto-injector use, and glucometer use (waived if the individual holds a current CA Paramedic license or Advanced EMT certificate).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
22 CCR Section 100079(a) gives an out-of-state EMT several eligibility pathways for California certification without repeating the full CA course: (2) an out-of-state initial EMT training course meeting CA requirements plus passing the cognitive/psychomotor exams within 2 years, (3) a current valid out-of-state EMT certificate plus passing the cognitive/psychomotor exams within 2 years, or (4) simply possessing a current and valid National Registry (NREMT) EMT, Advanced EMT, or Paramedic registration -- which alone satisfies the training/exam prong. All routes still require the CA-specific application, background check, and county LEMSA certification (Section 100079(b)). California was NOT listed among the seated Member State commissioners on the EMS Compact Commission's own commissioners page (emscompact.gov/the-commission/commissioners) as of the accessed date, so compacts is left empty.
36 state-approved training providers in California — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $104
Frequently asked questions
Who actually issues an EMT certificate in California -- the state or the county?
Both play a role: the state Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) sets the statewide minimum training, exam, and renewal standards under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, but the EMT certificate itself is issued by the county Local EMS Agency (LEMSA) with jurisdiction where the applicant trains or certifies. An EMT is certified by only one LEMSA at a time.
How many training hours does California require to become an EMT?
A minimum of 170 hours: at least 146 hours of didactic instruction/skills lab plus at least 24 hours of supervised clinical experience with a minimum of 10 documented patient contacts (up to 6 clinical hours and 3 patient contacts may be replaced by high-fidelity simulation).
Does California require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?
Yes -- California's own regulation (22 CCR 100059 and 100059.1) defines the state's required cognitive and psychomotor exams as the NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination and NREMT EMT Psychomotor Examination respectively; there is no separate California-only exam.
How much does an EMT certificate cost in California?
There is no single statewide fee -- each county LEMSA sets its own fee schedule for training program approval, certification, renewal, and reinstatement, sized to cover its reasonable administrative costs. Check the specific LEMSA's fee schedule for the county where you plan to certify.
How often do California EMTs need to renew?
Every two years, with either a 24-hour refresher course or 24 hours of continuing education completed within the prior 24 months, plus a skills-competency verification form.
Sources
- [1] emsa.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2018/10/EMSA_Chapter_2.0_Emergency-Medical-Technician.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12