StateLicensed

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Colorado

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$104
Exam
NREMT EMT Cognitive and Psychomotor Examinations
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Emergency Medical and Trauma Services (EMTS) Branch

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. 6 CCR 1015-3, Section 5.2.1: 'Applicants for initial certification shall be no less than 18 years of age at the time of application.' Section 5.2.2(A): fingerprint-based criminal history record check required, via the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for applicants who have lived in Colorado more than 3 years, or via the FBI (through CBI) for applicants who have lived in Colorado 3 years or less; applicants who already completed a CBI check for a prior Colorado certification are generally not required to repeat it. Evidence of lawful presence in the United States is also required. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. 6 CCR 1015-3 (Colorado's EMS Provider certification rule) requires completion of a Department-recognized EMT education program but the text of the rule chapter obtained does not codify a fixed statewide clock-hour minimum for the EMT course itself (unlike some other states); it instead governs program recognition (didactic/lab/clinical elements, instructor qualifications, 5-year program recognition renewal). Third-party sources cite approximately 150 hours, but that figure was not confirmed on an official CDPHE or Code of Colorado Regulations page, so left null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NREMT EMT Cognitive and Psychomotor Examinations

    Pass the NREMT EMT Cognitive and Psychomotor Examinations (fee: $104). 6 CCR 1015-3, Section 5.2.2(B): an initial certification applicant must submit 'evidence of current and valid certification from the NREMT at or above the EMS Provider level being applied for.' Colorado does not run its own separate cognitive or psychomotor exam -- current NREMT certification is itself the qualifying credential for Colorado state certification. Fee shown is NREMT's national 2026 cognitive-exam rate; NREMT does not publish a separate national fee for the psychomotor component. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Emergency Medical and Trauma Services (EMTS) Branch. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Emergency Medical and Trauma Services (EMTS) Branch issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Colorado.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] None specified
NREMT EMT Cognitive and Psychomotor Examinations [1] $104

6 CCR 1015-3 sets a $23.00 fee specifically for provisional (temporary/interim) certification (Section 5.4.2(C)(1)), but the standard initial-certification and renewal fee amounts for EMT-level EMS Provider certification are not stated in this rule chapter; CDPHE collects them through its online OATH application/PayPort system rather than publishing a dollar figure on the certification or fee-payment pages reached during this research. Left null rather than citing unverified secondary-source figures.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 36 continuing education hours required per cycle.

6 CCR 1015-3, Section 5.3.1(D): 'All certificates renewed by the Department shall be valid for three (3) years from the date of issuance.' Renewal requires either (1) current and valid NREMT certification at or above the level being renewed (in which case NREMT's own national recertification cycle governs continuing education, not a separate Colorado hour count), (2) a Department-recognized refresher course, or (3) a minimum of 36 hours of continuing education (Section 5.3.3(A)(1)) completed/approved through a Department-recognized EMS education program representative, with skill competency attested by a medical director or program representative.

Reciprocity

No reciprocity or endorsement route was found. Participates in: EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA / EMS Compact).

CDPHE's own EMS provider reciprocity page states plainly: 'Colorado does not have a reciprocity process for EMS providers. All first-time applicants must be registered with the NREMT at their intended level of practice. Another state's EMS provider license or certification does not allow you to practice in Colorado.' In practice, since NREMT certification is nationally portable, an out-of-state NREMT-registered EMT qualifies through the same standard initial-certification pathway as any first-time applicant (fingerprints, CPR card, NREMT verification) rather than through a distinct endorsement track -- so endorsementAvailable is set to false to reflect Colorado's own characterization. Separately, Colorado IS a confirmed current member state on the EMS Compact Commission's own commissioners page, which provides a distinct multistate practice-privilege mechanism for compact-member-state personnel that does not require full Colorado certification.

4 state-approved training providers in Colorado — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $104
Total$104

Frequently asked questions

Does Colorado require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?

Yes -- Colorado requires current NREMT certification at the EMT level as the qualifying exam credential; the state does not administer its own separate cognitive or psychomotor exam.

How old do you have to be to become an EMT in Colorado?

At least 18 years of age at the time of application, per 6 CCR 1015-3, Section 5.2.1.

How often do Colorado EMTs need to renew?

Every three years. Renewal can be satisfied with a current NREMT certification, a Department-recognized refresher course, or a minimum of 36 hours of continuing education.

Can an EMT certified in another state get certified in Colorado?

Colorado states it 'does not have a reciprocity process for EMS providers' -- another state's certification alone does not grant practice rights. All first-time applicants, including those moving from another state, must hold current NREMT certification at their intended practice level and complete Colorado's standard initial certification steps (fingerprint-based background check, CPR card, NREMT verification). Colorado is also a member of the EMS Compact (REPLICA), which offers a separate multistate practice-privilege option for personnel from other compact member states.

Sources

  1. [1] sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] cdphe.colorado.gov/bulk-ems-provider-certification-fee-payment — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] cdphe.colorado.gov/emergency-care/emergency-medical-services/ems-providers/ems-provider-certification/ems-provider — accessed 2026-07-12