StateLicensed

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Connecticut

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
150 hrs
Upfront cost
$104
Exam
NREMT EMT Cognitive (Written) Examination, Connecticut OEMS Psychomotor (Practical) Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, pass a criminal background check. DPH's certification page states an applicant must be at least 16 years old, with a parental consent form required for applicants under 18 -- notably younger than most states' 18-year minimum. OEMS reviews criminal history as part of certification and makes a separate determination on granting certification based on the severity/type of any conviction, but the sources reached did not confirm whether this involves mandatory fingerprinting versus a disclosure-based review, so backgroundCheck is recorded as true (a review process exists) without asserting a specific fingerprint-card mechanism. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 150 hours of training at a state-approved program. Connecticut DPH's own EMT Certification by Examination page states applicants must complete 'a minimum of 150 hours (including written and practical examinations)' through an OEMS-approved EMT training program. [1]

  3. 3

    NREMT EMT Cognitive (Written) Examination

    Pass the NREMT EMT Cognitive (Written) Examination (fee: $104). Must be passed within 2 years of course completion; candidates get 6 testing opportunities in that window, and the 4th and subsequent attempts require proof of 40 hours of continuing education. [1]

  4. 4

    Connecticut OEMS Psychomotor (Practical) Examination

    Pass the Connecticut OEMS Psychomotor (Practical) Examination (fee: $0). Five stations, each evaluated individually to demonstrate patient care skills; results are reported pass/fail without performance detail. Connecticut requires a 'Connecticut OEMS approved psychomotor examination' rather than relying on NREMT's own psychomotor exam -- a state-specific distinction confirmed on DPH's own certification page. Must be passed within 2 years of course completion. DPH's certification fee table lists $0.00 for initial certification by examination. [1]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) with the $0 application fee. Typical processing time: 4-6 weeks from when OEMS has received all required documentation. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Connecticut.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $0
License fee [2] $0
Renewal fee [2] $0
NREMT EMT Cognitive (Written) Examination [1] $104
Connecticut OEMS Psychomotor (Practical) Examination [1] $0

The official DPH OEMS Licensure/Certification/Exams page publishes a fee table showing '$00.00' for initial certification by examination, endorsement-based certification, renewal/relicensure, and reinstatement -- i.e. Connecticut currently charges no state fee for EMT certification at any stage. This directly conflicts with a third-party CE-vendor claim of a $155 renewal fee found during this research; the official DPH page is preferred per source-priority rules, but this should be spot-checked at verification time given the size of the discrepancy.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 40 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Since January 1, 2020, Connecticut EMT certifications are valid for 2 years, timed to match the EMT's NREMT certification expiration (NREMT certifications expire biennially on March 31). Renewal requires either 40 hours of continuing education as required by NREMT, or maintaining current NREMT certification. Applicants get a 3-month grace period after the expiration date to complete renewal. As of January 1, 2022, renewal applicants must also show completion, at least once in the previous 6 years, of Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Training or at least 2 hours of DPH-approved training on screening for PTSD, suicide risk, depression/grief, and suicide prevention.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

DPH's OEMS Licensure/Certification/Exams page confirms Connecticut offers an endorsement pathway for EMTs holding out-of-state certifications, with no additional state fee. Connecticut 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, though news coverage reported Connecticut had recently enacted EMS Compact legislation; recheck as participation may activate later in 2026.

1 state-approved training provider in Connecticut — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

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Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Connecticut require to become an EMT?

A minimum of 150 hours, including the written and practical examinations, through an OEMS-approved EMT training program.

Does Connecticut require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?

The cognitive (written) exam is the NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination, but the hands-on component is a Connecticut-specific OEMS psychomotor exam (five skill stations) rather than NREMT's own psychomotor exam.

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

At least 16 years old; applicants under 18 need a parental consent form.

How much does it cost to get an EMT certification in Connecticut?

Connecticut's official DPH fee table currently lists $0.00 for initial certification, endorsement, renewal, and reinstatement -- there is no state certification fee, separate from the $104 NREMT cognitive exam fee paid to Pearson VUE.

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

Yes, through endorsement based on the applicant's out-of-state credentials, with no additional DPH fee.

Sources

  1. [1] portal.ct.gov/dph/emergency-medical-services/licensing--certificaton/emt-certification-by-examination — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] portal.ct.gov/dph/emergency-medical-services/ems/oems---ems-licensurecertificationexams — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] portal.ct.gov/dph/emergency-medical-services/licensing--certificaton/emt-renewalrecertification — accessed 2026-07-12