StateLicensed

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Florida

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$139
Exam
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination (Florida's 'department-required EMT Certification examination')
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. Neither Florida Statute 401.27 nor Florida Administrative Code Rule 64J-1.008 states an explicit minimum age for EMT certification (third-party training providers commonly self-impose an 18-year floor for program enrollment, but this is not a stated Department of Health requirement in the primary sources reached), so left null rather than guessed. Background screening is conviction-disclosure based rather than a universal fingerprint requirement: applicants with felony convictions must submit law-enforcement background checks from each jurisdiction where a felony occurred, court disposition documents, and a personal explanation for Department review under Rule 64J-1.017 ('Convicted Felons Applying for EMT or Paramedic Certification or Recertification'). Statute 401.27 also requires applicants to attest they are not addicted to alcohol or a controlled substance and are free from any physical/mental condition that would impair job performance. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Florida Statute 401.27 and Florida Administrative Code Rule 64J-1.008 both require completion of an approved basic life support training program equivalent to the U.S. DOT EMT-Basic National Standard Curriculum / January 2009 National EMS Education Standards, but neither the statute nor the rule text located states a fixed District-wide clock-hour minimum for the initial EMT course; hour figures around 110-130 hours appear only on third-party training-provider pages, not on an official Department of Health or Florida Administrative Code page reached during this research, so left null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination (Florida's 'department-required EMT Certification examination')

    Pass the NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination (Florida's 'department-required EMT Certification examination') (fee: $104). Rule 64J-1.008 requires Florida-trained candidates to 'take the department-required EMT Certification examination within 2 years of completing the initial Florida training program'; the Department's own licensing page confirms this is the NREMT cognitive exam ('must pass the NREMT cognitive exam for state licensure eligibility'). Fee shown is NREMT's national 2026 rate paid to Pearson VUE, separate from Florida's own statutory $40 examination-related fee (F.S. 401.34) collected by the state and reflected under fees.other. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification for Florida.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $35
Renewal fee [3] $20
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination (Florida's 'department-required EMT Certification examination') [2] $104
EMT Certification Examination fee (state, Florida Statute 401.34, deposited to the Medical Quality Assurance Trust Fund) [3] $40

Florida Statute 401.34 sets exact individual-personnel fees for EMTs: a $40 certification examination fee, a $35 fee for the original certificate, and a $20 renewal certificate fee paid biennially. No separate 'application' fee distinct from the original certificate fee was found, so left null. Volunteer EMS providers/unpaid personnel with volunteer organizations are statutorily exempt from these fees unless the licensee charges a service fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 30 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Florida Statute 401.27 requires biennial renewal, with EMTs completing 30 hours of refresher training every 2 years; the Department's own licensing page confirms this as a '30-hour refresher course that includes 2 hours in pediatric emergencies,' plus current CPR certification. Certificates all expire on the same statewide cycle date (March 1 of each odd-numbered year), rather than on an individual's personal anniversary date.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

The Department's own licensing page describes an endorsement pathway for out-of-state-trained applicants, who must submit proof of current NREMT certification; Florida also participates in the MOBILE (Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement) application process for qualifying applicants. Florida 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $35
  • $104
Total$139

Frequently asked questions

Does Florida require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?

Yes -- the Florida Department of Health's own 'department-required EMT Certification examination' (per Rule 64J-1.008) is the NREMT cognitive exam; Florida does not run a separate state-only cognitive exam.

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

Florida Statute 401.34 sets a $40 state certification examination fee, a $35 original certificate fee, and a $20 biennial renewal fee, separate from the $104 NREMT cognitive exam fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do Florida EMTs need to renew?

Every two years (biennially), with 30 hours of refresher training (including 2 hours in pediatric emergencies) and current CPR certification. All Florida EMT certificates expire on March 1 of each odd-numbered year.

Is there a minimum age to become an EMT in Florida?

Florida Statute 401.27 and the implementing administrative rule do not state an explicit minimum age for state EMT certification; individual training programs commonly require students to be at least 18, but that is a program policy rather than a stated Department of Health rule.

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

Yes -- out-of-state-trained applicants can apply for Florida certification by submitting proof of current NREMT certification, including through Florida's MOBILE (Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement) pathway. Florida is not a member of the EMS Compact (REPLICA).

Sources

  1. [1] flrules.elaws.us/fac/64j-1.008 — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] floridahealth.gov/licensing-regulations/regulated-professions/emergency-medical-technicians-and-paramedics/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm — accessed 2026-07-12