Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in New Hampshire
- Training hours
- —
- Upfront cost
- $104
- Exam
- NREMT EMT Cognitive and Psychomotor Examinations
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training & Emergency Medical Services (FSTEMS), Bureau of EMS
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. New Hampshire requires new and lapsed applicants to complete a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) release/fingerprint check through NH Criminal Records (per RSA 153-A:10-a), processed via LiveScan, with results sent directly to the Bureau of EMS (about 3 business days). No fixed minimum-age figure was found on the licensing page or application; notably, the official Provider License Application includes a 'Parent or Legal Guardian Signature' line, suggesting New Hampshire may license some applicants under 18, so minAge is left null rather than guessed at 18. Affiliation with an EMS Service Unit is explicitly NOT required to obtain a license. [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete training at a state-approved program. New Hampshire's provider-licensing process is built entirely on holding current NREMT certification (which itself requires completing an EMS education course and passing NREMT's exams) -- the Bureau of EMS's licensing page and provider application do not publish a fixed statewide classroom-hour figure for the EMT course itself. Left null rather than citing a third-party estimate. [1]
- 3
NREMT EMT Cognitive and Psychomotor Examinations
Pass the NREMT EMT Cognitive and Psychomotor Examinations (fee: $104). Cognitive: computer-adaptive test at Pearson VUE test centers or via OnVUE remote proctoring. Psychomotor: hands-on skills exam. New Hampshire's EMS Provider Licensing page and license application both require current NREMT certification for all levels of EMS Provider license -- New Hampshire does not run a separate state written exam for EMT. Fee shown is NREMT's published national cognitive-exam rate, paid to NREMT/Pearson. [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training & Emergency Medical Services (FSTEMS), Bureau of EMS. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training & Emergency Medical Services (FSTEMS), Bureau of EMS issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for New Hampshire.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | None specified |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | None specified |
| NREMT EMT Cognitive and Psychomotor Examinations [1] | $104 |
Neither the EMS Provider Licensing page nor the official Provider License Application (which collects applicant information, NREMT certification details, and a certification statement) list a state fee for individual EMT provider licensure, initial or renewal. (Fees do exist for EMS Unit licenses ($100) and EMS Vehicle licenses ($20), which are waived for nonprofit/municipal agencies, but those are organizational licenses, not the individual EMT provider license covered by this record.) Left null rather than guessed; the only individual-level costs identified are the background-check/fingerprinting process and the NREMT exam fee (recorded under exams).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 40 continuing education hours required per cycle.
The Bureau of EMS FAQ states: 'You must renew your EMS License every two years. If you let your EMS License lapse, then you must start the licensing process over.' The provider application supplement confirms Nationally Registered EMS Provider licensure is valid up to 2 years, expiring April 30 for NR EMT/AEMT/Paramedic (October 31 for NR EMR). Renewal requires current NREMT certification at the desired level (or higher) plus completion of any required Scope-of-Practice and Protocols programs on the Division's Online Learning Academy. A commonly cited EMT continuing-education figure for the 2-year NREMT cycle is 40 hours, consistent with NREMT's national recertification requirements.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
New Hampshire is not a current member of the EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) per the compact commission's own commissioners list (as of access date). New Hampshire's licensing page states the Division does not handle state-to-state license transfers directly, but because New Hampshire licensure for EMT is based entirely on holding current NREMT certification (not on where training occurred), an out-of-state EMT with active NREMT certification follows the same New/Lapsed License application process as an in-state applicant, including the New Hampshire-specific background check.
2 state-approved training providers in New Hampshire — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $104
Frequently asked questions
Does New Hampshire require NREMT certification for EMTs?
Yes. New Hampshire's EMS Provider License application requires current NREMT certification at the level applied for -- New Hampshire does not run a separate state written exam.
Are there state fees to become an EMT in New Hampshire?
No individual provider license fee is published for initial or renewal EMT licensure on the Bureau of EMS's licensing page or provider application. The main costs are the background-check/fingerprinting process and the NREMT cognitive exam fee (about $104, paid to Pearson VUE).
How often do New Hampshire EMTs need to renew their license?
Every 2 years. Nationally Registered EMT licenses expire April 30, and renewal requires current NREMT certification plus any required Scope-of-Practice and Protocols programs through the Division's Online Learning Academy.
Does New Hampshire require a background check for EMT licensure?
Yes, for new and lapsed applicants. New Hampshire requires a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) fingerprint check through NH Criminal Records, with results sent directly to the Bureau of EMS.
Can an EMT licensed in another state get licensed in New Hampshire?
Yes. Because New Hampshire licensure is based on holding current NREMT certification rather than where training occurred, an out-of-state EMT with active NREMT certification applies the same way as an in-state applicant, including New Hampshire's background check. New Hampshire is not a member of the EMS Compact (REPLICA).
Sources
- [1] fstems.dos.nh.gov/licensing/ems-provider-licensing — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] mm.nh.gov/files/uploads/fstems/documents/ems-provider-application.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12