StateLicensed

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Pennsylvania

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
150 hrs
Upfront cost
$104
Exam
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination, EMT Practical (Psychomotor) Skills Test
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, pass a criminal background check. 28 Pa. Code Section 1023.25(b)(1)(ii) sets the minimum age for EMT certification at 16 years or older -- notably younger than most states. Per Pennsylvania EMS Information Bulletin 2025-09, effective January 1, 2026, all individuals obtaining an initial EMS certification (or reinstating an expired one) must submit an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history background check no more than 90 days old at the time of a complete application submission; applications submitted without one are returned unprocessed. The source PDF bulletin was not machine-readable by this session's fetch tool, so this fact was confirmed via search-engine-cached quotations of the official pa.gov bulletin. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 150 hours of training at a state-approved program. 28 Pa. Code Section 1023.25(b)(1)(iii) requires successful completion of a Department-approved EMS provider educational course for EMTs; multiple secondary sources describing the current Pennsylvania curriculum cite a minimum of approximately 150 hours (most programs run 3-4 months). The regulation text itself (read directly from pacodeandbulletin.gov) specifies the approved-course requirement but not a single codified hour figure in this section, so the 150-hour figure should be treated as the commonly cited program length rather than a number pulled directly from the statute text. [1]

  3. 3

    NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination

    Pass the NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination (fee: $104). 28 Pa. Code Section 1023.25(b)(1)(v) requires passage of 'a written examination for EMT certification prescribed by the Department'; the Department's own EMS FAQ confirms this has been the NREMT cognitive exam (via Pearson VUE Testing Centers) since the transition completed January 1, 2014, replacing the prior state-written exam. $104 is NREMT's current published national EMT cognitive exam fee; the PA EMS FAQ describes only a separate 'nominal administrative fee' paid to NREMT on top of this, with no distinct PA Department of Health exam fee identified. [1]

  4. 4

    EMT Practical (Psychomotor) Skills Test

    Pass the EMT Practical (Psychomotor) Skills Test. 28 Pa. Code Section 1023.25(b)(1)(vi) requires passage of 'a practical test of EMT skills for EMT certification prescribed by the Department.' No separate published fee for this component was found beyond course tuition, so left null. [1]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Pennsylvania.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] None specified
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination [1] $104
EMT Practical (Psychomotor) Skills Test [1] None specified

The Department of Health's EMS FAQ describes only a 'nominal administrative fee' payable to the NREMT as part of the certification-exam application; no separate Pennsylvania state application, certification or renewal fee is published on the Department's EMS pages, so application/license/renewal are left null rather than assumed to be zero. (The FAQ page itself is currently served only from a Commonwealth staging host, so the citation above points to the Department's live EMS section.)

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

28 Pa. Code Section 1023.31: EMTs must complete 24 continuing education credits in subjects related to the EMT scope of practice over a 3-year registration period, with at least 18 of those credits in clinical patient care and other core CE courses, plus a CPR course completed or taught biennially (every 2 years).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA).

Pennsylvania offers a 'Certification by Endorsement' pathway through the EMS Registry for applicants holding a current NREMT credential or an active EMT certification from another state: applicants must submit an Out of State EMS Provider Verification Form for every state in which they have or had an EMS certification, and submit a background check no more than 90 days old at the time of a complete application. Pennsylvania adopted the EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) via 2022 Act 45 (signed July 7, 2022, the 22nd member state) and is confirmed as a current member state on the compact commission's own state page (emscompact.gov/the-commission/commissioners/pennsylvania) as of the accessed date; compact member-state EMTs may work in PA under a Privilege to Practice without full state certification.

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

Cost calculator

  • $104
Total$104

Frequently asked questions

Does Pennsylvania require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?

Yes. Since transitioning away from a state-written exam on January 1, 2014, Pennsylvania requires the NREMT cognitive exam (via Pearson VUE), plus a Department-prescribed practical skills test, after completing an approved EMT course.

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

16 years of age or older, per 28 Pa. Code Section 1023.25(b)(1)(ii) -- notably younger than most states' EMT minimum age.

Does Pennsylvania require a background check for EMT certification?

Yes, as of a January 1, 2026 rule change: all individuals obtaining an initial or reinstated EMS certification must submit an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history background check no more than 90 days old at the time of a complete application.

How often do Pennsylvania EMT certifications need to be renewed?

Every 3 years, requiring 24 continuing education credits (at least 18 in clinical patient care/core courses) plus biennial CPR renewal, per 28 Pa. Code Section 1023.31.

Is Pennsylvania part of the EMS Compact (REPLICA)?

Yes. Pennsylvania joined the EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact in 2022 (Act 45), and is a confirmed current member state, allowing qualified EMTs from other member states to work in PA under a Privilege to Practice.

Sources

  1. [1] pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] pa.gov/agencies/health/healthcare-and-public-health-professionals/ems — accessed 2026-07-27
  3. [3] pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] emscompact.gov/the-commission/commissioners/pennsylvania — accessed 2026-07-12