Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Rhode Island
- Training hours
- 120 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $224
- Exam
- NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination, NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Emergency Medical Services
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. 216-RICR-20-10-2, Section 2.5(B) requires initial EMT applicants to be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and 'provide a biometric background check conducted within the last month' (i.e., no more than 30 days old at application). [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 120 hours of training at a state-approved program. Rhode Island EMT-Basic training programs run approximately 120 instruction hours (about 11 weeks) at Department of Health-approved training institutions. health.ri.gov returned HTTP 403 to this session's direct fetch tool, and a Wayback Machine snapshot was not obtainable in this environment either, so this figure was confirmed via search-engine-cached quotations of official/near-official Rhode Island EMT training sources rather than a direct read of the regulation text. [1]
- 3
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination
Pass the NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination (fee: $104). 216-RICR-20-10-2, Section 2.5(B) requires initial EMT licensure applicants to 'possess current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification pertinent to the level of licensure being sought.' Rhode Island's own EMT-Cardiac (AEMT-C) level is the only one examined directly by the Department of Health; the standard EMT-Basic and Paramedic levels use the NREMT exam. $104 is NREMT's current published national EMT cognitive exam fee. [2]
- 4
NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination
Pass the NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination. Required as part of NREMT certification, which 216-RICR-20-10-2 Section 2.5(B) requires for Rhode Island EMT licensure. No separate NREMT-published national fee for the psychomotor component was found; typically coordinated through the training program, so left null. [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Emergency Medical Services with the $120 application fee. [3]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Emergency Medical Services issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Rhode Island.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $120 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $120 |
| NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination [2] | $104 |
| NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination [2] | None specified |
Rhode Island's EMS personnel fee schedule (216-RICR-20-10, citing R.I. Gen. Laws Section 23-4.1-10(c) and Section 23-1-54) sets both the initial application fee and the renewal fee for EMT (and AEMT, AEMT-Cardiac) at $120.00 each; Paramedic and EMR are $80.00 each. There is no separate license-issuance fee distinct from the application fee, so license is left null to avoid double-counting. All fees are non-refundable.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 40 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Rhode Island EMT licenses are valid for 2 years. Under 216-RICR-20-10-2 Section 2.5(C)(3), EMTs licensed on or after January 1, 2012 must maintain current NREMT certification to renew; those licensed before January 1, 2012 may instead complete the Rhode Island Continued Competency Program (RI-CCP), which follows the standard NCCP hour structure (EMR 16, EMT 40, AEMT 50, Paramedic 60 hours).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Rhode Island licensure is built directly on current NREMT certification (216-RICR-20-10-2 Section 2.5(B)), so an out-of-state EMT who holds and maintains current NREMT certification and meets the same application requirements (background check, application fee) is generally eligible for Rhode Island licensure, functioning as a de facto reciprocity pathway rather than a separately codified 'endorsement' process; this session's fetch of the regulation text did not surface a distinct reciprocity section. Rhode Island was not listed among current member states on the EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) commission's own commissioners page (emscompact.gov/the-commission/commissioners) as of the accessed date, so compacts is left empty.
Cost calculator
- $120
- $104
Frequently asked questions
Does Rhode Island require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?
Yes. 216-RICR-20-10-2 requires initial EMT applicants to possess current NREMT certification, which means passing the NREMT cognitive exam ($104, via Pearson VUE) and the psychomotor skills exam.
How old do you have to be to become an EMT in Rhode Island?
At least 18 years old, with a high school diploma or equivalent required.
How much does it cost to get an EMT license in Rhode Island?
The initial application fee and the renewal fee are each $120.00, per Rhode Island's EMS personnel fee schedule.
Does Rhode Island require a background check for EMT licensure?
Yes. Applicants must provide a biometric background check conducted within the last month (no more than 30 days old) at the time of application.
How often do Rhode Island EMT licenses need to be renewed?
Every 2 years. EMTs licensed on or after January 1, 2012 renew by maintaining current NREMT certification; those licensed earlier may alternatively complete the Rhode Island Continued Competency Program (RI-CCP).
Sources
- [1] health.ri.gov/find/emttraining — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-20-10-2 — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-10-05-2 — accessed 2026-07-12