StateLicensed

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Tennessee

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$229
Exam
Board-Approved EMT Written Examination, Board-Approved EMT Practical (Psychomotor) Examination
Renewal cycle
—
Issuing board
Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Emergency Medical Services (Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Board)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or GED (or a high school senior eligible for dual enrollment who will turn 18 within 90 days, for certain training-entry pathways), pass a criminal background check. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(3)(a) requires all EMS personnel applicants to be at least 18 years old, read/write/speak English, hold a high school diploma or GED, have no documented history of habitual intoxication/drug misuse within the past 3 years affecting ability to practice, pass a medical examination attesting to physical/emotional fitness, and disclose any criminal convictions (other than minor traffic violations). Applicants must also cause a criminal background check to be submitted directly from the Division's identified vendor, valid for one year from when it is obtained. [2]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(3)(a)6 requires applicants to successfully complete Board-approved Tennessee training for the EMT level, then pass both a Board-approved written and practical examination -- the rule does not itself state a fixed statewide clock-hour minimum for the EMT course, deferring instead to the current National EMS Education Standards for the program's content. No separate Division-published hour figure was located, so left null rather than guessed. tn.gov 404s non-browser fetch tools; this rule text was retrieved from the Tennessee Secretary of State's own rule-publication host (publications.tnsosfiles.com), which loaded directly without needing a Wayback snapshot. Tennessee restructured this section of tn.gov and retired the page previously cited; the citation above is its current location. [1]

  3. 3

    Board-Approved EMT Written Examination

    Pass the Board-Approved EMT Written Examination (fee: $104). Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(3)(a)7 requires applicants to pass a Board-approved written and practical examination for the level of licensure requested, within two years of completing training. Tennessee satisfies the written-exam requirement through NREMT cognitive certification. $104 is NREMT's own published national EMT cognitive-exam fee; verify current pricing directly with NREMT before publishing a verified page. [2]

  4. 4

    Board-Approved EMT Practical (Psychomotor) Examination

    Pass the Board-Approved EMT Practical (Psychomotor) Examination. Required alongside the written exam under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(3)(a)7. No separate published Division fee for the practical component was found; typically coordinated through the training program, so left null. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Emergency Medical Services (Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Board) with the $50 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Emergency Medical Services (Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Board) issues your Licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Tennessee.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $50
License fee [3] $75
Renewal fee [3] $65
Board-Approved EMT Written Examination [2] $104
Board-Approved EMT Practical (Psychomotor) Examination [2] None specified
Reciprocity fee (out-of-state applicants) [3] $100
Late renewal fee [3] $25
Reinstatement fee [3] $100
Returned check fee [3] $20

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.06(4) sets EMT-Basic fees at $50 application / $75 license / $65 renewal (current as of the April 2024 rule revision). The $100 reciprocity fee, $25 late fee, $100 reinstatement fee, and $20 returned-check fee are from the Department's own EMS Professional Fees form (PH-2397, Rev 3-2019), retrieved via a Wayback Machine snapshot dated 2024-06-10 since tn.gov 404s this session's direct fetch tool for that specific asset; the original tn.gov URL is kept as sourceUrl per the source rules.

Renewal & continuing education

Renewal cycle not specified. 20 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(4) requires EMT license renewal via either a Board-approved renewal examination or completion of twenty (20) Board-approved continuing education contact hours (or a minimum of two Division-approved college credit hours in EMT-related studies) before the expiration date of the license cycle. The rule text reviewed states the CE-hour requirement explicitly but does not itself state the renewal cycle's length in years in the sections read by this session, so cycleYears is left null rather than assumed; TN's EMT renewal fee (distinct from the initial license fee) confirms a recurring renewal cycle exists.

Reciprocity

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

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(5) allows reciprocity for applicants who hold current out-of-state/federal EMS certification or licensure, or a current NREMT credential at the requested level, or who completed training based on the National EMS Education Standards -- reciprocity applicants must still pass Tennessee's Board-approved written and practical exams, submit the application and fee (including a separate $100 reciprocity fee per the PH-2397 fee form), and complete the same criminal background check as initial applicants. The Tennessee EMS Board's own website lists an 'EMS Compact' resource page, and Tennessee is listed as a current member state on the EMS Compact Commission's own member-state page (emscompact.gov).

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

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $75
  • $104
Total$229

Frequently asked questions

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

At least 18 years old, per Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(3)(a), which also requires a high school diploma or GED and the ability to read, write, and speak English.

Does Tennessee require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?

Tennessee requires applicants to pass a Board-approved written and practical examination for the EMT level, which the state satisfies through NREMT cognitive and psychomotor certification, after completing a Board-approved EMT training program.

How much does it cost to become an EMT in Tennessee?

The Department's rule sets a $50 application fee and $75 license fee for EMT-Basic; renewal is $65. A separate $100 reciprocity fee applies to out-of-state applicants, per the Department's EMS Professional Fees form.

How many continuing education hours do Tennessee EMTs need to renew?

Twenty (20) Board-approved continuing education contact hours (or a minimum of two Division-approved college credit hours in EMT-related studies), completed before the license cycle's expiration date, per Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(4).

Can an EMT licensed in another state get licensed in Tennessee?

Yes, via reciprocity under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.04(5): applicants need current out-of-state or federal EMS certification (or a current NREMT credential), must still pass Tennessee's written and practical exams, and must complete a criminal background check. Tennessee is also a member of the EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA).

Sources

  1. [1] tn.gov/health/licensure/ems.html — accessed 2026-07-27
  2. [2] publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1200/1200-12/1200-12-01.20240409.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/ems/PH-2397-EMS-Prof-Fees.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12