StateLicensed

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Utah

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$149
Exam
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination, NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Utah Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Utah's EMS licensure rule sets a minimum age of 18 for EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic licensure (EMR licensure allows 16 and older), though prospective EMTs may enroll in training if they will turn 18 within 120 days of course conclusion. Applicants must submit to and pass a background screening clearance (fingerprint-based, via DACS/LiveScan) as part of both initial licensure and renewal. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Bureau of EMS rule requires applicants to successfully complete a state-approved EMT course (verifiable at emslicense.utah.gov/lookup/training_courses) and, per renewal rule text (formerly R426-5-600, renumbered to R911-5-204 effective July 10, 2025), to demonstrate psychomotor skills listed in the current National EMS Education Standards. No fixed statewide clock-hour minimum for the EMT course itself was located on ems.utah.gov or in the rule text reviewed -- individual approved programs set hours meeting the national education standards -- so hours is left null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination

    Pass the NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination (fee: $104). Utah requires applicants to successfully complete the state-approved National Registry cognitive exam; written exams are taken at Pearson VUE testing centers. $104 is NREMT's own published national EMT cognitive-exam fee; ems.utah.gov does not republish this number, so verify current pricing directly with NREMT before publishing a verified page. [1]

  4. 4

    NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination

    Pass the NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination. Required alongside the cognitive exam; ems.utah.gov states practical exams are arranged by course coordinators. No separate published fee specific to the psychomotor component was found, so left null. [1]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Utah Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS) with the $45 application fee. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Utah Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS) issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License for Utah.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $45
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $30
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination [1] $104
NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination [1] None specified
DACS/BCI fingerprint background check [2] $74
License verification [2] $10
Course audit fee [2] $40
Application late fee (30+ days after course start date) [2] $75
Lapsed license fee [2] $75

Bureau of EMS Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2024) lists a single 'Initial and Reciprocity QA Review Fee' of $45 for EMT License covering both initial and reciprocity applications (no separate itemized license-issuance fee beyond this), and a 'Renewal QA Review Fee' of $30. Fingerprinting is billed separately: the fee schedule PDF states $65.25, but a later ems.utah.gov update (accessed 2026-07-12) states the Bureau of Criminal Identification raised fingerprinting fees to $74.00 effective July 2025, so the higher current figure is used.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 40 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Rule text (formerly R426-5-600, confirmed via an official rules.utah.gov rulemaking bulletin retrieved through a Wayback Machine snapshot dated 2025-05-01 -- rules.utah.gov's own code pages now issue a client-side redirect this session's fetch tool could not follow, so the original rules.utah.gov URL is kept as sourceUrl per the source rules) states the Department may renew an individual license for a two-year period, with CME hours completed throughout the prior two years per the Department's Renewal Protocol for EMS Personnel Manual. This provision was renumbered to R911-5-204 effective July 10, 2025 but the substantive 2-year license validity and CME timing were not found to have changed. The 40-hour total (20 national component + 10 state component + 10 individual component) reflects the EMT-level CME breakdown described in general research on Utah's EMS Recertification Guide, consistent with the two-year completion window in the rule text.

Reciprocity

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

Utah's EMS licensure rule allows the Bureau to license an individual as an EMT (or other level) who is licensed/certified by another state or certifying body if the applicant provides documentation that their out-of-state training and experience requirements are equivalent to or greater than Utah's. Reciprocity applicants complete the same application, fees ($45 Initial and Reciprocity QA Review Fee), fingerprint background check, and NREMT certification verification (or must pass the NREMT exam if not currently certified) as initial applicants. Utah is also listed as a current member state on the EMS Compact Commission's own member-state page (emscompact.gov).

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

Cost calculator

  • $45
  • $104
Total$149

Frequently asked questions

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

At least 18 years old, though a prospective EMT may enroll in a training course if they will turn 18 within 120 days of the course's conclusion.

How much does it cost to get an EMT license in Utah?

The Bureau of EMS charges a $45 Initial and Reciprocity QA Review Fee, plus a separate fingerprint background check fee (currently $74). Renewal costs a $30 QA Review Fee.

How often do Utah EMT licenses need to be renewed?

Every 2 years. Utah's EMS rule allows the Bureau to renew a license for a two-year period (or a shorter standardized period), with continuing education completed throughout the prior two years.

Does Utah require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?

Yes. Applicants must successfully complete the state-approved National Registry cognitive exam (at Pearson VUE) and the psychomotor exam, arranged through their training program's course coordinator.

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

Yes, if the applicant documents that their out-of-state training and experience are equivalent to or greater than Utah's requirements, along with the standard application, fees, and background check. Utah is also a member of the EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA).

Sources

  1. [1] ems.utah.gov/ems-personnel-licensure/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] ems.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2024/07/Bureau-of-Emergency-Medical-Services-2025-Fee-Schedule.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] rules.utah.gov/publicat/bulletin/2019/20190901/43979.htm — accessed 2026-07-12