StateLicensed

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Virginia

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
154 hrs
Upfront cost
$104
Exam
National Registry (NREMT) EMT Cognitive Examination, Terminal Psychomotor Competency Exam
Renewal cycle
Every 4 years
Issuing board
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, None specifically required beyond English proficiency; applicants under 18 need parental permission to enroll in the EMT course, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must be at least 16 years old at the EMT course start date (with a completed parental permission form if under 18), proficient in reading/writing/speaking English, and free of any physical or mental impairment that would prevent performing required EMT-level practical skills. Per 12VAC5-31-910, applicants may not have been convicted of or found guilty of any crime, offense, or regulatory violation as specified in that regulation; fingerprint-based background checks are specifically required for reciprocity candidates. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 154 hours of training (including 10 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. OEMS's own EMT provider-pathway page states a student can expect at least 154 hours total: at least 144 combined classroom and practical skills training hours, plus at least 10 hours in clinical and field settings, in an Office-approved EMT training program. Applicants must be at least 16 years old at the course start date (with parental permission if under 18), proficient in English, free of any physical/mental impairment preventing performance of EMT-level practical skills, and hold a current OEMS-approved CPR certification as a corequisite by the course end date. [1]

  3. 3

    National Registry (NREMT) EMT Cognitive Examination

    Pass the National Registry (NREMT) EMT Cognitive Examination (fee: $104). Virginia uses the National Registry certification system for EMT certification; candidates get up to 6 attempts, with 20 hours of remedial education required after 3 failed attempts. $104 is NREMT's own published national EMT cognitive-exam fee; OEMS's own pages do not republish this number, so verify current pricing directly with NREMT before publishing a verified page. [1]

  4. 4

    Terminal Psychomotor Competency Exam

    Pass the Terminal Psychomotor Competency Exam. OEMS's Certification Testing page states that for BLS-level candidates (including EMT), verification of psychomotor competency is built into the training program itself via a Terminal Psychomotor Competency Exam, so a separate external psychomotor examination (unlike the older stand-alone NREMT skills exam) is not required. No fee applies beyond the training program's own cost, so left null. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). [1]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification for Virginia.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] None specified
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] None specified
National Registry (NREMT) EMT Cognitive Examination [1] $104
Terminal Psychomotor Competency Exam [2] None specified

No separate Virginia OEMS application, certification, or renewal fee was found on the Office's own EMT provider-pathway or recertification pages beyond the NREMT cognitive exam fee. Virginia's EMS certification system appears to be funded independently of a per-individual state certification fee for the EMT level (unlike the state's own $159 AEMT-level examination fee noted elsewhere), so all three are left null rather than assumed to be nonzero.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 4 years. 40 continuing education hours required per cycle.

12VAC5-31-1315 states that EMT certification is issued for a period of four years from the end of the month of issuance. Per OEMS's TR-64 BLS/ALS NCCP Recertification Requirements table (revised June 2024), EMT-level recertification requires 40 total continuing-education hours (20 National Component Continuing Recertification hours + 20 Local/Individual Component hours), to be completed and evidenced to the Office of EMS before the certification's expiration date per 12VAC5-31-1403.

Reciprocity

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

OEMS's provider-pathway page describes a Legal Recognition pathway for individuals already state-certified elsewhere, alongside EMS Compact-based reciprocity options and National Registry recertification guidance for candidates moving to Virginia. Reciprocity candidates undergo fingerprint-based criminal background checks. Virginia is also listed as a current member state on the EMS Compact Commission's own member-state page (emscompact.gov).

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

Cost calculator

  • $104
Total$104

Frequently asked questions

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

You must be at least 16 years old at the start of the EMT course (with a parental permission form if under 18) to enroll; OEMS's own page does not state a separate, higher minimum age specifically for certification itself.

How many training hours does a Virginia EMT course require?

At least 154 hours total: a minimum of 144 combined classroom and practical skills hours, plus at least 10 hours of clinical and field experience, at an OEMS-approved training program.

Does Virginia require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?

Yes. Virginia uses the National Registry certification system, so candidates must pass the NREMT cognitive exam (up to 6 attempts). Psychomotor competency for BLS-level candidates like EMTs is verified within the training program itself rather than through a separate external skills exam.

How often do Virginia EMT certifications need to be renewed?

Every 4 years. 12VAC5-31-1315 sets the EMT certification period at four years from the end of the month of issuance, requiring 40 total continuing-education hours per cycle.

Can an EMT certified in another state get certified in Virginia?

Yes, through OEMS's Legal Recognition and reciprocity pathways, which require a fingerprint-based background check. Virginia is also a member of the EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA).

Sources

  1. [1] vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/education-certification/provider-resources/how-to-become-an-emergency-medical-services-provider-in-virginia/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/education-certification/provider-resources/psychomotor-testing/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title12/agency5/chapter31/section1315/ — accessed 2026-07-12