StateLicensed

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License Requirements in Washington

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$104
Exam
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination, NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Washington State Department of Health, Office of Community Health Systems (EMS and Trauma Care System)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or GED, pass a criminal background check. Washington requires EMT applicants to be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED, to be affiliated with a Department-licensed EMS agency (aid or ambulance service) or recognized EMS service supervisory organization (ESSO), and to receive a recommendation from the county Medical Program Director (MPD) where they will work. Applicants must disclose physical/mental health status, chemical dependency/substance abuse history, prior license/certification losses, felony convictions, disciplinary actions, and professional liability claims history as part of the department's personal/background screening. [2]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. WAC 246-976-023 requires initial EMS training courses (EMR, EMT, AEMT, Paramedic) to be Department-approved, taught by a Department-approved instructor, and to align with current National EMS Education Standards and the Washington state approved skills and procedures list (DOH 530-173) -- but the rule text reviewed does not itself state a fixed statewide clock-hour minimum for the EMT course, so hours is left null rather than guessed. No didactic session may exceed 8 hours within a 24-hour period. [1]

  3. 3

    NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination

    Pass the NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination (fee: $104). Washington requires proof of current, valid NREMT (or equivalent national organization) certification as part of EMT certification eligibility. $104 is NREMT's own published national EMT cognitive-exam fee; DOH's own pages do not republish this number, so verify current pricing directly with NREMT before publishing a verified page. [2]

  4. 4

    NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination

    Pass the NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination. Required as part of NREMT certification, which Washington's certification eligibility relies on. No separate published fee specific to the psychomotor component was found, so left null. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Washington State Department of Health, Office of Community Health Systems (EMS and Trauma Care System) with the $0 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Washington State Department of Health, Office of Community Health Systems (EMS and Trauma Care System) issues your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification for Washington.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $0
License fee [3] $0
Renewal fee [3] $0
NREMT EMT Cognitive Examination [2] $104
NREMT Psychomotor (Skills) Examination [2] None specified

The Department's own EMS Apply for a Certification page states explicitly: 'There are no fees currently for EMS certifications.' This applies to initial, renewal, reciprocity, and reactivation applications alike, so application/license/renewal are all recorded as zero rather than null.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 30 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Washington EMS provider certifications renew every three years, coinciding with the individual's supervisory EMS agency license expiration month, per the Department's own EMS Apply for a Certification page. Under WAC 246-976-161 (general education and skill maintenance requirements for EMS provider recertification), the EMT level requires 30 continuing-education hours per 3-year cycle (compared to 15 for EMR, 60 for AEMT, and 150 for Paramedic), completed through a Department- and medical-program-director-approved Ongoing Training and Evaluation Program (OTEP).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Washington allows certification by reciprocity (governed by Chapter 18.73 RCW and Chapter 246-976 WAC) for applicants who submit an Initial EMS certification application packet marked for reciprocity, list all states where they have held credentials, and have those states submit out-of-state credential verification forms directly to the Department; the same MPD recommendation and agency-affiliation requirements as initial certification apply, at no fee. Washington was not listed among current member states on the EMS Compact Commission's own member-state page (emscompact.gov) as of the accessed date, so compacts is left empty.

Cost calculator

  • $0
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  • $104
Total$104

Frequently asked questions

Does Washington charge a fee to become an EMT?

No. The Department of Health's own EMS certification application page states, 'There are no fees currently for EMS certifications,' covering initial, renewal, reciprocity, and reactivation applications.

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

At least 18 years old, with a high school diploma or GED, per the Department of Health's EMS certification requirements.

Does Washington require the NREMT exam to become an EMT?

Yes. Applicants must hold proof of current, valid National Registry (NREMT) certification -- or equivalent national organization certification -- as part of Washington's EMT certification eligibility.

How often do Washington EMT certifications need to be renewed?

Every 3 years, coinciding with the individual's supervisory EMS agency license expiration month. The EMT level requires 30 continuing-education hours per cycle under WAC 246-976-161.

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

Yes, through Washington's reciprocity process: applicants submit an Initial EMS certification application marked for reciprocity, list all states where they've held credentials, and those states verify the credentials directly to the Department. Washington is not currently a member of the EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA).

Sources

  1. [1] app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] doh.wa.gov/public-health-provider-resources/emergency-medical-services-ems-systems/ems-provider-certification/ems-certification-requirements — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] doh.wa.gov/public-health-provider-resources/emergency-medical-services-ems-and-trauma-care-system/ems-apply-certification — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx — accessed 2026-07-12