Must successfully complete a Washington State Course and have a course completion certificate the level you are applying for:

• EMR – Emergency Medical Responder
• EMT – Emergency Medical Technician
• EMT/IV – Emergency Medical Technician with an IV endorsement
• AEMT – Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
• EMTP – Paramedic

Must take and successfully pass a National Registry examination. This done through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians website at www.nremt.org

Additional Information on National Registry:

NREMT- Written Examination Information - All Registration Levels
There are several steps you need to complete to schedule a written examination with a Person Vue test site.

1. You will need to register with the NREMT online. Instructions on what you need to do to take the test are provided. The website is www.nremt.org. When you register, you will need to indicate what training program you attended.
2. You will need to contact your instructor/training program coordinator to verify your knowledge and skill competence on line at the same web site as above. If the training program has not registered online with the NREMT, they will need to do so. Directions for training programs are also available on the NREMT website.
3. Once both 1 and 2 above are completed, you will be able to make an appointment for the computer adaptive test (CAT) with a Person Vue testing site. These sites are available through the NREMT web site above.

NREMT- BASIC LEVEL PRACTICAL SKILLS EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Individuals seeking practical skills examinations to become registered with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) should contact a Washington State EMS training program to arrange for a practical skills examination.

NREMT- INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED LEVEL PRACTICAL SKILLS EXAMINATION
NREMT-Intermediate and Advanced Level examinations routinely administered at Washington State Approved Paramedic Training Programs when scheduled with the Department.  These examinations are normally closed to individuals not enrolled in the training program.  Please contact the individual training programs for additional information.

In order to be eligible for Washington State certification, you must have a Washington State licensed EMS agency. The following link lists all of the Washington State EMS agencies: doh.wa.gov

The EMS office obtains the Medical Program Director signature. The initial certification forms may be downloaded at: doh.wa.gov

Initial EMS certification applicants must provide a copy of a course completion certificate/letter from a Department of Health approved EMS Training Program, the National Registry examination results for the certification level they are applying for and a copy of your picture ID.

The completed form and attachments must be brought or mailed to the EMS office (no faxed copies accepted):

Yakima County Department of Emergency Medical Services
2403 So. 18th Street, Suite C
Union Gap, WA 98903

Where do I get continuing education classes to keep my certification current?

EMR and EMT

EMT-IV and AEMT

Paramedic

 

How do I know when I need to recertify?

What if I lose my certification card?

What if I recertify and I don’t receive my certification card?

How do I apply for recertification?

My certification has expired; how can I get it reissued?

Where do I get continuing education classes to keep my certification current?

The Yakima County Department of Emergency Medical Services has a DOH approved Ongoing Training & Evaluation Program (OTEP). The OTEP provided meets both NREMT and Washington State recertification requirements.

Training must be completed each quarter per WAC 246-976 and the medical program director. Failure to comply with the requirements will result in OTEP being converted to CME and having to take a NREMT Assessment Exam.

Monthly Schedules

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), EMT w/Supraglottic Endorsement and/or IV Endorsement:

• Quarterly Training consists of:
  • 1 BLS Didactic Module
  • 1 BLS Workshop
  • For those who hold a Supraglottic Endorsement, the training is part of the normal OTEP provided.
  • For those who hold an IV Endorsement, please make sure that the EMS Office knows you will be attending the workshop (make sure you notify the office for all 4 workshops), and supplies will be included for you to be checked off on your skills. Note: this will be recorded as an “ILS Workshop” in Ninth Brain.
• Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMT) and Paramedics
  Quarterly Training consists of:
  • 1 BLS Didactic Module
  • 1 BLS Workshop (Note: ALS skills are now included and will be recorded as an “ALS Workshop” in Ninth Brain
  • Quarterly MPD Lecture
  • Quarterly Skills, per MPD and agency
  Additional training provided by your agency is highly encouraged.
  

Makeups for the Workshops will be held each quarter at various locations. Consult the training schedules for dates/times/locations.

Please note: No more than 2 workshops may be completed in a single day. The workshops are open to all Yakima County EMS providers, unless other specified by the fire district or agency.

How do I know when I need to recertify?

Look on your certification card. You may also search your certification at the State: doh.wa.gov

What if I lose my certification card?

Contact the Washington State Department of Health at:
Phone number 360.236.4700
Email Address hsqa.csc@doh.wa.gov

What if I recertify and I don’t receive my certification card?

Go to the following State link: doh.wa.gov

How do I apply for recertification?

Complete all of your Ongoing Training and Education Program requirements and provide proof to the Yakima County Department of Emergency Medical Services. WAC 246-976-171,
A. Complete the necessary skills for your level of certification (this only applies to those certified at the EMT w/IV level or above)

Log into your SAW account
Under Credential Information click on “Begin Renewal” and complete the application

Hard copy recertification applications are also available, but on-line recertification is preferred. More info

Hard Copy doh.wa.gov

How do I transfer my certification from another state to Washington State?

See doh.wa.gov

The following are required with your application:

• Proof of valid EMS certification from another state or national certifying agency approved by the department.
• Paramedic applicants: proof of successful completion of a paramedic program. Submit a copy of a course completion certificate, letter, or transcripts from the paramedic training program. Applicants completing training after June 30, 1996, must have completed a paramedic program accredited by a national accrediting organization approved by the department.
• Accredited programs may be found at www.caahep.org
• Applicants must have passed a Department of Health approved certification examination for the level of certification. The score is valid for twelve months from the date of the examination. After twelve months, a passing score on a department-approved certification examination is required. Applicants will have three attempts within twelve months from the first examination date to pass the examination. After three unsuccessful attempts or twelve months, the applicant must complete an approved initial EMS course to reapply for certification.

How do I challenge the educational requirements? doh.wa.gov

The following are required with your application:

• Course completion documents showing education equivalent to the knowledge and skills at the EMR, EMT, or AEMT training level. Once your documents have been reviewed you will be notified of the appropriate examination needed.
• Applicants seeking paramedic certification - successful completion of a paramedic course through a training program accredited by a department-approved national accrediting organization.
• Provide proof of a valid health care provider credential.
• Applicants must have passed a Department of Health approved certification examination for the level of certification. Applicants will have three attempts within twelve months from the first examination date to pass the examination. After three unsuccessful attempts or twelve months, the applicant must complete an approved initial EMS course to reapply for certification.

You will need to meet the requirements set forth by the Washington State Department of Health www.doh.wa.gov

Provide the following to your County MPD or MPD delegate with your application:

If a certification is expired for one year or less:

Proof of completing the recertification education requirements listed below for the applicant’s certification period:

1. For EMS providers completing the CME method, complete the requirements identified in WAC 246-976-171 Table A; or
2. For EMS providers completing the OTEP method, complete the requirements indentified in WAC 246-976-171, Table B; and
3. Proof of one year of annual recertification education requirements.

If a certification is expired more than one year and less than two years:
Proof of completing the recertification education requirements listed below for the applicant’s certification period:

1. For EMS providers completing the CME method, complete the requirements identified in WAC 246-976-171, Table A; or
2. For EMS providers completing the OTEP method, complete the requirements indentified in WAC 246-976-171, Table B; and
3. One additional year of annual recertification education requirements; and
4. Twenty-four hours of educational topics and hours specified by the department and the MPD; and
5. For EMS providers completing the CME method, complete the requirements identified in Table A of WAC 246-976-171
6. For EMS providers completing OTEP, complete the requirements identified in Table B of WAC 246-976-171.

If a certification is expired for two years or longer:

For non-paramedic EMS personnel:

1. Complete a department-approved initial training program, and successfully complete depart­ment-approved knowledge and practical skill certification examinations;

For paramedics whose certification has been expired between two and six years:

1. Current status as a provider or instructor in the following, ACLS, PHTLS, or BTLS, PALS or PEPPS, or state approved equivalent;
2. Current status in health care provider CPR;
3. Completing a state approved forty-eight hour EMT-paramedic refresher training program or complete forty-eight hours of ALS training that consists of the following core content:

• Airway, breathing and cardiology - sixteen hours.
• Medical emergencies - eight hours.
• Trauma - six hours.
• Obstetrics and pediatrics - sixteen hours
• EMS operations - two hours.
• Successful completion of any additional required MPD and department-approved refresher training;
• Successful completion of MPD required clinical and field evaluations;
• Successful completion of department-approved knowledge and practical skill certification examinations.
• A request for reissuance of a paramedic certification that has been expired greater than six years will be reviewed by the department to determine the disposition

Reinstatement of a suspended, modified or revoked EMS certification

• Provide proof of completion of all requirements identified by the departmental disciplinary authority; and
• Meet the reissuance requirements.

For more information, see www.doh.wa.gov

For more information, see www.doh.wa.gov