South

Virginia

State EMS office Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services

Licensure levels recognized EMR, EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic.

NREMT required for initial licensure Yes. An EMT candidate sits the National Registry cognitive examination at a Pearson VUE centre and completes Virginia's own psychomotor competency verification; certification follows the National Registry credential.

Reciprocity / legal recognition The Office recognizes all current National Registry certifications for reciprocity; an applicant trained in Virginia has their reciprocity application processed automatically, usually within seven days of passing the National Registry exam, while someone trained elsewhere applies through the Virginia EMS Portal. Separately, legal recognition accepts a current certification from any state or territory at the EMT level only, valid for at most one year or the time left on the existing certification, whichever is shorter.

Renewal cycle Three years from the end of the month of issue.

Continuing education model Hours by level: 16 for an EMR, 40 for an EMT, 50 for an AEMT and 60 for a Paramedic. Recertifying with the National Registry does not recertify the Virginia certification: hours are reported to the Office through a Virginia-approved course.

Visit state EMS office

Always confirm requirements with the state office directly.

Preparing for the exam

Our NREMT courses cover each certification level, and FP-C and CCT preparation covers critical care transport.

EMT

AEMT

Paramedic

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Certification and licensure are not the same thing

National Registry certification

Passing the NREMT cognitive and psychomotor exams earns you national certification. It is what most states use as the entry standard, but it is not a license to practice on its own.

State license

Your state EMS office issues the credential that actually lets you work. Each state sets its own application process, background requirements, fees, and scope of practice.

Reciprocity

Moving states usually means applying for legal recognition of your existing certification rather than starting over. What transfers automatically varies, and this is where candidates most often get stuck.

This directory is provided for reference only. State requirements change, and the state EMS office is always the authoritative source. Prehospital Prep is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by the NREMT, the IBSC, or any state licensing agency.

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