South

Texas

State EMS office Texas Department of State Health Services, EMS and Trauma Systems

Licensure levels recognized Emergency Care Attendant, EMT, Advanced EMT, EMT-Paramedic and Licensed Paramedic.

NREMT required for initial licensure Yes. Testing for every level runs through the National Registry at Pearson VUE sites, and passing it makes an applicant eligible for state certification.

Reciprocity / legal recognition An out-of-state certified clinician may apply for Texas certification by reciprocity, and takes the Texas jurisprudence continuing education course with its exam. Emergency Care Attendant, First Responder and Emergency Medical Responder credentials are not eligible.

Renewal cycle Four years.

Continuing education model Contact hours across the four-year period: 24 for an Emergency Care Attendant, 48 for an EMT, 72 for an Advanced EMT and 96 for an EMT-Paramedic or Licensed Paramedic. Every renewal applicant also completes the department's jurisprudence examination.

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

See all states in the EMS licensing directory →

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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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