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EMT Certification & Renewal Process



You should review the Agency's policy (EMS Policy 2001) on EMT certificate and EMT certificate renewals before proceeding with your application.


Initial EMT Certificate
EMT Certificate Renewal
Expired EMT Certificate

  • Prior to completing any of the steps below, please go to the Contra Costa online certification system and verify your account. If you do not have an account on the system, create one prior to proceeding. Failure to do so prior to initiating the application process may result in substantial delays in processing your application.

    Initial EMT Certificate

    Eligibility Requirements

    The following requirements apply to all applicants who have never been certified through Contra Costa County as an EMT, or whose EMT certificate has been expired for more than 24 months:

    1. Be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
    2. Provide a current government-issued photo ID (e.g., state drivers license, state ID card, military ID card, passport).
    3. Meet one of the following eligibility criteria:
      1. Possess a current and valid National Registry EMT, Advanced EMT or Paramedic registration certificate; or,
      2. Possess a current and valid out-of-state Advanced EMT or Paramedic certificate; or,
      3. Possess a current and valid California Advanced EMT certificate or a current and valid California Paramedic license.
    4. Not be precluded from certification for reasons defined in Section 1798.200(c)(1) through (c)(12) of the Health and Safety Code.

    Online Application

    Once these requirements are met, complete the EMT – Initial Certification online application and pay the established non-refundable fee.

    Live Scan Information

    Once your application is submitted, complete a Department of Justice Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check. Information and documentation on obtaining a Live Scan will be sent to you once your online application is submitted.

    Do not complete a Live Scan until you have submitted your online application for an initial EMT certificate. Live Scan results submitted to the Agency before an application is on file are not retained by the Agency. If you complete a Live Scan before submitting your application you may be required to complete a new Live Scan and pay the required fees.

    The Agency does not release information contained in the Live Scan background report. For information on obtaining a copy of your Live Scan background results, or for information on the status of your Live Scan, contact the California Department of Justice by visiting https://applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov/.

    Issuance of California EMT Certificate

    An application for an initial EMT certificate may take up to 30 days to process from the time the application is complete. Applications that disclose any criminal history or administrative actions against a healthcare license may take up to 60 days to process. Information regarding the status of your application may be found by visiting the online portal.

    California EMT Certificate valid Statewide

    A California EMT certificate issued by Contra Costa County or any other certifying entity is valid statewide. You are not required to obtain a California EMT certificate from Contra Costa County EMS to work as an EMT in Contra Costa County.

  • Prior to completing any of the steps below, please go to the Contra Costa online certification system and verify your account. If you do not have an account on the system, create one prior to proceeding. Failure to do so prior to initiating the application process may result in substantial delays in processing your application.

    EMT Certificate Renewal

    To maintain certification, all candidates must:

    1. Possess a valid and current California EMT certificate.
    2. Complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of approved prehospital continuing education within the two (2) year certification period.
      1. Continuing Education hours must be from one of the following:
        1. an approved California Prehospital Continuing Education Provider
        2. an approved Commission on Accreditation For Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) provider
        3. college courses in physical, social or behavioral sciences (e.g., anatomy, physiology, sociology, psychology) – copy of official transcript required
    3. Pay appropriate fee.

    Once these requirements are met:


    In order to complete the application, copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded into the system:

    • Current government-issued photo ID (e.g., state drivers license, state ID card, military ID card, passport)
    • If applicable, court records and/or police reports as requested during the application process (these records must be attached to each application submitted, whether the EMS Agency has received them previously or not)

    Online applications will not be accepted until all the required documentation has been uploaded.

    Once the online application has been submitted and the EMS Agency has confirmed that the applicant meets all the criteria specified in Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 2, Article 5 of the California Health and Safety Code, an individual shall be recertified as an Emergency Medical Technician. This certification is valid throughout the State of California.

    If the recertification requirements were met within six (6) months prior to the expiration date, the effective date of the certification shall be the expiration date of the current certification.

    Certification cards will be mailed to applicants following verification of documentation submitted with application.

  • Prior to completing any of the steps below, please go to the Contra Costa online certification system and verify your account. If you do not have an account on the system, create one prior to proceeding. Failure to do so prior to initiating the application process may result in substantial delays in processing your application.

    Expired EMT Certificate

    Requirements for recertification of a lapsed EMT certificate depends on the period of time the certificate has been lapsed. Select the appropriate option below, based on the amount of time that the certification has been lapsed:

    For a lapse of less than six (6) months:

    Follow the instructions on the "EMT Certificate Renewal" tab

    For a lapse of six (6) months or more, but less than twelve (12) months:
    1. Complete of a minimum of thirty six (36) hours of approved prehospital continuing education within the prior two (2) year period.

    Once these requirements are met:


    In order to complete the online application, copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded into the system:

    • Current government-issued photo ID (e.g., state drivers license, state ID card, military ID card, passport)
    • If applicable, court records and/or police reports as requested during the application process (these records must be attached to each application submitted, whether the EMS Agency has received them previously or not)

    Upon completion of the appropriate requirements listed above, and confirmation that the applicant meets all the criteria specified in Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 2, Article 5 of the California Health and Safety Code, an individual shall be recertified as an Emergency Medical Technician. This certification is valid throughout the State of California.

    Certification cards will be mailed to applicants following verification of documentation submitted with application.

    For a lapse of twelve (12) months or more, but less than twenty four (24) months:
    1. Possess a California EMT certificate that is expired for more than twelve (12) months, but less than twenty four (24) months.
    2. Complete of a minimum of forty eight (48) hours of approved prehospital continuing education within the prior two (2) year period.
    3. Successfully complete of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) written and skills exam within the past two (2) years.
    4. Complete a Department of Justice Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check.

    Once these requirements are met, complete the EMT – Recertification (Expired over 12 months) online application.

    In order to complete the application, copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded into the system:

    • Current government-issued photo ID (e.g., state drivers license, state ID card, military ID card, passport)
    • Completed skills competency form EMSA-SCV 8/10
    • If applicable, court records and/or police reports as requested during the application process (these records must be attached to each application submitted, whether the EMS Agency has received them previously or not)

    Upon completion of the appropriate requirements listed above, and confirmation that the applicant meets all the criteria specified in Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 2, Article 5 of the California Health and Safety Code, an individual shall be recertified as an Emergency Medical Technician. This certification is valid throughout the State of California.

    Certification cards will be mailed to applicants following verification of documentation submitted with application.

    For a lapse of twenty four (24) months or more:

    Applicants whose California EMT certification has been expired for twenty four (24) months or more must complete an entire EMT training course.