How Do I Become an EMT in Texas?

The Rundown of EMT Certification in Texas:

Prospective EMT candidates, who wish to get EMT certification in Texas, must pass an exam organized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). But, before this, they need to complete EMT training program from a state-approved training college or institute. EMT certification in Texas is valid for a period of two years only.

In regards to the NREMT exam, the candidate must pass the written exam, which is a test comprising around 70-120 questions that are required to be answered in 2 hours duration. This is an adjustable difficulty computerized exam. The exam includes topics, such as airway management, ventilation, oxygen therapy, EMS operations, cardiology, health emergencies, and general trauma. In the practical examination, a candidate’s capability to handle traumatic situations, such as fractures, bleeding, joint dislocations, etc., are tested. A candidate will also be tested on medical emergencies such as diabetic emergencies, strokes, cardiac arrest, etc. If a candidate fails in the examination, he/she can re-test for the next examination after 15 days. Six attempts can be made by the candidate to pass the exams successfully.

In case, you fail to renew your certificate before or by the expiration date, your certificate will be considered as involuntary inactive. If, after the expiration of the certificate, you fail to recertify it within 180 days, your certificate will get null and void, and you will have to undergo the entire certification cycle, again.

What are the Requirements to Get an EMT Certificate In Texas?

Following are the pre-requisites that should be fulfilled by the EMT candidates:

  • EMT candidate must be 18 years of age or more.
  • He/she should have completed a state-approved EMT training program.
  • He/she must possess a valid CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certificate.
  • The candidate is required to qualify the NREMT examination.
  • It is mandatory for the candidates to submit legal evidence of their U.S. nationality.
  • The candidate should be free from any mental or bodily ailment.
  • English fluency is a must for every applicant.
  • The candidate must compulsorily pass a criminal background screening.

Apart from this, there are some special requirements that are also required to be accomplished, like submission of application and applicable fees, and completion of a state-recognized practical exam.

What is the Process of EMT Certification?

Step 1: Get EMT Training

The candidate must successfully complete EMT training before applying for certification. The candidate can contact the local EMS department or any community college that provides training programs.

Step 2: Submit Application for National Certification

In order to get a national certification, a candidate has to appear for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) exam. Once the candidate has attained the Texas license, the submission of NREMT certification for recertification is not necessary. The state of Texas makes use of the National Registry only for the purpose of examination. After obtaining the license, it is mandatory for the licensee to complete the Continuing Education (CE) training. If the candidate is nationally registered, he/she is not refrained from fulfilling the Continuing Education (CE) requirements in order to renew the Texas license.

  • The candidate should start by creating an account on the (https://www.nremt.org/). Click on “Create New Account”.
  • Next, the candidate must create a new application by clicking on “Create Initial Entry Application”.
  • Now, the applicable fee must be paid by the candidate soon after completion of the online application. Though, the application fee can also be paid afterward.
  • After the candidate is done with the online application, he/she must keep a check on its progress by regularly looking for “Authorization to Test” (ATT) Letter. This can be done by logging into the website through the password and username, subsequently clicking on the option of “Check Initial Entry Application Status”.
  • The candidate’s details have been submitted by the website if “Submitted” appears beside “Course Completion Verification”, and therefore, it indicates that the approval of the course completion by the education program director is being awaited.
  • Whereas, if “Not Submitted” appears beside “Application Payment”, it clearly means that the candidate must pay the application fee before proceeding further.
  • After the application payment and confirmation by the education program director, the link “Print ATT Letter” will appear.
  • The candidate is required to take a printed copy of his/her ATT Letter and set a timetable for the NREMT exam.

The ATT Letter directs the candidate on scheduling the NREMT examination by using ‘Pearson VUE’ website.

Step 3: Background Check

To complete the process of certification, the candidate must undergo a criminal background check. For this, the candidate can contact his/her course coordinator.

Step 4: License Application

To apply for the license, you have to fill the application by going through the instructions mentioned in the form. It is necessary to fill the correct and complete information in the application form, otherwise; your application will get rejected. Documents to be enclosed with the application are:

  • Copy of NREMT card.
  • Application fee in the form of cheque or money order. The non-refundable amount at respective levels is:
    • EMT- Basic: $64.00
    • EMT- Intermediate: $96.00
    • EMT- Paramedic: $126.00

The application and documents can be submitted to:

Online Application:

(https://vo.ras.dshs.state.tx.us/datamart/mainMenu.do;jsessionid=FF0263F3201696BE150ECC948582E3AD.i-01bf762d)

Texas EMS Training Locations:

  • Alvin Community College Address: 3110 Mustang Road, Alvin, Texas – 77511 Contact Number: 281-756-3500 Official Website: https://www.alvincollege.edu/

  • Amarillo College Address: 1314 South Polk Street, Amarillo, Texas – 79101 Contact Number: 806-371-2900 Fax: 806-372-3919 Official Website: https://www.actx.edu/

  • Trinity Valley Community College Address: 100 Cardinal Drive, Athens, Texas- 75751 Contact Number: 903-675-6200 Official Website: https://www.tvcc.edu/

  • Austin Community College District Address: 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas- 78752-4390 Contact Number: 512-223-4222 Official Website: https://www.austincc.edu/

  • Lee College Address: 200 Lee Drive, Baytown, Texas- 77520 Contact Number: 281-427-5611 / 800-621-8724 Official Website: https://www.lee.edu/

  • Lamar Institute of Technology Address: 855 East Lavaca, Beaumont, Texas- 77705 Contact Number: 1-800-950-6989 / 409-880-8321 Official Website: https://www.lit.edu/

  • Coastal Bend College Address: 3800 Charco Road, Beeville, Texas- 78102 Contact Number: 1-866-722-2838 Official Website: https://www.coastalbend.edu/

  • Howard College Address: 1001 Birdwell Lane, Big Spring, Texas- 79720 Contact Number: 432-264-5000 Official Website: https://www.howardcollege.edu/

  • Blinn College Address: 902 College Avenue, Brenham, Texas- 77833 Contact Number: 979-830-4000 Official Website: https://www.blinn.edu/

  • Texas Southmost College Address: 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, Texas- 78520 Contact Number: 956-295-3600 Official Website: https://www.tsc.edu/

  • Clarendon College Address: 1122 College Drive, P.O. Box- 968, Clarendon, Texas- 79226 Contact Number: 806-874-3571 Fax: 806-874-5080 Official Website: https://www.clarendoncollege.edu/

  • Del Mar College Address: 101 Baldwin Boulevard, Corpus Christi, Texas- 78404-3897 Contact Number: 361-698-1200 / 1-800-652-3357 Official Website: https://www.delmar.edu/

  • Navarro College Address: 3200 West 7th Avenue, Corsicana, Texas- 75110 Contact Number: 1-800-628-2776 Official Website: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/

  • El Centro College Address: 801 Main Street, Dallas, Texas-75202 Contact Number: 214-860-2000 Official Website: https://www.elcentrocollege.edu/

  • Grayson College Address: 6101 Grayson Drive, Highway 691, Denison, Texas- 75020 Contact Number: 903-465-6030 Fax: 903-463-5284 Official Website: https://www.grayson.edu/

  • El Paso Community College Address: 9050 Viscount Boulevard, El Paso, Texas- 79925 Contact Number: 915-831-2150 Official Website: https://www.epcc.edu/Pages/default.aspx

  • Brookhaven College Address: 3939 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, Dallas, Texas- 75244-4997 Contact Number: 972-860-4700 Official Website: https://www.brookhavencollege.edu/

  • Tarrant County College Address: 5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth, Texas- 76119 Contact Number: 817-515-8223 Official Website: https://www.tccd.edu/

  • North Central Texas College Address: 1525 West California Street, Gainesville, Texas- 76240 Contact Number: 940-668-7731 Official Website: https://www.nctc.edu/Home.aspx

  • Galveston College Address: 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, Texas- 77550 Contact Number: 409-944-4242 Fax: 409-944-1500 Official Website: https://www.gc.edu/gc/default.asp

  • Texas State Technical College Address: 1902 North Loop 499, Harlingen, Texas- 78550 Contact Number: 1-800-852-8784 Official Website: https://www.tstc.edu/harlingen/

  • Hill College Address: 112 Lamar Hillsboro, Texas- 76645 Contact Number: 254-659-7500 Official Website: https://www.hillcollege.edu/

  • Houston Community College Address: 3100 Main Street, Houston Texas- 77002 Contact Number: 713.718.2000 Official Website: https://www.hccs.edu/

  • Kilgore College Address: 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, Texas- 75662-3204 Contact Number: 903-984-8531 Official Website: https://www.kilgore.edu/

  • Central Texas College Address: P.O. Box- 1800, Killeen, Texas- 76540-1800 Contact Number: 254-526-7161 Official Website: https://www.ctcd.edu/

  • Laredo Community College Address: West End Washington Street, Laredo, Texas- 78040 Contact Number: 956.722.0521 Official Website: https://www.laredo.edu/cms/index_400.aspx?nomobile=1

  • South Plains College Address: 1401 South College Avenue, Levelland, Texas- 79336 Contact Number: 806-894-9611 Official Website: https://www.southplainscollege.edu/

  • Angelina College Address: 3500 South First Street, Lufkin, Texas- 75904 Contact Number: 936-639-1301 Official Website: https://www.angelina.edu/

  • South Texas College Address: 3201 West Pecan, McAllen, Texas- 78501 Contact Number: 956-872-8311 / 800-742-7822 Official Website: https://www.southtexascollege.edu/

  • Midland College Address: 3600 North Garfield, Midland, Texas- 79705 Contact Number: 432-685-4500/ 432-570-8805 Official Website: https://www.midland.edu/

  • Northeast Texas Community College Address: 2886 FM 1735 Chapel Hill Road, Mount Pleasant, Texas- 75455 Contact Number: 903-434-8100 Fax: 903-572-6712 Official Website: https://www.ntcc.edu/

  • Lamar State College- Orange Address: 410 Front Street, Orange, Texas- 77630 Contact Number: 409-883-7750 Official Website: https://www.lsco.edu/

  • San Jacinto College Address: 5800 Uvalde Road, Houston, Texas- 77049 Contact Number: 281-998-6150 Official Website: https://www.sjcd.edu/

  • Collin County Community College District Address: 2200 West University Drive, McKinney, Texas- 75071 Contact Number: 972-548-6790 / 972-881-5790 / 972-377-1790 Official Website: https://www.collin.edu/

  • San Antonio College Address: 1300 San Pedro Avenue, San Antonio, Texas- 78212-4299 Contact Number: 210-486-0000 Official Website: https://www.alamo.edu/sac/

  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Address: 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas- 78229 Contact Number: 210-567-7000 Official Website: https://uthscsa.edu/

  • Western Texas College Address: 6200 College Avenue, Snyder, Texas- 79549 Contact Number: 325-573-8511 / 1-888-468-6982 Official Website: https://www.wtc.edu/

  • Texas State Technical College- West Texas Address: 3801 Campus Drive, Waco, Texas- 76705 Contact Number: 254-799-3611 Official Website: https://www.tstc.edu/frontpage/

  • Temple College Address: 2600 South First Street, Temple, Texas- 76504-7435 Contact Number: 254-298-8282 / 800-460-4636 Official Website: https://www.templejc.edu/

  • Texarkana College Address: 2500 North Robison Road, Texarkana, Texas- 75599 Contact Number: 903-823-3456 Official Website: https://www.texarkanacollege.edu/

  • College of the Mainland Address: 1200 Amburn Road, Texas City, Texas- 77591 Contact Number: 409-938-1211 / 1-888-258-8859 Official Website: https://www.com.edu/

  • Lone Star College System Address: 5000 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, Texas- 77381-4356 Contact Number: 832-813-6500 Official Website: https://www.lonestar.edu/

  • Tyler Junior College Address: 1327 South Baxter Avenue, Tyler, Texas- 75701 Contact Number: 800-687-5680 Official Website: https://www.tjc.edu/

  • Vernon College Address: 4400 College Drive, Vernon, Texas- 76384 Contact Number: 940-552-6291 Official Website: https://www.vernoncollege.edu/

  • Victoria College Address: 2200 East Red River, Victoria, Texas- 77901 Contact number: 361-573-3291 / 877-843-4369 Official Website: https://www.victoriacollege.edu/

  • McLennan Community College Address: 1400 College Drive, Waco, Texas- 76708 Contact Number: 254-299-8000 / 254-299-8622 Official Website: https://www.mclennan.edu/

  • Weatherford College Address: 225 College Park Drive, Weatherford, Texas- 76086 Contact Number: 817-594-5471 Official Website: https://www.wc.edu/

  • Wharton County Junior College Address:  911 Boling Highway, Wharton, Texas- 77488 Contact Number: 979-532-4560 Official Website: https://www.wcjc.edu/

Texas EMT Contact Information: The Exchange Building 8407 Wall Street, Suite N-410 Austin, TX 78754 Phone: (512) 834-6700 E-Mail: (mailto:emsinfo@dshs.state.tx.us?subject=EMS/Trauma%20Systems%20inquiry “EMS/Trauma Systems inquiry”)