The primary focus of an Emergency Medical Technician is to provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. To be licensed as an EMT, you must take an accredited course. EMT courses are normally between 150 and 190 hours to complete. Check our calendar for EMT courses.

Initial Certification Requirements: 

• You must be at least 17 years old. 
• Have a high school diploma or GED certificate 
• Successfully complete a New York State approved EMS training course 
• Pass a New York State practical skills exam 

The Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. To become a certified paramedic, you must successfully complete a nationally accredited paramedic program at the certificate or associate degree level. Paramedic courses take between 1,200 and 1,800 hours to complete. Visit our calendar for upcoming courses, or find a course sponsor in New York by county through the NYS DOH Bureau of EMS website: NYS DOH Bureau of EMS Course Sponsors .

Initial Certification Requirements: 

• You must be at least 17 years old 
• Have a high school diploma or GED certificate 
• Successfully complete a New York State approved EMS training course 
• Pass a New York State practical skills exam 

If you have a name/address change or need a replacement card, complete the form DOH-4453

*NYC REMSCO does not issue duplicate or updated NYS EMS certification. For more information on EMS certification and reciprocity, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/certification/certification.htm

Reciprocity is the process in which an individual holding a current certification from one of the fifty (50) states, the District of Columbia, the military, and/or from the National Registry of EMT’s (NREMT) may be granted NYS certification rather than taking a NYS original course.

The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems (BEMS) recognizes the following provider levels as eligible of certification for reciprocity:

• Emergency Medical Responder/Certified First Responder
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
• Paramedic

Please Note:

• NYS does not grant reciprocity to individuals who have obtained certification from other countries or U.S territories who do not have a National Registry certification.
• All applications must prove that more than half of their course was asynchronous, or in-person. This requirement is based on lectures only. Skills sessions and clinical time cannot be including in determining the in-person percentage. If you are not certain if you course meets our requirements, you are encouraged to reach out prior to committing to the course.
• Only the applicant may fill, and sign, the application. A government issued photo ID will be required to be attached to the application.

All applicants must meet criteria as stated in the State’s regulations, specifically Section 800.12: Reciprocal certification requirements. They state that the applicant must do the following:

• Demonstrate a need for certification by providing proof of education, employment, or another acceptable need as determined by the department
• Have successfully completed a course that meets or exceeds a curriculum based on the current National EMS Educational standards and approved by the department; or
• Have successfully completed an out-of-state recognized, or National Registry recertification program that is an equivalent program or process to New York State or complete a practical skills evaluation and/or written exam as determined by the department; and

Additional information on each one of these requirements can be found in the application.

If you would like to apply for reciprocity, you need to complete this online application: https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/emtreciprocity

It can take up to sixty to ninety days for an initial review of your application. You will receive an email once it has been reviewed.

If you have a question about the process, you can email NYS DOH at [email protected].

If you are an individual who took a NYS course and opted to take the NREMT exam in place of the NYS exam, and you are now looking to obtain your NYS certification, please use this link

To become a NYC REMAC Paramedic, you must be a currently certified NYS DOH certified Paramedic. If you hold certification from one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the military, and/or from the National Registry of EMT’s (NREMT) you may be granted NYS certification by applying for reciprocity. See NYS DOH’s site for more information on reciprocity: https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/certification/reciprocity.htm

Certified NYS Paramedics will take the REMAC Basic exam. The exam consists of a 120-multiple-choice questions, based on the NYC REMAC Protocols.  The exam has questions on General Operating Procedures, Treatment Protocols, Appendices and Scenario based questions.  The exam may also include additional noncredit pilot questions. The test is limited to 3 hours and has a passing grade of 80%. Seating is limited. The exam fee is $125.

Visit our REMAC Examination page to apply for the Basic Exam and to renew your NYC REMAC Paramedic credentials.

The most current NYC Protocols are available on our Protocols page.

On January 1, 2023, NYC REMSCO launched a new LMS. NYC Protocol Updates, CME courses, and registration for the NYC REMAC Basic exam are available through the LMS. Visit our LMS page to learn how to set up an account or access your existing account.

Please note: If you currently have a NYS DOH Vital Signs Academy account, you can utilize that same account to login to the NYC REMSCO LMS. You may be required to enter additional registration information when you first login.

If you misplace or damage your NYC REMAC Credentialing Card, you can request a re-issuance online or by filling out the REMAC Duplicate-Replacement Request Form. There is a $10.00 processing fee for issuance of a Replacement NYC REMAC Card.

We offer in-person classes at our office, 475 Riverside Drive N.Y., N.Y. 10115 or we can do on-site training at your location. Visit our CPR page for more class dates and requirements for CPR certification. You can also visit the American Heart Association’s website, www.atlas.heart.org, for courses throughout the country.

To become a certified CPR Instructor you must complete the following steps:

1. Hold a current AHA BLS Provider course completion card.
2. Take an AHA CPR BLS Instructor course and pass.
3. Within 6 months successfully complete a student teaching course

Visit our CPR page to register for classes.

Email: [email protected]  if you have any questions/comments for our CPR Department.

Our Ambulance Agency listing is available here.

To open a new ambulance service within New York State must complete the Certificate of Need (CON) process as outlined in Article 30 of Public Health Law. As part of this process, the prospective ambulance service must demonstrate competency and fitness to provide Emergency Medical Services and must demonstrate a public need for additional ambulance services within the agency’s proposed operating territory. The process for determination of public need for a new ambulance service and/or expansion of an existing ambulance service and applications are available here.

NYC REMSCO and REMAC meetings take place nine times a year. They are open to the public at our office, 475 Riverside Drive N.Y., N.Y. 10115, and are live streamed online on our Youtube Channel. Check our calendar for meeting dates and times.