How to Become an EMT in Arizona

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must prove U.S. citizenship or lawful presence under A.R.S. 41-1080 (for example a U.S. passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers).
• You must have an Arizona address; if you are employed by an agency based in Arizona, you may register with the agency's address.
• You must not be currently incarcerated, on parole, on supervised release or on probation for a criminal conviction.
• Certain convictions bar certification: listed serious violent and sex crimes against children within 10 years, and other felonies or misdemeanors involving moral turpitude within 5 years, unless absolutely discharged, expunged or vacated.

Step by step

1. Create an account in the ADHS EMS & Trauma Portal and register for an ADHS-certified EMT course.
2. Complete the EMT course (at least 130 hours). Your training program enters your course results in the portal within 10 business days.
3. Pass the National Registry (NREMT) EMT exams.
4. If you apply on or after September 12, 2026, complete an FBI fingerprint-based background check through the Arizona DPS fingerprint service.
5. Log in to your existing portal account and submit an "EMCT Initial" application, entering your NREMT number in the Education Attestation section.
6. Allow 5 to 10 business days for processing. Arizona issues a digital certificate that you print from the portal.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Your EMT course must be run by an ADHS-certified training program. Since December 31, 2024, an EMT certification course must be at least 130 hours: at least 120 contact hours of classroom and skills training plus at least 10 contact hours of clinical and field training with at least 10 patient or simulated patient contacts. Classes are capped at 24 students.

Exam: Arizona does not give its own routine EMT exam. ADHS tells new EMTs to pass the National Registry exam and apply with their NREMT number. NREMT charges $104 per cognitive exam attempt. The rule also accepts comparable U.S. Armed Forces training and testing, or a state standardized training and test completed within two years.

What it costs in Arizona

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

How long it takes

ADHS says to allow 5 to 10 business days for an application to be reviewed and processed.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Certification lasts two years. You may apply to recertify within 90 days before expiration. EMTs can recertify with: an Arizona EMT refresher course (at least 24 hours) or refresher challenge exam completed in the last two years; current NREMT registration; or an attestation of 24 hours of CE in the last two years (including at least 5 hours of pediatric emergency care), current CPR, and at least 240 hours worked as an EMT in the last two years. Keep CE records for three years. If you miss your expiration date you can still recertify within 30 days with a $150 extension fee; after that you must apply as a new applicant and need current NREMT certification.

Good to know in Arizona

Moving from another state: Arizona has no reciprocal agreements with other states. To be certified you need current NREMT certification and an Arizona address (if you work for an Arizona-based agency, you may use the agency's address). NREMT certification alone does not let you work in Arizona; you must apply for Arizona certification.

New fingerprint rule: Effective September 12, 2026, all initial applicants, including those applying through reciprocity or endorsement, must pass an FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check before ADHS approves certification.

Probation on certification: If you were convicted of a drug, alcohol or DUI-related misdemeanor within two years before applying, ADHS makes probation a condition of your certification.

Extensions: If illness, military service or an authorized emergency deployment keeps you from meeting renewal rules, ask ADHS for an extension before your certificate expires: up to 180 days for illness, or the deployment plus 180 days.

EMS Compact: Arizona participates in the EMS Compact. If you hold a current, unrestricted EMT license from another participating Compact state, you can work in Arizona under a Privilege to Practice with no separate application or fee, as long as you work for an authorized EMS agency under a medical director and follow Arizona's scope of practice and protocols.

Sources

• ADHS - Emergency Medical Services & Trauma System
• ADHS - BEMSTS EMS & Trauma Portal FAQs (revised June 2024)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-401 - EMCT Certification General (Cornell LII)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-402 - Eligibility (Cornell LII)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-403 - Initial Certification (Cornell LII)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-404 - Recertification (Cornell LII)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-405 - Extension (Cornell LII)
• Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-305 - Training program courses (Cornell LII)
• NREMT EMT Candidate Handbook - Certification Process
• ADHS Bureau of EMS – EMCT Certification FAQ
• U.S. EMS Compact – member states; A.R.S. 36-2259
• EMS Compact - Participating States