How to Become an EMT in Hawaii

Checked against Hawaii Medical Board, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Verified 2026-10-17

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: $171 if licensed between February 1 of an even-numbered year and January 31 of an odd-numbered year ($20 non-refundable application fee, $32 license fee, $19 half renewal fee, $100 Compliance Resolution Fund); $102 if licensed between February 1 of an odd-numbered year and January 31 of an even-numbered year.
Certified by: Hawaii Medical Board, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing Division

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Who can apply

You must complete an EMT training program.
You must hold a current National Registry (NREMT) EMT certification.
For the EMT (Transport) license you also need didactic training in cardiac defibrillation and IV access from a state-approved EMT program, plus 96 hours of clinical training through a board-approved agency.
For the EMT-1 (Non-Transport) license you also need current CPR and BLS for healthcare providers certification.
You must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or an alien authorized to work in the U.S., and you must provide your Social Security Number.
You must report any criminal convictions that have not been annulled or expunged.

Step by step

Decide which level you need. Only the EMT (Transport) license lets you work on an ambulance; EMT-1 (Non-Transport) does not.
Complete an EMT training program (for Transport, a state-approved program that covers cardiac defibrillation and IV access, plus 96 clinical hours).
Pass the National Registry EMT exams and earn NREMT EMT certification.
Complete the Application for License or Examination - Emergency Medical Personnel (EMP-01) and attach your course completion certificate (and, for Transport, proof of the extra training and clinical hours).
Send form AT-06 to the NREMT so it emails a Historical Status Verification of your NREMT certificate to the board, and send form AT-05 to any state where you were ever licensed.
Mail or deliver the application and fee to the Hawaii Medical Board, DCCA PVL Licensing Branch, in Honolulu.
The board issues your license. Renew it by January 31 of every even-numbered year.

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Training and exam

Training: Hawaii licenses two EMT levels. EMT-1 (Non-Transport) requires an EMT training program plus CPR and BLS for healthcare providers. EMT (Transport) also requires didactic training in cardiac defibrillation and IV access in a state-approved EMT program and 96 hours of clinical training experience through a board-approved agency. If your program lacked these, the board has a deficiency sheet explaining how to make them up; the board says clinical hours must normally come from a training program, but it has used its discretion to accept employer-verified training.

Exam: Hawaii does not give its own EMT exam. You must pass the National Registry (NREMT) EMT exam and hold a current NREMT EMT certificate. The board's FAQ says Hawaii has no reciprocity with NREMT or any other organization: the NREMT certificate is required but does not by itself give you a Hawaii license.

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What it costs in Hawaii

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

EMT course tuition$
NREMT exam fee (paid to NREMT)$
Initial license fee, licensed Feb 1 of even year to Jan 31 of odd year$171
Initial license fee, licensed Feb 1 of odd year to Jan 31 of even year$102
Biennial renewal (2026-2028 cycle)$138

Estimated total in Hawaii$411Plus 2 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

EMT course tuition varies by program.
National Registry exam fees are paid to the NREMT.
Other states may charge a fee to send a license verification (form AT-05).
A $25 service charge applies to dishonored payments.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: All EMT licenses expire January 31 of every even-numbered year, whatever the issue date. On-time renewal is $138 (cycle February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2028). Under HAR 16-85-55 (as amended effective October 15, 2016) you renew by holding a current NREMT certificate; only EMTs who did not hold NREMT certification before the 2016 rule change may instead meet the NREMT continuing-education requirements for their level. You do not send CE proof unless you are randomly audited (audit letters go out in October of odd-numbered years). There is no inactive status.

Good to know in Hawaii

Two EMT license levels: EMT-1 (Non-Transport) matches the basic NREMT level but does not qualify you to work on an ambulance. EMT (Transport) has the extra defibrillation, IV access and 96 clinical-hour requirements.

No reciprocity: The Hawaii Medical Board says it is not reciprocal with the NREMT or any other organization. Out-of-state EMTs must meet Hawaii's requirements, hold current NREMT certification and send verification from every state where they were licensed.

Late renewal: A license not renewed by January 31 is forfeited and you may not practice. You can restore it within two years by mail with the restoration fee ($140 for EMT levels) and proof of CE for the past cycle; after two years you must apply as a new applicant. Restorations cannot be done online.

No temporary license: The board's FAQ says it does not currently issue limited temporary certificates.

Lapsed NREMT: If your NREMT certification lapsed more than two years ago, the board's FAQ says re-entry needs a state-approved refresher (or the national NCCP component), a state practical exam, the cognitive exam and current BLS CPR.

First renewal: If you were first certified in the 12 months before the January 31 renewal date, you have no CE requirement at that first renewal. If you were certified in the first year of the two-year period, you need half the normal CE (HAR 16-85-55).

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Hawaii Medical Board, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing Division before you apply.