How to Become an EMT in Louisiana

Checked against Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Public Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, with the Louisiana EMS Certification Commission · Verified 2026-10-17

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: Initial and reciprocity licenses for applicants with a current NREMT certification are issued with the same expiration date as the NREMT certification (March 31). Renewal applications open October 1 of the renewal cycle, after the NREMT renewal, and must be completed before the March 31 expiration date.
State fee: $30 initial EMT license fee. It is $15 if you work for the State of Louisiana, a municipal fire department, fire protection district, volunteer fire department or municipal law enforcement agency and do not do paid EMS work elsewhere. Out-of-state applicants pay $60; the fee is waived for military applicants.
Certified by: Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Public Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, with the Louisiana EMS Certification Commission

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Who can apply

You must be at least 18 years old when you apply for an EMT license.
You must complete a state-approved EMT course and apply within two years of finishing it.
You must hold a valid, unrestricted NREMT EMT certification, earned by passing the NREMT computer adaptive exam and the Louisiana Bureau of EMS psychomotor exam.
You must keep a valid BLS CPR credential.
You must complete a state and federal fingerprint background check through IdentoGO. If you disclose a conviction, a Bureau investigator reviews it and may send it to the EMS Certification Commission.

Step by step

Complete a state-approved EMT course at a Louisiana EMS education program.
Pass the NREMT EMT cognitive exam and the Louisiana Bureau of EMS psychomotor exam to earn NREMT EMT certification.
Schedule your state and federal background check with IdentoGO using Bureau of EMS service code 27N4S2.
Create an account in the Bureau's online licensing portal (labems.ldh.la.gov) and complete the EMT application.
Pay the license fee. The Bureau does not review applications until the fee is paid.
The Bureau issues your license, which expires March 31 two or three years later depending on when you finish.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: You must complete a state-approved EMT course (R.S. 40:1133.6) and apply for your license within two years of finishing it.

Exam: You must pass the NREMT EMT computer adaptive (cognitive) exam and a Louisiana Bureau of EMS psychomotor exam, and hold NREMT EMT certification. If you took your course in another state and earned NREMT but did not get that state's license, you must either get that state's license and apply by reciprocity, or pass the Louisiana EMT psychomotor exam (call the Exam Coordinator at 225-925-7214).

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What it costs in Louisiana

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)$
IdentoGO state and federal background check (plus $5 at a sheriff's office or $39.99 out of state)$55.75
Initial EMT license fee (standard)$30
Initial EMT license fee (qualifying public-entity employees)(optional)$15
EMT renewal fee (standard)$25

Estimated total in Louisiana$110.75Plus 2 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

IdentoGO state and federal fingerprint background check: $55.75 (plus $5.00 if fingerprinted at a sheriff's office, or a $39.99 service charge if fingerprinted out of state). It is valid for 24 months.
EMT course tuition varies by program.
NREMT exam fee is paid to the NREMT.

How long it takes

Apply within two years of finishing your EMT course. LDH reports standard applications were finalized in an average of two business days in 2025.

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Louisiana requires all EMS personnel to keep NREMT registration. To renew, first renew your NREMT EMT certification (by NREMT CE or exam), then apply in the portal from October 1 of your renewal cycle, keep BLS CPR, and pay the $25 renewal fee ($10 with the public-entity discount). Renewals must be done by March 31 of the expiration year. There is no extension; a reinstatement period runs April 1 to April 30, and after that NREMT re-entry rules apply.

Good to know in Louisiana

Out-of-state EMTs: Louisiana is in the EMS Compact: EMTs licensed in another Compact member state can work in Louisiana under their Privilege to Practice without a Louisiana license, with their Louisiana-affiliated agency responsible for oversight. EMTs from non-Compact states need a Louisiana license: if you hold NREMT certification and have no disqualifying conditions (such as a felony or state EMS discipline), apply with the License by Reciprocity application. If you are certified in another state without NREMT, you must first earn NREMT certification.

Uniformed service fee waiver: Applicants who show active status with the U.S. Uniformed Services and meet Louisiana's requirements do not pay initial or renewal license fees. Military members and spouses assigned to Louisiana may get expedited licensing under R.S. 37:3651.

Criminal history: The Bureau will not clear someone with a conviction for a license until they have enrolled in an EMS course. Because NREMT certification is required, LDH also points applicants to the NREMT felony policy.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Public Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, with the Louisiana EMS Certification Commission before you apply.