How to Become an EMT in Wisconsin

Who can apply

• You must be 18 or older (Wis. Admin. Code DHS 110.06).
• You must be able to perform the actions in the Wisconsin EMT scope of practice.
• You must complete training in the Wisconsin EMT curriculum at a Wisconsin-approved EMS training center within the 24 months before you apply.
• You must hold current NREMT certification at the EMT level or higher.
• You must have a healthcare-provider-level CPR course completed within the last two years.
• You must not have an arrest or conviction record substantially related to EMT duties, as determined by DHS.

Step by step

1. Enroll in an EMT course at a Wisconsin-approved EMS training center and get a Training Center Training Permit in E-Licensing so you can do clinical field training.
2. Optional: after 46 course hours (or with an EMR certificate), get an EMT-Basic Training Permit to train with a licensed EMT service.
3. Complete the Wisconsin EMT curriculum and pass the NREMT EMT exam to earn NREMT certification.
4. Submit the EMS Practitioner Initial License application in the Wisconsin E-Licensing portal with proof of NREMT and CPR, within 24 months of finishing the course.
5. Before you give care, complete a local credential agreement with each EMS service you work for.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: You must complete the Wisconsin EMT curriculum at a Wisconsin-approved EMS training center. You must apply for your license within 24 months after finishing the course. Students need a training permit to take part in clinical field training.

Exam: Wisconsin requires current National Registry (NREMT) certification at the EMT level. NREMT charges $104 per EMT exam attempt. Applicants without NREMT certification must take a DHS-authorized NREMT cognitive and psychomotor assessment exam.

What it costs in Wisconsin

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

Keeping your certification

Renewal: Wisconsin licenses run on a three-year cycle (triennium) and expire June 30; licenses renewed in 2026 run to June 30, 2029. To renew, you need one of: NREMT certification that was current on the first day of the triennium being completed (for the 2026 renewal, July 1, 2023); a 40-hour EMT refresher course based on the Wisconsin EMT curriculum at a Wisconsin training center; 40 hours of CE based on the Wisconsin EMT curriculum; NREMT recertification by exam; or an initial training course at or above the EMT level. Training must be done during the triennium that is ending. You also need healthcare-provider CPR within the last two years. Applications received after expiration owe a $50 late fee. Keeping NREMT is optional.

Good to know in Wisconsin

Local credential required: A Wisconsin license is not enough by itself. You must also be credentialed by each EMS service you work for (a local credential agreement) before providing care (DHS 110.05).

Moving from another state: Apply for reciprocity in E-Licensing and pay $50. You also file a Verification of License and Verification of Out-of-State Education. You need current NREMT EMT certification or must pass the NREMT cognitive and psychomotor assessment exam, plus current healthcare-provider CPR.

Criminal record pre-check: If you have a conviction, you can ask DHS for a pre-determination of eligibility before you apply (a fee applies).

Late renewal window: If your license expired June 30, you must have finished all education by that date and complete the late renewal application by December 31 of the same year. After that, you must apply for reinstatement.

Reciprocity: terrorism response training: Out-of-state applicants must also complete training for response to acts of terrorism, or show DHS satisfactory proof of an equivalent course (DHS 110.066(1)(h)).

Expired over two years: If your Wisconsin license has been expired for more than two years, you must apply through the initial licensing path as a new applicant.

Sources

• WI DHS - EMS License and Certification Information
• WI DHS - EMS License Application Information
• WI DHS - 2026-2029 Late Renewal Licensing Information
• Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 110 (PDF)
• Wis. Admin. Code DHS 110.06 - Initial license
• Wis. Admin. Code DHS 110.07 - Renewal
• NREMT - EMT Candidate Handbook, Certification Process
• Wisconsin DHS - EMS Renewal Requirements for 2026-2029 Licensure Cycle