
EMS Certification Process
Certification Levels
Emergency Medical Responder is a course that teaches lifesaving skills such as CPR, bleeding control and airway management. These courses are usually 56-70 hours in duration. You must be at least 16 years of age. You can then certify by successfully completing the National Registry of EMTs exam which includes both a skills and computer exam at a Pearson Vue testing center.
Emergency Medical Technician is a course that teaches lifesaving skills such as CPR, bleeding control, airway management, assisted medications, treatment for medical and trauma emergencies, and ambulance operations. These courses are usually 150-200 hours in duration as well as a field component to treat and assess patients. You must be at least 16 years of age. You can then certify by successfully completing the National Registry of EMTs exam which includes both a skills and computer exam at a Pearson Vue testing center.
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician is a course that teaches lifesaving skills such as CPR, bleeding control, advanced airway management, IV’s, medication delivery, treatment for medical and trauma emergencies, and ambulance operations. These courses are usually 300 hours in duration as well at field component to treat and assess patients. You must be at least 18 years of age. You can then certify by successfully completing the National Registry of EMTS exam which includes both a skills and computer exam at a Pearson Vue testing center.
Paramedic is a course that teaches lifesaving skills such as CPR, bleeding control, advanced airway management, IV’s, needle decompression, 12 lead EKG’s, medication delivery, treatment for medical and trauma emergencies, and ambulance operations. These courses are usually 700-1000 hours in duration as well at field and clinical components to treat and assess patients. You must be at least 18 years of age and must be a CURRENT EMT. You can then certify by successfully completing the National Registry of EMTS exam which includes both a skills and computer exam at a Pearson Vue testing center.
Exams
EMS West manages all psychomotor exams for EMR, EMT, AEMT and Paramedic level certifications. Students currently enrolled in a certification course must register for exams through their primary class instructor. Students that need to schedule an exam retest or if you are located outside of the EMS West region please complete the Exam Request form. Click Here to view our Exam Schedule.
Exam Scheduling Request
Certification from Another State
Individuals who hold a current EMS Certification from another stare or from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians are eligible to obtain a Pennsylvania EMS Certification through the process of Certification by Endorsement. This process includes the completion of an electronic application found on the PA EMS Registry System, submission of background checks that may include any or several of the following (Federal, State of Residence or State of Certification) and the verification of Photo ID. To obtain detail instructions or to schedule an appointment for ID verification, please complete the following form:
Certification from Another State
Certification from Military Service
US Military members who are either current active duty or have been discharged from military service within the previous 12 months and hold a current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification are eligible to apply for Pennsylvania Certification. Applicants that meet the criteria detailed above shall only be required to submit a FBI background check.
Lapse in Certification
If you have an expired EMS certification, the Pennsylvania Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) makes the process of activating an expired certification easy. Providers will need to log into the PA EMS Registry and fill out a reinstatement application. The form includes updating your contact information, answering questions and submitting for review and approval.
Education Incentive Program
This program is designed and intended to financially support the educational efforts of persons seeking to become EMS providers, as well as currently certified providers who wish to continue their education by achieving a higher level of EMS certification. Additionally, this program encourages newly certified BLS providers to join the EMS work force by providing an opportunity to receive an additional monetary incentive to volunteer with, or become employed by, an EMS agency that provides 911 response and transportation of patients to a medical facility for a minimum specified period of time.
Funds will only be allocated and paid on a reimbursement basis, meaning that the student must successfully achieve specified benchmark and provide appropriate documentation of funds already paid by the student. No funding will be provided in anticipation of the student’s achievements, but only after completing certain requirements.
In order to be eligible for this program, the certification class must have begun after April 1, 2020, and the student’s certification date must be after July 1, 2020. Priority will be given to candidates who are affiliated, or intend to become affiliated with, basic life support EMS agencies that have been granted a staffing exception by the Department of Health under Act 17 of 2020.
Other eligibility requirements are specified below.
- Student attended an accredited EMS Education Institute in the EMS West Region
- Student self-paid entrance fee to the EMS Education Institute
- Student certified as an EMR, EMT or AEMT after July 1, 2020
- EMR Education Tuition Offset – $150
- EMT Education Tuition Offset – $350
- AEMT Education Tuition Offset – $600
- After the completion of a minimum of six months of continuous active participation (volunteer or employed) with a Pennsylvania licensed EMS Agency. Verified with a letter provided by the Chief/Director/President of the EMS Agency confirming active participation and the provider is not on a probationary or skills-restricted status.
- EMR EMS Agency Offset – $150
- EMT EMS Agency Offset – $350
- AEMT EMS Agency Offset – $350
Education Reimbursement Form
EMS Training Institutes that Offer Initial Certification Classes
Center for Emergency Medicine
230 Mckee Place
Suite 500
Pittsburgh PA 15213
412.647.5300
www.centerem.org
BLS and ALS Courses
Contact:
Alex Cutsumbis
412-647-3634
cutsumbisna@upmc.edu
Community College of Allegheny County
1000 McKee Rd N1180
Oakdale, PA 15071
412.237.2500 https://ccac.edu/workforce/workforce-public-safety-institute/index.php
BLS and ALS Courses
Contact:
Rick Hilinski
412-237-2500
psi@ccac.edu
Impulse Training Academy
PO Box 2325
Lower Burrell PA 15068
877.498.4332
www.impulsetrainingacademy.org
BLS and ALS Courses
Contact:
Richard Lippert
http://877-498-4332
rick@impulseta.org
Duquesne University Dept of Athletic Training
600 Forbes Ave
122 Health
Pittsburgh PA 15282
412.395.5959
www.duq.edu
BLS Courses
Contact:
Keith Gorse
412.395.5959
gorse@duq.edu
University of Pittsburgh – Emergency Medicine Program
230 Mckee Place
Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412.647.5300
www.shrs.pitt.edu/em
BLS & ALS Courses
Contact:
Nicole Cecchini
412-647-4245
williamsnm3@upmc.edu
University of Pittsburgh – Emergency Medicine Program
230 Mckee Place
Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412.647.5300
www.shrs.pitt.edu/em
BLS & ALS Courses
Contact:
Sarah Johnson
412-647-4648
pottse@upmc.edu
Community College of Beaver County
One Campus Drive
Monaca, PA 15061
724-480-3452
www.ccbc.edu
BLS Courses
Contact:
Kay O’Neill
724.480.3530
kay.oneill@ccbc.edu
Butler County Community College
107 College Drive
Butler PA 16002
724-287-8711
www.bc3.edu/ems
BLS Courses
Contact:
EMS Coordinator
724-287-8711 ext 8418
ems@bc3.edu
AmServ Ltd. Dusan Ambulance Training Institute
PO Box 253
835 Beaver Dr
Dubois, PA 15801
814-375-9290
www.amservdusan.com
BLS Courses
Contact:
Dawn Buck
814-375-9290 ext. 7020 dmb.training@amservdusan.com
St. Marys’ Area Ambulance, Inc
773 Johnsonburg Rd
St. Marys, PA 15857
814-781-1571
BLS Courses
Contact:
Thomas Tomaski
814-512-5776
medic123@windstream.net
Fayette Campus of Penn State’s Commonwealth College
2201 University Dr
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724.430.4217 https://fayette.psu.edu/ce/center-community-and-public-safety/emergency-medical-services/ems-training
BLS & ALS Courses
Contact:
Chuck Allias
724-430-4217
chuck.allias@psu.edu
Citizens’ Ambulance EMS Educational Institute
2712 West Pike Rd
Indiana, PA 15701
724-349-5511
www.citizenambulance.org
BLS Courses
Contact:
Harley Fox
724-349-5511
hfox@asmgt.com
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
2712 west Pike Rd
Indiana PA 15701
724-357-4051
www.iup.edu/est/
BLS & ALS Courses
Contact:
Brockway Ambulance Training Institute
1157 Cherry St
Brockway, PA 15824
814-591-9611
BLS Courses
Contact:
Christal Blakeslee
814-591-9611
mama_medic@hotmail.com
Western Area Career and Technical
688 Western Ave
Canonsburg, PA 15317
724.746.2890
BLS Courses
Contact:
Jeff Wodarcyk
724.746.2890
jwodarcyk@wactc.edu
Mutual Aid Training Institute Consortia
565 W. Otterman St
Greensburg PA 15601
724-837-6134
www.mutual-aid.com
BLS & ALS Courses
Contact:
Jonathon Jenkins
724-837-6134
jjenkins@mutual-aid.com
Westmoreland County Community College
65 Public Safety Drive
Smithton PA 15479
724-872-2447
www.westmoreland.edu/PSTC
BLS Courses
Contact:
Marc Jackson
814-279-1448 jacksonmarc@westmoreland.edu
Clearfield EMS Inc.
713 West Front Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
814-765-6710
BLS Courses
Contact:
Tim Lumadue
814-765-6710 deputydirector1@yahoo.com
PHRN and EMT Prepare Courses
EMS West provides at no charge, classroom and hands on instruction program for PHRN and EMT student candidates that are preparing to participate in both the psychomotor and computer adaptive exams. Candidates that have participated in our prepare courses have been 85% more successful on first time exam pass when compared to other students. Fill out the form below to receive more information about PHRN or EMT Prepare.
PHRN and EMT Prepare Courses
Reregistration
All currently registered EMS Providers are required to request reregistration by completing the electronic application contained within the EMS Registry system website. This application must be completed at least 30 days, and no more than 90 days from your current expiration date. All continuing education requirements must be met before reregistration along with the provider having record of a valid CPR certification in their electronic record.
To complete the reregistration request, log into the EMS Registry System and select EMS Practitioner > My EMS Practitioner Record >Manage My Certifications (located at the bottom of the General Information tab) and then select Reregistration.
EMS Instructors
The Department of Health Bureau of EMS requires all lead instructors of certification programs to be credentialed as an “EMS Instructor”. Certification programs include all classes that prepare students to become EMR’s, EMT’s, AEMT’s or Paramedics. EMS Instructors must be at least 18 years of age and be currently certified at the EMT level or above and complete one of the following Instructor Programs.
EMS Education Institute
Education Methodology from the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
Teacher’s certificate in Pennsylvania
Bachelors’ Degree in Education
Masters’ Degree or Doctorate in any discipline
Other Approved Program accepted in Pennsylvania (does not include CPR, ACLS, PALS, First Aid or EVOC)
Instructor candidates must complete an additional 20 hours of monitored teaching of EMS Certification Programs by a current Pennsylvania EMS Instructor.
This EMS Instructor credential is considered registered for a period of three years and requires 60 hours of documented teaching on a triannual basis for renewal. Use the EMS Registry to search for upcoming instructor programs.
Interested in getting an EMS certification?
Are you interested in becoming an EMR, EMT, AEMT and/or Paramedic? If yes, click here for a...