North Carolina
Licensure & Recertification Requirements for EMRs, EMTs, AEMTs & Paramedics
State follows a four (4) year recertification cycle.
North Carolina ONLY-licensed providers can meet requirements by completing a full recertification course every two (2) years.
If you’re certified by both NREMT and North Carolina, our CAPCE-accredited courses qualify for use as long as you are maintaining your NREMT recertification requirements.
*Reinstatement of a lapsed NC certification requires an NCOEMS approved refresher program, our refresher courses are not NCOEMS approved for reinstatement purposes.
Please see below for information on state requirements associated with your provider level:
North Carolina EMR Recertification
The state of North Carolina requires a total of thirty-two (32) hours of continuing education to recertify your Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification.
National + Local Requirements for North Carolina ONLY certified providers.
- Airway, Respirations, Ventilations: Three (3) hours
- Cardiovascular: Six (6) hours
- Trauma: Two and a half (2.5) hours
- Medical Emergencies: Seven and a half (7.5) hours
- Operations: Five (5) hours
- Total: Twenty-four (24) hours
Individual Requirements for North Carolina ONLY certified providers: Eight (8) hours
Total NC Certification: thirty-two (32) hours
North Carolina state-certified EMRs are required to renew their certification every four years, with certifications expiring on last day of the month of their expiration year.
Suggested Refresher Course
- NREMT & NC Certified: 16 Hour Paramedic Recertification Course (every NREMT recertification cycle)
- NC Only Certified: 16 Hour Paramedic Recertification Course (every two years)
State of North Carolina EMR Resources
NREMT EMR Recertification
The NREMT EMR National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) requires a total of 16 hours of continuing education to recertify. The model requires continuing education in three components: (1) a national component, (2) a local/state component, and (3) an individual component.
Nationally Registered EMRs (NREMT) are required to renew their certification every two years by September 30th of their expiration year.
NREMT EMR Requirement = 16 CEUs
- The National Component (NCCP) requires EMRs to complete eight (8) hours of approved continuing education.
- One and a half (1.5) hours of Airway/Respiratory/Ventilation
- Two (2) hours of Cardiac
- One (1) hour of Trauma
- Two and a half (2.5) hours of Medical
- One (1) hour of Operations
- State Component requires four (4) hours that are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.
- This component is intended to include any required agency and/or state EMS office-specific education. If this does not apply to you, the hours match the individual component requirements.
- Individual Component requires four (4) hours that are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.
- New to 2025 NCCP guidelines, 10% of the sixteen (16) total required hours must focus on pediatric topics.
- EMT’s need one point six (1.6) hours specific to pediatric education
Suggested Refresher Course
- NREMT Certified: 16 Hour EMR Recertification Course
NREMT Resources
North Carolina EMT Recertification
The state of North Carolina requires a total of eighty (80) hours of continuing education to recertify your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.
National + Local Requirements for North Carolina ONLY certified providers.
- Airway, Respirations, Ventilations: Ten (10) hours
- Cardiovascular: Twelve (12) hours
- Trauma: Eight (8) hours
- Medical Emergencies: Sixteen (16) hours
- Operations: Fourteen (14) hours
- Total: Sixty (60) hours
Individual Requirements for North Carolina ONLY certified providers: Twenty (20) hours
Total NC Certification: eighty (80) hours
North Carolina state-certified EMTs are required to renew their certification every four years, with certifications expiring on last day of the month of their expiration year.
Suggested Refresher Course
- NREMT & NC Certified: 40 Hour Paramedic Recertification Course (every NREMT recertification cycle)
- NC Only Certified: 40 Hour Paramedic Recertification Course (every two years)
State of North Carolina EMT Resources
NREMT EMT Recertification
The EMT National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) requires a total of 40 hours of continuing education to recertify. The model requires continuing education in three components: (1) a national component, (2) a local/state component, and (3) an individual component.
Nationally Registered EMTs (NREMT) are required to renew their certification every two years.
NREMT Requirement = 40 CEUs
- The National Component (NCCP) requires EMTs to complete twenty (20) hours of approved continuing education.
- Four (4) hours of Airway/Respiratory/Ventilation
- Five (5) hours of Cardiac
- Three (3) hours of Trauma
- Six (6) hours of Medical
- Two (2) hours of Operations
- State Component requires ten (10) hours that are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.
- This component is intended to include any required agency and/or state EMS office specific education. If this does not apply to you, the hours match the individual component requirements.
- Individual Component requires ten (10) hours that are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.
- New to 2025 NCCP guidelines, 10% of the forty (40) total required hours must focus on pediatric topics.
- EMT’s need four (4) hours specific to pediatric education
Suggested Refresher Course
- NREMT Certified: 40 Hour EMT Recertification Course
NREMT Resources
North Carolina AEMT Recertification
The state of North Carolina requires a total of one-hundred (100) hours of continuing education to recertify your Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) certification.
National + Local Requirements for North Carolina ONLY certified providers.
- Airway, Respirations, Ventilations: Ten (10) hours
- Cardiovascular: Eighteen (18) hours
- Trauma: Thirteen (13) hours
- Medical Emergencies: Twenty-one (21) hours
- Operations: Thirteen (13) hours
- Total: Seventy-five (75) hours
Individual Requirements for North Carolina ONLY certified providers: Twenty-five (25) hours
Total NC Certification: one-hundred (100) hours
North Carolina state-certified AEMTs are required to renew their certification every four years, with certifications expiring on last day of the month of their expiration year.
Suggested Refresher Course
- NREMT & NC Certified: 50 Hour AEMT Recertification Course (every NREMT recertification cycle)
- NC Only Certified: 50 Hour AEMT Recertification Course (every two years)
State of North Carolina AEMT Resources
NREMT AEMT Recertification
The NREMT AEMT National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) requires a total of 50 hours of continuing education to recertify. The model requires continuing education in three components: (1) a national component, (2) a local/state component, and (3) an individual component.
Nationally Registered AEMTs (NREMT) are required to renew their certification every two years by March 31st of their expiration year.
NREMT Requirement = 50 CEUs
- The National Component (NCCP) requires EMTs to complete twenty-five (25) hours of approved continuing education.
- Five (5) hours of Airway/Respiratory/Ventilation
- Six (6) hours of Cardiac
- Four (4) hours of Trauma
- Seven (7) hours of Medical
- Three (3) hours of Operations
- State Component requires twelve and a half (12.5) hours that are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.
- This component is intended to include any required agency and/or state EMS office-specific education. If this does not apply to you, the hours match the individual component requirements.
- Individual Component requires twelve and a half (12.5) hours that are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.
- New to 2025 NCCP guidelines, 10% of the fifty (50) total required hours must focus on pediatric topics.
- AEMT’s need five (5) hours specific to pediatric education
Suggested Refresher Course
- NREMT Certified: 50 Hour EMT Recertification Course
NREMT Resources
North Carolina Paramedic Recertification
The state of North Carolina requires a total of one-hundred twenty (120) hours of continuing education to recertify your Paramedic certification.
National + Local Requirements for North Carolina ONLY certified providers.
- Airway, Respirations, Ventilations: Twelve (12) hours
- Cardiovascular: Twenty-three (23) hours
- Trauma: Fourteen (14) hours
- Medical Emergencies: Twenty-five (25) hours
- Operations: Sixteen (16) hours
- Total: Ninety (90) hours
Individual Requirements for North Carolina ONLY certified providers: Thirty (30) hours
Total NC Certification: one-hundred twenty (120) hours
North Carolina state-certified Paramedics are required to renew their certification every four years, with certifications expiring on last day of the month of their expiration year.
Suggested Refresher Course
- NREMT & NC Certified: 60 Hour Paramedic Recertification Course (every NREMT recertification cycle)
- NC Only Certified: 60 Hour Paramedic Recertification Course (every two years)
State of North Carolina Paramedic Resources
NREMT Paramedic Recertification
The NREMT Paramedic National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) requires a total of 60 hours of continuing education to recertify. The model requires continuing education in three components: (1) a national component, (2) a local/state component, and (3) an individual component.
Nationally Registered Paramedics (NREMT) are required to renew their certification every two years by March 31st of their expiration year.
NREMT Requirement = 60 CEUs
- The National Component (NCCP) requires paramedics to complete sixty (60) hours of approved continuing education.
- Six (6) hours of Airway/Respiratory/Ventilation
- Seven (7) hours of Cardiac
- Five (5) hours of Trauma
- Eight (8) hours of Medical
- Four (4) hours of Operations
- State Component requires fifteen (15) hours that are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.
- This component is intended to include any required agency and/or state EMS office specific education. If this does not apply to you, the hours match the individual component requirements.
- Individual Component requires fifteen (15) hours that are flexible but must be directly related to EMS patient care.
- New to 2025 NCCP guidelines, 10% of the sixty (60) total required hours must focus on pediatric topics.
- Paramedics need six (6) hours specific to pediatric education
Suggested Refresher Course
- NREMT Certified: 60 Hour EMT Recertification Course
NREMT Resources
Page last updated: December 18, 2025.
We strive to keep this page as accurate and up-to-date as possible, especially given the frequent changes to state recertification requirements. Ultimately understanding your state certification requirements is your responsibility. Follow state links to contact them with any questions.
If you notice discrepancies or outdated information, please contact Allyson at moscheraa@impactems.com so we can make any necessary updates.
NREMT
The National Registry is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accreditation body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. The National Registry maintains NCCA accreditation for each of our four certification programs: (1) Emergency Medical Responder (2) Emergency Medical Technician (3) Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (4) Paramedic. The National Registry, established in 1970 as a non-profit organization, is the Nation’s Emergency Medical Services Certification organization. The mission of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians has always been centered on protecting the public and advancing the EMS profession.
