2025 Massachusetts EMS Recertification Guide

Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services oversees the recertification process for EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic credentialed EMS providers. We’ve outlined the recertification process for Massachusetts, provided some helpful links, and answered frequently asked questions.

Information on this page was accurate at time of publishing and is regularly reviewed and updated. Always confirm the rules, regulations, and processes with your local EMS authorities. If you notice any inaccurate or out-of-date information, please let us know so we can make corrections.

Massachusetts EMS Recertification Guide

Massachusetts certified EMS providers follow the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) for recertification. We’ve broken up the requirements for renewal by EMS provider level:

Guide to Massachusetts EMT Recertification:

1. Complete 40 hours of CAPCE approved Continuing Education
   • National Component: 20 hours (7 hours may be distributive)
   • State / Local Component: 10 hours (no distributive hours allowed)
   • Individual Component: 10 hours (all hours may be distributive)
2. Submit a recertification application via the Massachusetts EMS Public Portal

Get started now with Code One’s Online EMT Recertification Program

Step by Step Instructions from MA OEMS are Here

Guide to Massachusetts AEMT Recertification:

1. Complete 50 hours of CAPCE approved Continuing Education
   • National Component: 25 hours (8 hours may be distributive)
   • State / Local Component: 12.5 hours (no distributive hours allowed)
   • Individual Component: 12.5 hours (all hours may be distributive)
2. Submit a recertification application via the Massachusetts EMS Public Portal

Get started now with Code One’s Online AEMT Recertification Program

Step by Step Instructions from MA OEMS are Here

Guide to Massachusetts Paramedic Recertification:

1. Complete 60 hours of CAPCE approved Continuing Education
   • National Component: 30 hours (10 hours may be distributive)
   • State / Local Component: 15 hours (no distributive hours allowed)
   • Individual Component: 15 hours (all hours may be distributive)
2. Submit a recertification application via the Massachusetts EMS Public Portal

Get started now with Code One’s Online Paramedic Recertification Program

Step by Step Instructions from MA OEMS are Here

Accepted EMS Continuing Education

Education must be approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) or by the state EMS office to provide credit for EMS recertification.

Continuing Education hours are split into three categories – National Component, State / Local Component, and Individual Component. Each category has its own required education hours and limits for how many hours can be completed using Distributive Education (pre-recorded content). The hours required for each EMS provider are listed in the above guides.

National Component: The National Component consists of prescribed hours set by the National Registry for core educational topics including Airway / Respiration / Ventilation, Cardiovascular, Trauma, Medical, and Operations.

State / Local Component: Massachusetts specifies training hours for each certification level in trauma, pediatric, and stroke care. Paramedics also need to complete training in cardiac care. Your local medical control or EMS agency may specify additional educational requirements to be completed in this component. Hours not specified in this component may be completed as elective courses.

Individual Component: These hours are for completion of elective courses.

Distributive vs. Live Education

The NREMT categorizes education as F1, F2, F3, and F5 (yup, F4 doesn’t exist!)

• F1: Live In-Person Continuing Education – In-person elective courses such as seminars, conference sessions, and hospital grand rounds.
• F2: Live In-Person Continuing Education (Continuous / Cyclical) – In-person courses that are required for certification renewal such as CPR.
• F3: Online Distributive Continuing Education – Pre-recorded courses that can be completed at any time. These can be written, audio, or video programs. NREMT limits the number of hours allowed for distributive content.
• F5: Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) Continuing Education – Courses that are conducted live in a virtual classroom like a webinar.

As described in the above guide, each component has a limit on the number of F3, or distributive, hours that can be applied. Completion of live training in the F1, F2, or F5 categories satisfies the balance of the required hours.

Online Recertification with Code One:

Code One offers Online NREMT Recertification courses for each level of EMS Provider:

• Online EMT Recertification Course – Consists of 40 hours of online content which satisfies all continuing education requirements. Participants attend 16 hours (or more if desired) of training as live (F5) virtual instructor-led courses in an online webinar. Live courses are scheduled weekdays between 10am and 6pm with 5 courses offered per day (additional evening and weekend sessions are scheduled during February and March). The remaining 24 hours are pre-recorded distributive education (F3) which may be completed anytime. Register Here

• Online AEMT Recertification Course – Consists of 50 hours of online content which satisfies all continuing education requirements. Participants attend 21.5 hours (or more if desired) of training as live (F5) virtual instructor-led courses in an online webinar. Live courses are scheduled weekdays between 10am and 6pm with 5 courses offered per day (additional evening and weekend sessions are scheduled during February and March). The remaining 28.5 hours are pre-recorded distributive education (F3) which may be completed anytime. Register Here

• Online Paramedic Recertification Course – Consists of 60 hours of online content which satisfies all continuing education requirements. Participants attend 25 hours (or more if desired) of training as live (F5) virtual instructor-led courses in an online webinar. Live courses are scheduled weekdays between 10am and 6pm with 5 courses offered per day (additional evening and weekend sessions are scheduled during February and March). The remaining 35 hours are pre-recorded distributive education (F3) which may be completed anytime. Register Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I complete all of my continuing education online?

Yes. Code One’s Online EMT Recertification course provides all required continuing education hours in a flexible virtual format. Participants complete a combination of scheduled live courses in a virtual conference room and distributive pre-recorded courses which may be completed at any time.

But what about the limits on distributive education?

EMT Recertification limits distributive education (pre-recorded) course hours. Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) courses are conducted in real-time via webinar and are approved in the F5 category by the NREMT. There is no limit for hours that can be obtained through VILT.

What is the schedule for live Virtual Instructor-Led Training through the Online EMT Recertification course?

Live courses are scheduled on weekdays from 10am to 6pm with five courses offered per day. There are additional evening and Saturday sessions scheduled during February and March. Most classes are one hour in length.

If I renew my NREMT certification, do I still need to get a state certification?

EMTs need a state certification to practice. The EMT can easily submit their updated NREMT certification through the state licensing portal to obtain updated state EMT certification.

Helpful Resources:

• Massachusetts OEMS Renewal Instructions
• Massachusetts OEMS Website
• Massachusetts EMS Public Portal
• NREMT Recertification Information for EMR | EMT | AEMT | Paramedic

State EMS Department Contact:

Massachusetts Department of Health Office of EMS
Phone: (617) 753-7300
67 Forest St.
Marlborough, MA 01752
Email Link