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To become an EMS provider in Colorado, you musthold a current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians registration andapply for certification on the Online Application Tracking Hub. Colorado issues a 3-year certificate to first-time EMS providers whose applications meet all initial certification requirements. You must create an OATH account to start the online application process.
Application steps
Initial applicants for Colorado EMS provider certification, must first:
- Complete a full EMS provider course at the level you wish to practice at.
- Gain a NREMT registration by passing both NREMT exams (written and psychom*otor).
- Create an OATH account to apply for certification.
- Submit the "Application for Initial Certification"within your OATH account.
- Submit a fingerprint-based criminal history record information search to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
- Both CBI and FBI results must be requested.
- Fingerprints must be submitted within 60 days prior to or following the submission of your OATH application.
- Failure to submit an OATH application within 60 days of getting fingerprinted may require you to submit a new fingerprint-based background check with all of the associated fees.
View detailed instructions
Next steps
- Wait for the fingerprint sample to be processed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
- The department will receive the fingerprinting results from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
- Results will be added to your OATH application for further processing.
- Await for a notification from the department of the approval or rejection of your application. Common rejection reasons includemissing requireddocumentation,application input errors or other issues.
- Once approved as a Colorado EMS provider, the department will emailinstructions on printing the Colorado EMS provider certificate.
Application requirements
Initial and reinstatement applicants for Colorado EMS provider certification must gather the following prior to applying for certification:
- A fingerprint-based background check that's beensubmitted to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation within 60 days prior to or following the submission of your OATH application.
- Prior criminal history record searches via other organizations are not acceptable. New fingerprints must be collected and submitted to the CBI for the EMS provider certification process.
- Failure to submit an OATH application within 60 days of getting fingerprinted may require you to submit a new fingerprint-based background check with all of the associated fees.
- A valid NREMT registration at the provider level you intend to practice at.
- An image of your current and valid CPR card.
- An image of your current and valid ACLS card (Paramedic applicants only).
More information
- Instructions for obtaining your fingerprint-based background check
- Find an EMS education program
- Approved CPR and ACLS programs for Colorado state certification
- Becoming a paramedic with critical care (P-CC) endorsem*nt
- Becoming a paramedic with community paramedic (P-CP) endorsem*nt
- Criminal conviction policy
- Colorado EMS education, certification and scope of practice rules - 6 CCR 1015-3
- Reciprocity in Colorado
- Contact other state emergency medical services offices
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Emergency medical technicians in Colorado must renew their state certification every three years. EMS providers who are within 6 months of their certificate expiration date are eligible to apply for a renewal of EMS certification. Colorado accepts a current valid NREMT number as proof of the required continuing education and skills competency. EMS providers who are not registered with the NREMT can renew their certification using the state renewal method. The state renewal method requires EMS providers to:
- Gain therequired amount of continuing educationfor their practice level.
- Demonstrate skills competency (your education program will verify).
- Log on to yourOATH accountand apply for renewal certification (all renewal applicants have an account).
- Specify a Colorado-recognized EMS education program to verify your CE and skills within your OATH application.
Continuing education may be obtained from various sources, but you must contact and choose one recognized program to verify your CE and perform a skills test. Use the links below to find a Colorado EMS education program authorized by the department to verify CE and skills.
More information
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Certified EMS providers may want to upgrade to a higher level of certification. All certification upgrade applicants must:
Complete and pass a course at the higher certification level.
Pass the NREMT written and psychom*otor exams.
Obtain your new NREMT number at the higher level.
Apply for the Colorado certification upgrade in yourOATH accountusing your new NREMT number.
Intermediate-99 in Colorado
Colorado offers EMS certification at the Intermediate-99 level. Since the NREMT no longer recognizes EMT Intermediate-99, they no longer issue NREMT numbers for that level of practice. When applying for Colorado EMS certification, applicants who wish to certify at the Intermediate-99 level must upload documentation from the NREMT into their OATH application that shows they’ve passed both written and psychom*otor tests.Those currently certified at the Intermediate-99 level can use the State CE and skills attestation method to renew their certification.
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EMS providers whose certification has lapsed more than 6 months are considered reinstatement applicants. This means they must complete the Coloradoinitial certification/license application process. Initial applicants must present a valid NREMT registration at the intended level of practice.
More information
National Registry of Emergency Technicians (NREMT) transitions
