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EMS Education

Alabama EMS Programs

A list of institutions offering EMSP education programs is available here.

A new presentation has been developed to introduce EMS students to the Office of EMS.

For questions regarding EMS education, please email [email protected]

Lapsed National Registry Certification Information

Has your National Registry certification lapsed? Here is the information needed to see how to regain your certification.

National Registry Pass Rates

This chart shows the cumulative NREMT test results. They are broken down by each EMS education program and EMS level from the last three years along with a three year cumulative average.

Approaching Alzheimer's: First Reponder Training

As a first responder, it’s critical to understand how to best approach situations involving someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Approaching Alzheimer's: First Responder Training program is a free, online training that features high-quality content in an interactive format, developed by the Alzheimer's Association with input from first responders. The training is not approved for continuing education credits but is good information for reference when dealing with Alzheimer's patients.

Nurse to EMT and/or Paramedic

Registered Nurses (RN) and other health care professionals can test for EMT certification. In order to do this, a candidate must work with an accredited EMS education program using an advanced placement process. Healthcare professionals using the advanced placement process would test as any other candidate who completed an initial program. Each program can tell you more about their specific advanced placement process.

RNs may bridge to the Paramedic level by completed Paramedic level curriculum. During this time, the candidate must obtain an EMT level Alabama license before continuing into the 2nd semester of the curriculum. At the end of the Paramedic curriculum, they will be allowed to take the Paramedic certification exam.

For a list and contact information for accredited EMS education programs, please click here.

EMS Education Accreditation

In accordance with the 2019 Alabama Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Rules (Section 420-2-1-.32 Education Standards and Procedures), all institutions conducting classes for the purposes of EMS education must be accredited by the Office of EMS (OEMS). The accreditation process is based on national guidelines to ensure that successful EMS education curriculum completion will allow the student to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam with a reasonable expectation of passing.

The accreditation process will be conducted in two phases: Review of application and supporting documentation, and a site visit. All EMS education programs must complete an accreditation application. The site visit will only be conducted, for those education programs who are not Committee on Accreditation of Emergency Medical Services Profession (CoAEMSP) accredited.

The Credentialing Manual and the Accreditation Application are available online.

Interfacility Transfer Paramedic Course

Interfacility transports, like field work, will present the paramedic with a variety of conditions. These situations may range from the seemingly non-serious case of an individual receiving a vitamin infusion to the critical patient who has just suffered a myocardial infarction and is now receiving thrombolytic therapy. The standard Paramedic curriculum does not address the detailed use of ventilators, foley catheters, or chest tubes. Additionally, many of the medications that may be transported during interfacility transfers are not mentioned.

It would be impossible for the paramedic involved in transport work to keep abreast of all the pharmacologic agents available. It is however, incumbent on the transfer paramedic to maintain an above average knowledge of the more commonly used agents which their respective service may be called on to transport.

The Interfacility Transfer Paramedic Course has been designed to acquaint the Paramedic with the skills and knowledge necessary to maintain and administer a wide variety of medications. Additionally, the maintenance of certain procedures, such as chest tubes, are addressed.

Continuing Education and Refresher Courses

Courses are available through the Regional Offices and Alabama EMSP Education Programs.

Training Opportunities

Community Mass Care and Emergency Assistance

The Community Mass Care and Emergency Assistance course provides training for local communities to prepare for and manage the Mass Care/Emergency Assistance (MC/EA) functions effectively. The goal is to prepare community agencies, organizations, and businesses to work together in coordination with Emergency Management and traditional MC providers to plan and provide MC/EA services to those affected by disaster.

Selection Criteria: This course is intended for MC coordinators, management staff, non-governmental organization leaders, private sector, and other emergency management staff that are a part of the team and have a responsibility for effective MC/EA preparedness and response.

This course is 2 days in length. Each training day is scheduled for approximately 8 hours and you will receive 16 hours of continuing education credit.

Registration for the G0108 course is available online.

If you do not have a FEMA SID number, you will be prompted to obtain it during the registration process.

Rocket City Emergency Medical Conference and Handtevy Instructor Course

The Tennessee Valley Region has many of the fastest growing areas in the country. The city of Huntsville alone, is projected to become the state's largest city within the next 5 years. With such rapid growth, the demand for emergency medical care will increase in parallel. Our community is also very diverse, with residents and visitors from all across the country and the world. Thus, the demand for the skillful recognition and management of vast arrays of pathologies has never been greater. Rocket City Emergency Medical Conference is designed specifically with that in mind and includes topics focusing on pre‐ and in‐ hospital pediatric, medical and trauma resuscitations, the resurgence of vaccine preventable pediatric illnesses, disaster medicine, toxicology, end of life care in the ED, and many other focused topics. Our 2‐day curriculum and a preconference day skills lab will provide the most up to date practical knowledge and skills required to the work in our community as front line medical personnel. Part of the preconference will include the Handtevy Instructor Course with nationally recognized pediatric expert and educator, Dr. Peter Antevy. Registration for both the preconference and conference is available online.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Field Courses

EMR and EMT field courses are now available. If you would like to host a course, you will need to contact your regional office. For specific information on instructor and other educational requirements for EMS courses, please see section 420-2-1-.32 Education Standards and Procedures in the latest version of the Alabama EMS Rules.

Landing Zone Helicopter Safety

The Alabama Air Ambulance landing safety recommended guidelines are available online.

Naloxone Administration for Law Enforcement

All participating law enforcement officers will receive initial training that will include, at minimum, an overview of 2015 House Bill 208 that permits law enforcement use of Naloxone, patient assessment (e.g., signs/symptoms of overdose), universal precautions, rescue breathing, seeking medical attention, and the use of intra-nasal naloxone. Online training is available.

Page last updated: April 1, 2024