Certification & Accreditation

Certification & Accreditation

Certification & Accreditation

There are three levels of EMS Providers currently recognized by the Alameda County Health, Emergency Medical Services Agency (Alameda County EMS):

  1. Public Safety First Aid Providers (PSFA) are recognized through completion of initial training through an approved entity, and that recognition is maintained through completion of refresher training in accordance with regulation. View the California Regulations pertaining to Public Safety First Aid Providers
  2. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Alameda County EMS is the designated local authority that manages EMT Certifications. For more information on initial EMT certification or renewal of an EMT certification view the tabs below.
  3. Paramedic. The California EMS Authority is the Agency that manages all licensure activities for Paramedics in California.  For licensure information, view the California EMS Authority-Paramedic Licensure Information.

In order to practice as a Paramedic in Alameda County, local accreditation is required in addition to licensure by the State of California.

Additional information on the following certifications and accreditations can be found below.

  • Initial EMT Certification
  • EMT Recertification
  • Lapsed EMT Certification
  • Paramedic Accreditation

Continuing Education for Providers and Training Programs

Alameda County EMS strives to provide the most up-to-date information on available training opportunities. Below is a list of approved Training Programs in Alameda County.

  • Educational Opportunities for EMS Providers
  • Information for Training Programs [this could be consolidated with above]
  • Paramedic Preceptor Information

Educational Opportunities for EMS Providers:

  • Public Safety First Aid (PSFA) Training Programs
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Training Programs
  • Paramedic Training PRograms
  • EMS Continuing Education Providers
  • Other Training Resources
  • Contact Us

Training Program Information

Alameda County EMS maintains the highest standards for EMS educational programs in accordance with California State Regulations. Alameda County EMS provides approval and oversight for EMS training programs operating in Alameda County. If you are interested in conducting one of the programs below, please review the applicable State regulations below along with our Agency’s application. Each application contains the necessary information on how to complete and submit all of the required documents and materials.

Any organization wishing to conduct Public Safety First Aid training in Alameda County that is not considered a Statewide entity, must gain approval from the Alameda County EMS prior to initiation of any training.

Public Safety First Aid (PSFA)

California Code of Regulation Chapter 1.5- First Aid and CPR Standards and Training for Public Safety Personnel
Alameda County EMS’ Public Safety First Aid Training Program Application

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Any organization wishing to conduct EMT training in Alameda County that is not considered a Statewide entity, must gain approval from Alameda County EMS prior to initiation of any EMT training.

California Code of Regulations Chapter 2- Emergency Medical Technician

Alameda County EMS’ EMT Training Program Application

Private organizations- Please see Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education’s website for more information on gaining approval to conduct a training program in California.

Paramedic

Alameda County EMS is the approving authority for any organization wishing to conduct a Paramedic Training Program within Alameda County. If you wish to conduct paramedic training within Alameda County, please review the State Regulations below and complete the required application below.

California Code of Regulations Chapter 4- Emergency Medical Technician- Paramedic
Alameda County EMS’ Paramedic Training Program Application

Please also visit the Committee on Accreditation of EMS Professions website for more information on obtaining Paramedic Training Program Accreditation.

Continuing Education (CE)

Organizations in Alameda County wishing to provide Continuing Education for EMS providers can gain approval from the Alameda County EMS or from the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE).

Paramedic Preceptor Information

The role of a preceptor is to mentor and evaluate paramedic interns in the field setting.

Preceptor Responsibilities – Preceptors must be approved by Alameda County EMS. Candidates will receive approval in writing within 30 days of submitting the required documentation. See Preceptor Requirements policy for more information.

Interested candidates must submit the following to the Alameda County EMS for approval:

  1. An Alameda County preceptor application.
  2. A copy of a current California paramedic license. Paramedic licensure and county accreditation must be in good standing with no documented incidents requiring remediation during the past calendar year. Two years total experience as a paramedic is also required.
  3. Documentation verifying accreditation as an advanced level paramedic for at least one year in Alameda County. Definition found in Policy #2000.  (Exceptions to this standard may be made by the EMS Medical Director.)
  4. Successful completion of a Field Preceptor Training Workshop approved and periodically monitored by Alameda County EMS. Significant experience in teaching methodology may be substituted with medical director’s approval. Experience in teaching methodologies may include one of the following:
    • California State Fire Marshal “Fire Instructor 1A and 1B”, National Fire Academy “Fire Service Instructional Methodology” course or equivalent of sixty (60) hours in “Techniques of Teaching” courses.
    • Sixty hours in “Techniques of Teaching” courses.
    • Four (4) semester units of upper division credit in educational materials, methods and curriculum development, or equivalent from a college or university.
    • National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) “EMS Instructor Course.”
  5. A written recommendation from the provider agency.
  6. Alameda County Paramedic Preceptor Renewal Application.
  7. The EMS Medical Director must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.

EMS Providers Certification and Accreditation

Initial EMT Certification

An individual shall be eligible for a California EMT certification upon successful completion of the following requirements:

  1. Be 18 years of age.
  2. Possess a current and valid government-issued picture identification document such as a driver’s license, identification card, passport, military ID, etc.
  3. Possess a current NREMT card and NREMT certificate.
  4. Possess a completed copy of a Alameda County EMS-specific, California Department of Justice, and FBI Live Scan Application.
  5. Create an account in our Online Application Portal and submit an application as directed below, including the $140.00 fee along with the credit card processing fees.

Once you meet the above requirements and have the documents listed above, you may start your initial EMT certification application by following the instructions below:

  1. Go to the Alameda County EMS – Online Application Portal – Create Your Account page.
  2. This page will allow you to create a new account. Enter your demographics and click save. (Please note: If you do not have a Social Security Number, but have a California Tax Identification number, please contact our office at: alcoems@acgov.org as you will need assistance with creating your account.)
  3. You will receive an email from “noreply@imagetrend.com” with your username and a link to set up your password. If you do not receive that email, please make sure to check your junk/spam folders for that email.
  4. Click on the link in the above email and set up your password as directed and you will be logged into your account.
  5. Once logged in, click on the “Applications” icon on the menu.
  6. Under the “Applications” heading, click on the “Apply Now” button and follow the prompts on the screen.

After the completion of the above steps, your application and attachments will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy and upon approval you will be issued a California EMT certification card via U.S. Mail. The expiration date of your California EMT certification shall be two years from the date of your initial certification was issued. An EMT certificate issued by Alameda County EMS is valid throughout California.

EMT Recertification

EMT certification is valid for two years. In order to maintain certification an individual must recertify every two years. An individual is eligible for EMT recertification upon successful completion of the following requirements:

  1. Possess a current California EMT certificate or National Registry EMT certificate.
  2. Possess a current and valid government-issued picture identification document such as a driver’s license, identification card, passport, military ID, etc.
  3. Possess documentation of successful completion, every two years, of the following:
    • Completion of a 24-hour EMT refresher class or completion of 24 hours of Continuing Education (CE) Hours.
      • AND
    • Skills testing and a completed Skills Competency Verification Form from an approved EMT Training Program or by an approved EMS service provider.
  4. If this is the first time you have applied for certification in Alameda County, you must possess a copy of a completed Alameda County EMS-specific, California Department of Justice and FBI Live Scan application.
  5. Create an account in our Online Application Portal and submit an application as directed below, including the $102.00 fee along with the credit card processing fees. If you are renewing your EMT certification and you are currently certified through a different EMS Agency, the fee for renewal through our Agency is: $140.00. If you submit this application within 15 days or less of the expiration of your current certification, you will need to also pay a $30.00 late fee for your application to be processed.
  6. When you may apply for EMT recertification:
  • Within six months before your current certificate expires. The new expiration date will be two years from the current expiration date.
  • More than six months before your current certificate expires. The new expiration date will be two years from the last day of the month the requirements are met.

Once you meet the above requirements and have the documents listed above, you may start your EMT recertification application by following the instructions below:

  1. Go to Alameda County EMS – Online Application Portal – Login
  2. If you know you log in information already, log into your account
  3. If you have not logged in to this platform previously or if you do not know your login information, follow the steps below:
    • Go to the link in step 1. Click “Forgot Username” and enter the required information and click “Lookup.”
    • You will then be prompted for an email address to have your login information sent to be asked if the email address on record is the one that you would like your login information to be sent to.
    • You should receive the email with your username and a login link promptly. If you do not receive that email promptly, please check your junk/spam folders for an email from “noreply@imagetrend.com.”
    • If the platform was not able to locate your account, please send an email to: alcoems@acgov.org and one of our staff members will assist you in obtaining account access.
    • If you do not have a Social Security Number, but you do have a California Tax Identification number, please contact our office at alcoems@acgov.org as you will need assistance with claiming your account and obtaining your login information.
  4. Once you have the email from “noreply@imagetrend.com,” click on the link in that email and set up your password as directed and you will be logged into your account.
  5. Once logged in, click on the “Applications” icon on the menu.
  6. Under the “Applications” heading, click on the “Apply Now” button on the EMT recertification application and follow the prompts on the screen.

After the completion of the above steps, your application and attachments will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy and upon approval you will be issued a new California EMT certification card via U.S. Mail. An EMT certificate issued by Alameda County EMS is valid throughout California.

Lapsed EMT Certification

An individual may not work as an EMT or represent him/herself as an EMT with a lapsed certificate. There are no exceptions.

To restore an EMT Certificate lapsed for less than 6 months, complete the steps listed for EMT recertification under the “EMT Recertification” section above.

For an EMT Certificate lapsed greater than 6 months, but less than 12 months, complete the following items:

  1. Complete 36 hours of continuing education from an approved CE provider OR complete a 24 hour EMT refresher course from an approved training program plus 12 hours of continuing education from an approved CE provider.
  2. Skills testing and a completed Skills Competency Verification Form from an approved EMT Training Program or by an approved EMS service provider.
  3. Complete steps 2, 4, and 5, as applicable, in the “EMT Recertification” Section.

For an EMT Certificate lapsed 12 months or more, complete the following items:

  1. Complete 48 hours of continuing education from an approved CE provider OR complete a 24 hour EMT refresher course from an approved training program, plus 24 hours of continuing education from an approved CE provider.
  2. Skills testing and a completed Skills Competency Verification Form from an approved EMT Training Program or by an approved EMS service provider.
  3. If your NREMT has lapsed, you will be required to renew that, and submit proof of that renewal, along with your other application materials.
  4. Complete steps 2 and 5 in the “EMT Recertification” Section.
  5. Submit a copy of your California Department of Justice and FBI Live Scan background report.

Paramedic Accreditation

In addition to California State Licensure as a Paramedic, Paramedic’s are required to acquire and maintain accreditation through the Alameda County EMS in order to practice as a Paramedic in Alameda County.

Initial Paramedic Accreditation

Initial local accreditation for paramedics to practice in Alameda County shall be granted upon successful completion of the following:

  • Provide a copy of a valid California Paramedic License.
  • Attend the Alameda County EMS system orientation (offered monthly), arranged through your provider agency.
  • Provide documentation of training and competency in the local optional and expanded scope of practice.
  • Complete an accreditation application.
  • Pay the accreditation fee – $100.00 by money order, cashier’s check, online payment, or department PO only. Cash and personal checks are not accepted by Alameda County EMS.
  • Provide proof of employment with an approved Paramedic provider agency.
  • Accreditation will be granted upon successful completion of conditions above within 30 days from the date the accreditation application is received. A candidate failing to do so must reapply.

Continuous Paramedic Accreditation

Once issued, accreditation shall be continuous as long as the following conditions are met:

  • Maintain a valid California Paramedic License.
  • Meet local requirements for updates in local policy, procedure, protocol and local optional scope of practice, and comply with the requirements in the system-wide Quality Improvement program Policy #2000.
  • If any of the above requirements are not met or maintained, accreditation to practice will be withdrawn until the requirement(s) are successfully completed.
  • A Paramedic whose accreditation has been withdrawn for more than one year is required to re-apply for initial accreditation.

Online Payments

EMT Applicants: As of April 1, 2023, we are no longer accepting paper applications for any EMT certification. Alameda County EMS has moved to an online platform to manage applications for initial EMT certification and EMT recertification.

Make A Payment Online:

You can make online payments using Convenient Payments* service to purchase the following:

  • Paramedic accreditation and duplicate card fee
  • EMT Field Manual (for pickup only at the EMS office – manuals are not mailed)
  • Individuals registered to attend a 4-hour class after being cited for violating California’s car seat or seat belt laws.

Convenient Payments Transaction Fee Schedule*:

$0 – $5.00 = $0.50 $5.01 – $25.00 = $1.00 $25.01 – $50.00 = $2.00
0.01 – $100 = $3.00 $100.01 – $150 = $4.00 Over $150 = @2.49%