Emergency Medical Services Recertification Process

The following information should be used by career members of the Baltimore County Fire Department to facilitate recertification of their Maryland EMS credentials.  Volunteer ALS providers may take advantage of the BCoFD FRA ALS Refresher or refreshers offered by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI). Volunteer BLS providers may take advantage of refresher programs offered by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI).  BLS Providers (EMR and EMT) must recertify every 3 years, while ALS Providers (CRT and Paramedic) must recertify every 2 years.

The Baltimore County Fire Department recognizes that Professional Certification and Licensure is a personal responsibility.  All members are responsible for ensuring that they maintain their level of certification or licensure and accurately document the required training.

Recertification of Basic Life Support Providers
The State of Maryland requires that Basic Life Support Providers (Emergency Medical Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians) complete a total of 24 hours of approved recurrent education every three years.  This consists of a 12-hour didactic (lecture/online) portion and a 12-hour skills class.  Within 6 months of the provider's expiration date, the Fire-Rescue Academy will e-mail instructions for completing the 12-hour didactic portion. Following completion of this program, the provider must successfully pass a Maryland Protocol Evaluation.  This Protocol Evaluation is conducted on the InFERNO LMS.  The third, and final, step is to complete the state re-certification application on the MIEMSS Licensure and Certification portal.

EMT Rachelle Alexander supervises Basic Life Support Programs.

Relicensure of Advanced Life Support Providers
National Registry Recertification (For Paramedics ONLY)
The State of Maryland requires that Paramedics maintain active certification with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.  The National Registry utilizes the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) to specify the educational objectives for these providers.  The total curriculum consists of 60 hours which is further defined as:

• 30 National Component Hours (set by the NREMT).  10 of these hours may be distributive (online).
• 15 Local or State Component Hours (set by MIEMSS).  10 of these hours may be distributive (online).
• 15 Individual Component Hours (any state or CAPCE-approved hours).  All of these hours may be distributive (online).

The National Component Hours are traditionally conducted as part of your biennial ALS refresher program.

Once you have completed all components of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion which will include the MIEMSS Course ID #. Please upload the certificate and MIEMSS Course ID # on the NREMT website when entering your continuing education.

The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute hosts a two-part refresher program which satisfies this requirement.  They are:

• EMS-305, National Continued Competency Requirements (NCCR) - ALS Refresher Part I
• EMS-306, National Continued Competency Requirements (NCCR) - ALS Refresher Part II

Providers are responsible for keeping track of their education and entering it into their certification dashboard on the National Registry website.  The Fire-Rescue Academy has developed two guides to assist with the input of your hours into the NREMT system:

BCoFD Refresher Guide for BLS and ALS

Recertification Resources

Navigating NREMT Website

NREMT Recertification Guide

ATTENTION: NREMT AUDIT
The NREMT reserves the right to investigate recertification materials at any time.  The provider must retain verification of attendance of all education obtained.  Failure to submit verification or documentation when audited will result in denial of eligibility to recertify.  All information submitted must be accurate.  It is incumbent on the provider to be able to produce verification of training if requested by Baltimore County, the NREMT, or MIEMSS.

Maryland Licensure Renewal
Once the NREMT recertification has been completed, providers should log on to the MIEMSS Licensure and Certification portal and complete an application for recertification.

Maryland Cardiac Rescue Technician Renewal
Please note that beginning with the 2018 recertification cycle, the National Registry has downgraded all previously certified NREMT-I/99's to the AEMT level.  Providers may choose to keep this national certification if they wish, but it does not translate to Maryland Licensure.  All Maryland Cardiac Rescue Technicians now fall under the State-only re-licensure process.  Continuing education requirements for Maryland CRT's are identical to the NCCP requirements for Paramedics (above).  The attached CRT Renewal Guide provides additional information on how to renew your Maryland CRT License.

PLEASE NOTE:  All NREMT certifications expire on March 31, and all Maryland ALS Licenses expire on April 30.  If you have not received verification that your license has been renewed, you do not have a current license!

Paramedic Jaimie Philpott supervises Advanced Life Support Programs.