Reciprocity Information
Reciprocity is the process in which an individual holding a current certification from one of the fifty (50) states, the District of Columbia, the military, and/or from the National Registry of EMT's (NREMT) may be granted NYS certification rather than taking a NYS original course.
The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems (BEMS) recognizes the following provider levels as eligible of certification for reciprocity:
- Emergency Medical Responder/Certified First Responder
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
- Paramedic
Please Note:
- NYS does not grant reciprocity to individuals who have obtained certification from other countries or U.S territories who do not have a National Registry certification.
- All applications must prove that more than half of their course was asynchronous, or in-person. This requirement is based on lectures only. Skills sessions and clinical time cannot be including in determining the in-person percentage. If you are not certain if you course meets our requirements, you are encouraged to reach out prior to committing to the course.
- Only the applicant may fill, and sign, the application. A government issued photo ID will be required to be attached to the application.
All applicants must meet criteria as stated in the State's regulations, specifically Section 800.12: Reciprocal certification requirements. They state that the applicant must do the following:
- Demonstrate a need for certification by providing proof of education, employment, or another acceptable need as determined by the department
- Have successfully completed a course that meets or exceeds a curriculum based on the current National EMS Educational standards and approved by the department; or
- Have successfully completed an out-of-state recognized, or National Registry recertification program that is an equivalent program or process to New York State or complete a practical skills evaluation and/or written exam as determined by the department; and
Additional information on each one of these requirements can be found in the application.
If you would like to apply for reciprocity, you need to complete this online application: https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/emtreciprocity
It can take up to five business days for an initial review of your application. You will receive an email once it has been reviewed.
If you have a question about the process, you can email us at ems.reciprocity@health.ny.gov.
If you are an individual who took a NYS course and opted to take the NREMT exam in place of the NYS exam, and you are now looking to obtain your NYS certification, please use this link.