San Luis Obispo County Emergency Medical Services Agency
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification
2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo, CA  93401 ~ Phone: 805.788.2511 ~ Fax: 805.788.2517 ~ Hours: Monday - Friday ~ 8:00 a.m to 5 p.m.
© SLO County EMS Agency 2011, 2012
Last updated 02/02/2012
Photo courtesy  SLO County Fire
* NEW DMV SERVICE: We can now pull your driving record at no cost to you and with no long lines to wait in!  
Authorization forms are available in our office or  fill in and print  these forms to submit to our office for this service.  
Once you sign up for this service you will not need to do it again.  We will receive your driving record automatically
when you come in every two years to re-certify.
Please see fee schedule for current fees
  • In addition to the non-refundable county application fee, there is a  non-refundable state fee.
  • You will be required to pay the initial fee if you change counties or in some cases if you change employers.
  • If you allow your EMT certification to expire more than 12 months you must complete a new Live Scan and pay
       the state initial EMT certification fee.
New recertification background requirements:
  • If you do not currently have a Live Scan (fingerprinting) on file with us, you must have a new one done using the
       EMS Agency  Live Scan Form.
  • If you recertify in a different county, or in some cases if you change employers, you will be require to do a new Live Scan. Live Scan Location
Please Note:  
  • Applicants must present valid photo identification to the Live Scan Operator. Expired identification cards will not be accepted.
  • Rolling fees vary from location to location and cover only the operator's cost for rolling the fingerprint images.
  • Additional processing fees are required for the State (DOJ) and Federal (FBI) level  criminal history record checks.
  • Other fees may also be required (i.e., license fees).  
Once you complete your basic EMT course you must pass the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician Test before you can obtain
an EMT certification from any county in California.
Possession of a NREMT card does not allow you to work as an EMT in California.  You must apply for an EMT certification from a county
in California.
In order to be eligible to apply for EMT certification you must apply after you pass the NREMT test and within two (2) years of
completion of your basic EMT course.
Initial EMT certification expiration dates will be 2 years from the date you pass the National Registry Exam.
*All EMT applicants must disclose every misdemeanor and/or felony of which they have been convicted,
including vehicle code violations and those for which they have been found guilty by a jury, plead guilty
or plead nolo contendre.  Failure to disclose a misdemeanor or felony may result in denial, suspension or
revocation of an EMT certificate pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 1798.200.
EMT INITIAL CERTIFICATION:
Once you complete your basic EMT course you
must pass the National Registry Emergency
Medical Technician Test before you can obtain an
EMT certification from any county in California.
The items required for initial certification in San Luis
Obispo County are as follows:
  • You must apply in person
  • Must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Complete San Luis Obispo County EMS
    Personnel Application  
  • Course Completion Certificate from an
    approved EMT program   
  • Completion Certificate from the National
    Registry EMT indicating you have passed the
    exam.
  • DMV printout dated within 7 days of
    application or utilize our services.
  • Current CPR certification at the Professional
    Rescuer level.
  • Driver’s License or other government-issued
    photo identification
  • Criminal background check through the
    Department of Justice (Live Scan) – using our
    Live Scan form.
  • Pay the non-refundable county application fee
  • Pay non-refundable state initial certification
    fee
Upon completion of above requirements and
confirmation that the applicant is not precluded from
certification for reasons defined in Section 1798.200
of the California Health and Safety Code, the EMS
Agency has up to 14 days to issue  your EMT Card.  
The expiration date shall be two years from the date
you pas the National Registry Exam.  
For those individuals who are recertifying
from out of county:
Complete EMS Personnel Application
Provide copy of a valid and current CPR card
Current EMT Certification Card
Provide a current government issued photo Id.
Completion of DOJ and FBI background, using
our Live Scan form
DMV printout dated within 7 days of application.
Skills Verification Form and CE depending on
expiration date of current certification.
Pay non-refundable county application fee.
Pay non- refundable state fee.
Upon completion of above requirements and confirmation that the applicant is not precluded from
certification for reasons defined in Section 1798.200 of
the California Health and Safety Code, the EMS Agency
has up to 14 days to issue your EMT Card.
For those individuals from out of state
applying for California EMT Certification:
Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
Complete EMS Personnel Application
Provide valid and current CPR card
Provide a current government issued photo id.
Provide documentation of out-of-state or  National
Registry certification.
Completion of DOJ and FBI background using our
Live Scan form
Provide DMV printout dated within 7 days of
application.
Pay the non-refundable county application fee.
Pay the non-refundable state fee.
Upon completion of above requirements and confirmation that the applicant is not precluded from certification for
reasons defined in Section 1798.200 of the California
Health and Safety Code, the EMS Agency has up to 14 days
to issue your EMT Card.  The expiration date shall be the
same date as stated on the out-of-state or Natonial Registry
Certification.
For Paramedic working as an EMT
A California licensed Paramedic working as an EMT
is not required to have an EMT card, unless their
Paramedic license has been suspended.  However,
if the employer or individual wants an EMT card they
will be required to provide the following to the EMS
Agency:
Complete EMS Personnel Application
Provide valid and current CPR card
Provide current and valid California
Paramedic License
Completion of DOJ and FBI background using
our Live Scan form
Provide a current government issued photo id.
Provide DMV printout dated within 7 days of
application
Pay the non-refundable state fee
Paramedic license will suffice for CE and
skills.

EMT RECERTIFICATION:
In order to apply for EMT recertification in San Luis Obispo County, candidates must submit to the EMS Agency,by
email, fax, mail or in person, an EMS Personnel Application along with the following:
  • Course Completion Certificate from an approved 24-hour EMT refresher course
                OR
  • Course Completion Certificate(s) documenting 24 hours of continuing education from an approved CE
    provider. At least 50% must be in a format that is instructor based, which means that instructor resources are
    readily available to the student.  CE must be from an approved EMS CE Provider.  Make sure you check for
    the EMS CE Provider #.  BRN or nursing CE cannot be used for EMS personnel.  See EMS Programs for
    more information
  • EMT certification card that is not more than six months expired. Click here if your card is greater than six
    months expired
  • Current CPR certification at the Professional Rescuer level.
  • Completed Verification of Skills Competencies form. Please check instructions carefully to determine who is
    qualified to verify your skills. We maintain a list of qualified individuals in our office.  If an unqualified person
    signs off your skills, you will be required to re-do them.  
  • DMV printout that is dated within 7 days of application or if your employer participates in the DMV notification
    system, use this  Sample Letter.  We can also do the DMV pull using this form.
  • Criminal background check through the Department of Justice (Live Scan) if not currently on file with our
    agency.
                  OR
  • if applicant was grandfathered into the state system by current employer before July 1, 2010, a letter from the
    employer stating that the applicant has no criminal violations and that the employer participates in California
    DOJ criminal record clearance with subsequent arrest notifications Sample Letter.
  • Driver's License or other government-issued photo identification.
  • Pay the non-refundable county application fee.
  • Pay the  non-refundable state application fee.
Please note: If you are required to complete a  new Live Scan you will also be required to pay the state initial
certification fee. Upon completion of above requirements and confirmation that the applicant is not precluded from
certification for reasons defined in Section 1798.200 of the California Health and Safety Code, the EMS Agency has
up to 14 days to issue your EMT Card.