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2020-2023 EMS Licensing Late Renewal Information

The mission of the Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program is to ensure that the highest quality and standards of pre-hospital emergency medical care are available to all Wisconsin citizens and visitors. Certification or licensure provides a level of protection and assures that an individual holding a certificate or license has met certain minimum competencies and is authorized to practice, as defined by law.

Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 110.05(1) states "Before an individual may perform emergency medical care or advertise for the provision of emergency medical care as an EMS professional, the individual shall be certified as a first responder or licensed as an EMT by the department and shall be credentialed by each emergency medical service provider with which the individual serves, except under the following conditions: (a) The individual provides emergency medical care as a volunteer practitioner under s. 257.03, Stats. (b) The individual provides emergency medical care as a trainee under s. DHS 110.15, while under supervision of a preceptor."

If you did not complete the 2020-2023 Practitioner Renewal application process, your certification or license expired as of September 30, 2020. If your certification or license expired, you were removed from the service roster and are NO LONGER credentialed with that service (see your E-Licensing profile). You must complete the 2020-2023 Late Renewal application process and be issued a current 2020-2023 certification or license before completing a Local Credential Agreement (LCA) to be credentialed with any service.

All applications are completed through your Wisconsin EMS E-Licensing account. You cannot upgrade or downgrade your certification or license level once it has expired. Your only option is to late renew at the certification or license level you held through September 30, 2020.

You must complete the 2020-2023 Late Renewal application by March 31, 2021, to obtain current certification or licensure that is valid until June 30, 2023. You must also complete the educational requirements for late renewal prior to completing the application. There is a $50 late renewal administrative fee for Late Renewal applications. Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 110.16 (1)(a).

Late renewal of an EMR certificate or EMS license through this method does not exempt a person from taking the required refresher training to renew their certificate or license for the next renewal period.

 

To apply for late renewal, you must do the following:

After the Late Renewal period closes on March 31, 2021, you are only able to reinstate your certification or license through the 2020-2023 reinstatement process, which includes a $75 reinstatement administrative fee. Please note, to be eligible for reinstatement, you must have held a valid certification or license through September 30, 2020. Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 110.09 (2)(b) states "A license or certificate that has been expired for 2 years or more may be reinstated only if the applicant has successfully completed the training and examination requirements for the initial license or certificate within the 24 months immediately preceding submission of the application for reinstatement."

If you have not reinstated your certificate or license by September 30, 2022, you will be required to complete an initial course of training to obtain a certificate or license. Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 110.16 (1)(b); Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 110.09. 

Reinstatement of an EMR certificate or EMS license through this method does not exempt a person from taking the required refresher training to renew their certificate or license for the 2023-2026 practitioner renewal cycle.

 

To apply for reinstatement, you must do ALL of the following:

  • Be able to provide evidence of continuing education for the previous renewal cycle (2020-2023). Please visit the Educational Requirements for Licensure Renewal webpage for specific information.
  • Complete an assessment exam (both the cognitive and psychomotor) through the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT). You need to retake these even if you hold current National Registry, and you will need approval from the Wisconsin EMS Office prior to taking the exam. Approval is issued based on the evidence of completed continuing education. Email Helen Pullen for approval.
  • Provide proof of successful completion of retaking the NREMT assessment exam (cognitive and psychomotor).
  • Login to your account through the EMS E-Licensing portal and complete the 2020-2023 Reinstatement application. You will need to contact our office again once you’ve completed the NREMT exams to have us deploy this application to your E-Licensing account.
  • Pay the $75.00 reinstatement fee (part of the 2020-2023 Reinstatement application).
  • Once your license has been reinstated, you will need to complete another refresher course to be eligible for renewal for the 2020-2023 cycle.
  • You must complete the 2020-2023 Reinstatement application process and be issued a current 2020-2023 certification or license before completing a Local Credential Agreement (LCA) to be credentialed with any service.

If you are not eligible for the renewal or reinstatement process (your certificate or license has been expired for more than 24 months), you will be required to complete an initial course of training to obtain a certificate or license. A certificate or license that has been expired for two years or more may be reinstated only if the applicant has successfully completed the training and examination requirements for the initial certificate or license within the 24 months immediately preceding submission of the application for reinstatement. Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 110.09(2)(b).

 

To obtain certification or licensure after more than two years of expiration, you will need to follow the instructions under "Initial Wisconsin EMS License for In-State Applicants" on our EMS License Application Information webpage.​

If you are unable to renew your current certification or license due to active military deployment during the biennium that prevents your ability to complete refresher activities, or you had a significant medical condition during the biennium that prevented you from completing refresher activities, you may be eligible to receive an extension for the renewal process through the Waiver of Administrative Rule for Licensure form.

Renewal Process Audits

The EMS Office has been conducting random audits of the renewal process. If you are selected for an audit, you must provide all requested documentation. Copies of all information entered in your EMS Practitioner Renewal Application must be retained for at least five years. Failure to provide required documentation will result in the suspension or revocation of your EMS Provider license.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Wisconsin EMS Office.

Last revised October 1, 2020