EMS: License and Certification FAQs

Wisconsin law (Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 110, EMS Licensing, Certification, and Training Requirements) requires certain licensing and certification for those who work with EMS.

Getting an EMS license or EMR certification confirms that you meet minimum requirements to do your job. If you are affiliated with a service provider, your license or certification allows you to provide medical care as long as you have medical direction.

To get a Wisconsin EMS license or certification, follow these steps:

1. Create an account in the EMS E-Licensing Portal if you don’t have one. View Wisconsin EMS Provider E-Licensing Account Setup Instruction Guide, P-00617 (PDF).
2. Complete a Wisconsin EMS course at an approved EMS Training Center. Note: You must get your initial EMS license or EMR certification within 24 months of passing the first course.
3. Apply for your EMS license or EMR certification using your E-Licensing account.
   • For a new license or certification—Complete the EMS Practitioner Initial License application.
   • To upgrade a license or certification—Complete the EMS Practitioner License Level Upgrade application.
4. Have a current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification at the health care professional level. See Approved CPR Classes and Providers. You must have this to hold a valid EMR certification, emergency medical technician (EMT) license, or advanced EMT license. For a valid paramedic license, you also must have an advanced cardiovascular life support certification.
5. Complete and pass National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exams.
6. Wait for the Wisconsin EMS office to process your application. They will contact you if there are any issues.
7. Receive an email, letting you know your application is approved. The email has instructions on how to print your certificate or license from E-Licensing.
8. Complete the Local Credential Agreement (LCA) application in E-Licensing if you want to be affiliated with a service(s).

If you have a current EMS license or EMR certification from another state, you can Apply for License Reciprocity.

You can’t respond to 911 calls with your service until you:

• Get your Wisconsin EMS license or EMR certification.
• Complete the LCA for the service. This adds you to the service’s roster.

Wisconsin EMS Scope of Practice, P-00451 (PDF) defines what’s allowed for a licensed person. It includes:

• Procedures.
• Actions.
• Processes.
• Allowed skills that an EMS practitioner or EMR may use if the service is approved by Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and noted on the EMS service license.

The Physician Advisory Committee reviews and updates the scope of practice each year

An LCA is written approval from the service director and medical director of a licensed service provider. It allows those who are licensed or certified and work with EMS to do defined emergency medical pre-hospital care while working for the provider.

After your LCA is complete, you are added to the service’s roster. Now you can respond to calls as part of your service. You must complete the LCA process for each new service you join.

This is a real-time process. You can complete it as quickly as needed at the local level from your E-Licensing account. The LCA will be available in your account after you get your license or certification.

All Wisconsin EMS licenses and EMR certifications expire on June 30 every three years. If it’s your initial license or certification, it’s valid for the rest of the three-year period in which you complete your education. After, you must renew the license or certification every three years before the expiration date.

You are in charge of making sure your license or certification stays current. Learn more about Late Renewal and Reinstatement. This information is also in Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 110.07, Application for Renewal License or Certificate; Refresher Training Requirements.

If you want to upgrade a license you already have, follow these steps:

1. Complete a Wisconsin EMS course at an approved EMS Training Center. Note: You must get your upgraded EMS license or EMR certification within 24 months of passing the EMS course.
2. Apply for your EMS license or EMR certification in your E-Licensing account. Complete the EMS Practitioner License Level Upgrade application.
3. Have a current CPR certification at the health care professional level. See Approved CPR Classes and Providers. You must have this to hold a valid EMR certification, EMT license, or advanced EMT license. For a valid paramedic license, you also must have an advanced cardiovascular life support certification.
4. Complete and pass NREMT exams.
5. Wait for the Wisconsin EMS office to process your application. They will contact you if there are any issues.
6. Receive an email, letting you know your application is approved. The email has instructions on how to print your certificate or license from your E-Licensing account.
7. Complete the LCA application in your E-Licensing account if you want to be affiliated with a service(s).

All EMS students must have a valid Training Center Training Permit if:

• The EMS course requires clinical field training.
• The EMS course provides a clinical setting for educational practice at a hospital or other health care facility.

To get the EMS Training Center Training permit, find and complete the application in E-Licensing.

Yes, NREMT exams are required for all Wisconsin EMT practitioners and EMRs. You must take exams for an initial license or certification or an upgrade. This requirement is based on Wis. Admin Code ch. DHS 110.06(1)(d). It has been required since Jan. 1, 2011.

Exams help confirm who has completed the educational requirements and can show their skills and abilities.

Note: If you got your EMS license or EMR certification before Jan. 1, 2011, you aren’t required to keep up your NREMT status. You still can renew your Wisconsin license or certificate.

The Division of Public Health (DPH) has a secure, web-based reporting system. It’s called WARDS Elite. Ambulance service providers add and submit their ambulance run information online via WARDS Elite.

EMR services are required to complete run reports for any calls that involve advanced skills. You aren’t required to report all calls, but your service can report them all if preferred. We suggest drafting your own local process for entering reports into WARDS Elite.

EMT, advanced EMT, and paramedic services are required to complete run reports for all calls that involve any skills. Contact your local EMS service director about the local process for adding service reports into WARDS Elite.