If you are certified in another state or are a nurse or military corpsmen, you may want to review this section.
The Office of Emergency Medical Services, Virginia Department of Health, recognizes current EMS certifications. All candidates for reciprocity, legal recognition, and equivalency must complete an application packet and mail copies of EMS credentials to the Division of Educational Development of the Office of EMS. In Virginia, no fee is required for basic life support (BLS) or advanced life support (ALS) certification.
Basic Life Support level
Reciprocity
EMTs for the state and district listed below can transfer their certification directly to Virginia with written permission from the Office of EMS. No test is required for EMT reciprocity.
District of Columbia
Pennsylvania
Legal Recognition
Current EMT certification from ANY state (except those listed above under Reciprocity) and U. S. territories is valid in Virginia for a maximum of one year or the time left on the present certification, whichever is shortest. Candidates for legal recognition must have written permission from the Office of EMS. No test is required for legal recognition. In order to recertify, technicians must complete required Virginia EMS continuing education prior to their certification expiration date and take a written and practical examination.
BLS Equivalency Certification
LPNs, RNs, Physician’s Assistants (PAs) and Military Corpsmen can request to challenge the EMT (BLS level) test. They must complete the 36-hour EMT-B refresher class and pass the standardized written examination and practical skills stations.
Written approval is required from the Office of EMS before taking the EMT refresher class.
For a reciprocity or legal reciprocity, legal recognition, and equivalency application package, please Click Here.
The Office of Emergency Medical Services, Virginia Department of Health, recognizes current EMS certifications. All candidates for reciprocity must complete an application packet and mail copies of EMS credentials to the Division of Educational Development of the Office of EMS. In Virginia, no fee is required for advanced life support (ALS) certification.
Advanced Life Support level
A reciprocity agreement exists for all Intermediate-99 and Paramedics certified by the National Registry.
For a reciprocity or legal reciprocity, legal recognition, and equivalency application package, please Click Here.