The NREMT is a National level certification and does not specifically allow EMTs to work in individual states. To apply for a Washington State EMT license/certification applicants need to contact the Washington State Department of Health.
Washington State EMT License Requirements
• An EMT in Washington State must be 18 years or older to be licensed/certified by the state.
• A Washington State EMT must have a high school diploma or GED.
Must complete an EMT training program.
• Pass both NREMT certification exams.
• Pass a fingerprint based background check through the FBI and Washington State Patrol.
• HIV/AIDS training for seven hours (Some EMT schools provide this as AIDS Education) or a four-hour Infectious Disease course.
• The Washington State EMT application will ask personal questions on topics like Medical Conditions, Chemical Substances, felony convictions and disciplinary actions. They ask for explanations and documentation for any positive answers.
• Washington State EMT applicants must be affiliated (can be paid or volunteer) and will need to have the Supervisor and Medical Director fill out a form to verify this.
In order for EMT candidates to prove that they meet the Washington State EMT license requirements there are a few forms that must be submitted with application.
The recommended forms are listed below and here is the address and phone number of the Washington State EMS department. The phone number is also available to answer any questions about EMS certification.
Send completed application and other documents to:
Department of Health EMS Credentialing
P.O. Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7877
Contact us:
360-236-4700
Washington State EMT Forms to Submit
• Completed EMT Application.
• Proof of Age and Identity (with Photo): Drivers License, Passport, or Military ID.
• Copy of current EMT course completion certificate.
• Provide National Registry number and date you took and passed NREMT exam.
• Completion of the EMS Supervisor/Medical Program Director Signature Form which shows proof of EMS Agency affiliation.
• Completion of the AIDS Education and Training Attestation Form.
Washington State AEMT License Requirements
In addition to most of the EMT requirements listed above, AEMTs must also meet the following standards.
• Required to be a licensed or certified EMT for at least one year.
• Must submit copy of current AEMT course completion certificate.
• Must complete and pass both the written and practical skills National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician AEMT certification examinations.
Washington State Paramedic License
Along with most of the EMT requirements listed above, Paramedics also must meet the following standards.
• Washington State Paramedics are required to be a licensed or certified EMT for at least one year.
• Paramedic applicants must submit a copy of current Paramedic course completion certificate from a program accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
• Must successfully pass the NREMT Paramedic written and practical skills exam.
EMT Scope of Practice
The EMT scope of practice is a set of Washington State EMS protocols that guide Emergency Medical Response Personnel. EMT scope of practice helps all levels of emergency medical responders to provide pre-hospital emergency medical care and treatment interventions for patients.
Generally, Washington State EMS personnel provide care in compliance with the Department of Health and under the authority of the Medical Program Director.
The Medical Program Director approves patient care protocols which are skills and interventions that EMS personnel can perform. There are some procedures in the Washington State scope of practice that require specialized training or certification in order for EMTs to be allowed to perform them.
Skills covered in the National EMS Scope of Practice Model are also included in Washington State scope of practice and will not need extra training. Here is the scope of practice EMT training in Washington State allows for.
EMT Scope of Practice – Airway
1. Can perform Head Tilt/Chin Lift and Modified Chin Lift
2. Can perform Jaw Thrust
3. Can apply Cricoid Pressure
4. Can use Oral and Nasal Airways
5. Can give Humidified Oxygen via Mask or Cannula
6. Can apply Nasal Cannula
7. Can apply Non-rebreather and Partial rebreather mask
8. Can apply Venturi mask and Pocket mask
9. Can give Positive Pressure Ventilation with Bag Valve Mask
10. Can give Positive Pressure Ventilation using Manually Triggered Demand Valve
11. Can manually Remove Airway Obstructions
12. Can do Upper Airway Suctioning
EMT Scope of Practice – Trauma
1. Can apply Manual Cervical Spine Stabilization
2. Can place a Cervical Collar
3. Can apply Spinal Motion Restriction / Immobilization – from standing, seated, or supine position
4. Can apply both manual and mechanical Extremity Injury Immobilization
5. Can Irrigate Eyes
6. Can Control Hemorrhage using Direct Pressure, Hemostatic Agent, and Tourniquet
7. Can apply MAST or PASG (Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garments)
8. Can apply mechanical Patient Restraint Device
EMT Scope of Practice – Cardiovascular
1. Can do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – both manual and mechanical
2. Can apply both Semi-Automated and Automated External Defibrillation
EMT Scope of Practice – Patient Assessment
1. Can take Blood Pressure, Pulse, Respirations and Pulse Oximetry
2. Can Assess Blood Glucometry using capillary puncture
3. Can place 12 Lead ECG for computerized analysis and transmission
EMT Scope of Practice – Medical
1. Can assist Childbirth – Normal Delivery
2. Can assist Childbirth – Complicated Delivery
EMT Scope of Practice – Medications
1. Emergency Medical Technician can assist with patient’s prescribed medications using the following routes.
2. Can administer Oral, Buccal, Sublingual, and intranasal medications
3. Can administer Inhalation medications using Metered Dose Inhalers
4. Can administer Intramuscular (IM) medications using Auto Injector
5. Can give Oxygen Therapy
6. Can give Aspirin and glucose orally
7. Can give Nitroglycerine Sublingually
8. Can use Inhalation for Bronchodilator / Beta Agonist
9. Can give Nerve Agent Antidote Kit and Epinephrine using Intramuscular Auto Injector
Expanded EMT Scope of Practice
With specialized training an EMT in Washington State can expand their scope of practice to include more advanced skills. Below are procedures available to EMTs in Washington. This includes EMT IV skills which require specialized training and certification.
1. Can apply Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
2. Can insert Supraglottic Airway Devices (Ex: CombiTube, King LT, i-gel)
3. Can use Capnography and Capnometry
4. Can Suction tracheostomy using modified technique
5. Can transport patients with Ventricular Assist Device in place
6. EMT IV are also allowed to do the following:
7. Peripheral IV Insertion and Infusion
8. Intraosseous (IO) Insertion and Infusion
9. Venipuncture for blood sample
10. Can give IV and IO medications
11. Can give medications IM with syringe and needle
12. Can give Naloxone Intranasally or IM with syringe and needle
13. Can give Epinephrine IM with syringe and needle
AEMT Scope of Practice
A Washington State Advanced EMT can do everything listed above for an EMT and EMT IV along with the following procedures.
1. Can administer Inhalation medications using Nebulizers and Aerosolized
2. Can give Subcutaneous Injections
3. Can give Bronchodilator / Beta Agonist using a Nebulizer
4. Can give Hypoglycemic Medications (Ex: D50, Glucagon)
5. Can administer Naloxone IV
6. Can administer Nitrous Oxide
7. Can give Nitroglycerine Transdermally
Paramedic Scope of Practice
A Washington State Paramedic can perform all the skills of an EMT and AEMT listed above along with the following procedures.
1. Can Transport ventilator with adjustments beyond rate and tidal volume.
2. Can use Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)
3. Can Remove an Airway Obstruction using Direct Laryngoscopy
4. Can perform Oral and Nasal Endotracheal Intubation
5. Can use Pharmacological facilitation of Intubation
6. Can perform Surgical and Percutaneous (Needle) Cricothyrotomy
7. Can perform Pleural Chest Decompression
8. Can Monitor Chest Tube
9. Can Place OG and NG Tubes
10. Can perform Tracheal Bronchial Suctioning of an already intubated patient
11. Can perform manual Defibrillation, Cardioversion, and Transcutaneous Pacing
12. Can perform a Pericardiocentesis and Carotid Massage
13. Can draw Cardiac Enzymes
14. Can perform Eye Irrigation with Morgan Lens
15. External Jugular Insertion and Infusion in an Adult
16. Can infuse a Central Venous Line
17. Can Manage a Controlled Delivery Device IV Pump
18. Can apply Transdermal and Topical Medications
19. Can administer Medications via Endotracheal, nasogastric, and rectal routes
20. Can administer medications via a Central Venous Line
21. Can Administer Controlled Substances
22. Can give Nitroglycerine via IV
23. Can Initiate and Maintain Thrombolytic Therapy
24. Can give Emergency Cardiac Medications
25. Can give Benzodiazepines for sedation or for seizures
26. Can give other medications for sedation (Ex: Ketamine, Etomidate)
27. Can Maintain Pre-existing Blood or Blood Product Infusions
Accredited Paramedic Programs
In Washington State paramedic training programs must be accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). Here is a list of some Washington State Approved CoAEMSP accredited paramedic programs.
Central Washington University
Address: Department of Health Sciences, 400 E. University Way, Ellensburg WA 98926
Program Director: Keith A. Monosky, PhD, MPM, EMT-P (EMS@cwu.edu)
Phone: 509) 963-1098
Medical Director: Jackson Horsley, MD
Class information
Class Size: 30 Begins: September
• Class Length: 12 months for certificate, two years concentration for degree
• Tuition Costs for Degree: Resident: $12,213 per year; non-Resident: $25,026 per year (2015-2016 academic year)
• Award: Diploma, Certificate, BS in Paramedicine
College of Emergency Services
Address: 9800 S.E. McBrod Ave. Suite 200, Milwaukie OR 97222
Program Director: William Thrasher, B.S., EMT-P (william.thrasher@amr.net)
Phone: 971) 236-9231
Medical Director: Lynn Wittwer, MD
Class information
• Class Capacity: 24 Begins: Every 10 months.
• Tuition and Fees: $10,560.00 per course, plus books.
• Award: Certificate
Columbia Basin Community College
Address: 2600 N. 20th Ave. MS R-2, Pasco Washington 99301
Program Director: Troy Stratford, B.S. EMT-P (tstratford@columbiabasin.edu)
Phone: 509) 544-8320
Medical Director: Dr. Kevin Hodges, MD
Class information
• Class Capacity: 21; begins: January; Length: 18 months
• Award: Certificate, AAS
Harborview Medical Center – University of Washington
http://uwpmt.org
Address: 325 9th Ave. Mail Stop: 359727, Seattle WA 98104
Program Director: David Carlbom, MD
Phone: 206) 521-1224
Medical Director: Michael Sayre, MD
Class information
• Class Capacity: 24; begins: October; length: 10 months
• Tuition: Sponsorship by Regional EMS Employers ONLY
• Award: Certificate
Inland Northwest Health Services
Address: 601 W. 1st, Spokane WA 99201
Program Director: Douglas Presta, DPM, B.S., EMT-P (healthtraining@inhs.org)
Phone: 509) 242-4264
Medical Director: Joel Edminster, MD
Class information
• Class Capacity: 24
• Tuition: scholarships available
• Award: Certificate of Completion
Tacoma Community College
Address: 6501 S. 19th St.Tacoma, WA 98466
Program Director: Melissa Stoddard (mstoddard@tacomacc.edu)
Phone: 253) 566-5219
Medical Director: Joseph Hoffman, MD
Class information
• Class Capacity: 24 Begins: September Length: nine months or 18 months
• Tuition Costs: Resident: about $5400; non-resident: about $9,800
• Award: Certificate, APA (Associate of Applied Science)
Tacoma Fire Department
Address: 2124 Marshall Ave.,Tacoma WA 98421
Program Director: Chris Rock
Phone: 253) 591-5149
Medical Director: James Billingsley, MD
Class information
• Class Capacity: 12; begins: winter; length: 15 months
• Tuition: $9,500 per year
• Award: Certificate
• Prerequisites: Applicants must be employed and sponsored by a career fire department that provides Advanced Life Support and be a member in good standing with the IAFF. Applicants must have current Washington State EMT Certification and have a minimum of 18 months experience as an EMT.
Want more EMT topics? Check out:
• The Pediatric Assessment Triangle
• EMS Boot Buying Guide & Top 10 Boots List
• Taking a SAMPLE History & OPQRST Pain Assessment
References
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma Care System (2019)
https://www.doh.wa.gov/ForPublicHealthandHealthcareProviders/EmergencyMedicalServicesEMSSystems - Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Washington (October 2019)
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/emergency-medical-technician-salary/wa - National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (2019)
https://www.nremt.org/rwd/public - Spokane County EMS Protocols (October 2019)
http://www.emsoffice.com/protocols/ems-protocols.pdf