Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Paramedic Licensing Requirements by State

Paramedic licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Paramedic across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Avg initial fee
$142
Require an exam
100%
Avg education hours
1,567
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Paramedic: 51 boards · ~1,567 avg pre-licensure hrs · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $142. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Paramedic1567 hrsCosmetologist1276 hrsBarber1230 hrsLicensed Practical Nurse (LP…1230 hrsRespiratory Therapist1959 hrs
Pre-licensure hour neighbourhood for Paramedic

Paramedic vs. every tracked profession

Average confirmed pre-licensure education hours, board-sourced state requirements

1,567 23rd of 47 higher than 24 of 47 professions

professions with confirmed education-hour requirements, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more professions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainCredential NCSL and state-board corpus · 2026

Provides advanced emergency medical care in the field.

Paramedic initial fees swing $50 (NH) to $247 (CA), a $197 spread across 51 boards ; Athletic Trainer often lands on a different fee band.

Board thresholds for Paramedic drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Paramedic states

51

Below median

Paramedic edu hrs

1,567 hrs

Above median

Paramedic first fee

$142

Below median

Paramedic renewal

$119

Below median

Board gates for Paramedic: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 72 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Paramedic: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Hour load

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Paramedic

A $197 fee spread for the same credential

Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 50) and California ($ 247) bracket the field, a 4.9× spread for identical practice rights.

NH

New Hampshire

$50 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
2 years

CA

California

$247 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
2 years

Paramedic boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,449 Yes $112 $97 2 yrs 72 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Alaska 1,319 Yes $80 $72 2 yrs 72 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Arizona 1,866 Yes $216 $175 2 yrs 72 Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
Arkansas 1,395 Yes $99 $86 2 yrs 72 Also Notary Public · Pharmacist
California 1,989 Yes $247 $198 2 yrs 72 Also Psychologist · Roofer
Colorado 1,881 Yes $220 $178 2 yrs 72 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Connecticut 1,741 Yes $185 $151 2 yrs 72 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Delaware 1,643 Yes $161 $133 2 yrs 72 Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
District of Columbia 1,658 Yes $165 $136 2 yrs 72 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Florida 1,697 Yes $174 $143 2 yrs 72 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Georgia 1,568 Yes $142 $119 2 yrs 72 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Hawaii 1,831 Yes $208 $168 2 yrs 72 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Idaho 1,308 Yes $77 $70 2 yrs 72 Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Illinois 1,935 Yes $234 $188 2 yrs 72 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
Indiana 1,546 Yes $136 $115 2 yrs 72 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Iowa 1,351 Yes $88 $78 2 yrs 72 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
Kansas 1,341 Yes $85 $76 2 yrs 72 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Kentucky 1,416 Yes $104 $91 2 yrs 72 Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
Louisiana 1,784 Yes $196 $159 2 yrs 72 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
Maine 1,222 Yes $55 $54 2 yrs 72 Also Nail Technician · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Maryland 1,730 Yes $182 $149 2 yrs 72 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Pest Control Applicator
Massachusetts 1,708 Yes $177 $145 2 yrs 72 Also Medical Assistant · Optician (Dispensing)
Michigan 1,578 Yes $145 $121 2 yrs 72 Also Optometrist · Physical Therapist
Minnesota 1,481 Yes $120 $103 2 yrs 72 Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
Mississippi 1,438 Yes $109 $95 2 yrs 72 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
Missouri 1,470 Yes $118 $101 2 yrs 72 Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
Montana 1,805 Yes $201 $164 2 yrs 72 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Nebraska 1,330 Yes $82 $74 2 yrs 72 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Nevada 1,911 Yes $228 $183 2 yrs 72 Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
New Hampshire 1,200 Yes $50 $50 2 yrs 72 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
New Jersey 1,719 Yes $180 $147 2 yrs 72 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
New Mexico 1,816 Yes $204 $166 2 yrs 72 Also Roofer · Sign Language Interpreter
New York 1,671 Yes $168 $138 2 yrs 72 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
North Carolina 1,557 Yes $139 $117 2 yrs 72 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
North Dakota 1,286 Yes $72 $66 2 yrs 72 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Ohio 1,611 Yes $153 $127 2 yrs 72 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Oklahoma 1,362 Yes $91 $80 2 yrs 72 Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
Oregon 1,952 Yes $238 $191 2 yrs 72 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Pennsylvania 1,654 Yes $164 $135 2 yrs 72 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Rhode Island 1,795 Yes $199 $161 2 yrs 72 Also Locksmith · Nail Technician
South Carolina 1,373 Yes $93 $82 2 yrs 72 Also Optometrist · Physical Therapist
South Dakota 1,265 Yes $66 $62 2 yrs 72 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physician Assistant
Tennessee 1,503 Yes $126 $107 2 yrs 72 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Texas 1,622 Yes $155 $129 2 yrs 72 Also Water Well Driller · Auctioneer
Utah 1,427 Yes $107 $93 2 yrs 72 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Vermont 1,232 Yes $58 $56 2 yrs 72 Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
Virginia 1,524 Yes $131 $111 2 yrs 72 Also Casino/Gaming Dealer · Court Reporter / Stenographer
Washington 1,849 Yes $212 $172 2 yrs 72 Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
West Virginia 1,427 Yes $107 $93 2 yrs 72 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Wisconsin 1,459 Yes $115 $99 2 yrs 72 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Wyoming 1,243 Yes $61 $58 2 yrs 72 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)

What to do with this

Paramedic is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Paramedic ranks #23 of 47 professions by average pre-licensure education hours -- see how it compares to similar roles. Browse all professions
  • #60 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Initial fees for Paramedic range from $50 (NH) to $247 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Strictest states →Athletic Trainer →Compare states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Paramedic requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.