EMT requirements by state / TN
EMT requirements in Tennessee.
What it takes to certify, renew, and transfer an EMT credential in Tennessee — plus the official Tennessee Department of Health, EMS Division link so you can confirm every detail before you apply.
Verify first
State rules, fees, and forms change. Treat this page as orientation, then confirm with the Tennessee Department of Health, EMS Division. Pass the EMT is not a licensing authority.
Tennessee EMT certification at a glance
| NREMT required? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Approximate program hours | 150–180 hours |
| Recertification cycle | 2 years |
| Psychomotor (skills) exam | NREMT or Tennessee EMS-approved site |
| Reciprocity / transferring in | NREMT + Tennessee EMS application |
| EMS Compact (REPLICA) member | Yes |
How to become an EMT in Tennessee
- 1. Meet the basics. Be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and clear the background check the Tennessee Department of Health, EMS Division requires.
- 2. Finish an approved program. Expect roughly 150–180 hours of lecture, lab, and clinical time at a Tennessee-approved training center.
- 3. Pass the cognitive exam. Sit the NREMT computer-adaptive cognitive exam at a Pearson VUE test center.
- 4. Pass the skills exam. NREMT or Tennessee EMS-approved site.
- 5. Apply for state certification. Submit your application to the Tennessee Department of Health, EMS Division, then renew every 2 years.
Transferring an EMT card into Tennessee
NREMT + Tennessee EMS application.
Tennessee participates in the EMS Compact (REPLICA), which grants a privilege to practice across member state lines for qualifying calls — but it does not replace state certification for a permanent move.
Tennessee is an EMS Compact state; NREMT certification is required for licensure.
Official Tennessee Department of Health, EMS Division →
Free NREMT practice test
Scenario questions with rationales. No signup required.
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How to pass the NREMT
Study plan, question counts, and exam-day strategy.
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Other states
NREMT® is a registered trademark of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Pass the EMT is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NREMT. Data compiled from public Tennessee EMS resources and subject to change.