Bill
HB 675
Starting Jan 1, 2026 NC EMS credentials must be NREMT-certified for initial/renewal; non-NREMT holders must obtain by Jan 1, 2030.
Status (key dates)
- Introduced: April 1, 2025 (1st reading).
- Referred to: Emergency Management & Disaster Recovery; then Regulatory Reform (if favorable); Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
- Bill purpose and core effective dates are set in the text: the National Registry requirement begins January 1, 2026; current non‑National‑Registry credential holders must obtain National Registry certification by January 1, 2030.
Purpose and intent
- To standardize credentialing for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel in North Carolina by requiring passage of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examinations as the basis for initial credentialing and renewal for most EMS roles, and to align State practical exam definitions with NREMT standards.
Who the bill affects
- Applicants for and holders of North Carolina EMS credentials, including: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), Paramedic, Emergency Medical Dispatcher, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Instructors.
- EMS training programs, employers (EMS agencies, hospitals), the Department of Health and Human Services (the Department), and the Medical Care Commission.
Key provisions
- Definitions: "Practical examination" is defined to mean a test that complies with NREMT practical standards (psychomotor/demonstrated skills).
- NREMT requirement:
- Beginning January 1, 2026, applicants seeking initial credentialing or renewal for covered EMS levels must pass the NREMT examination for the desired level. Other examinations will not be recognized.
- Persons holding State credentials (or other accepted non‑NREMT credentials) before January 1, 2026, must obtain NREMT certification by January 1, 2030 to remain credentialed.
- Examination scope: The NREMT requirement includes didactic, practical, and clinical sections appropriate to each level, cognitive and psychomotor testing, and the receipt of NREMT certification.
- Reciprocity / current credential holders:
- Individuals currently credentialed by NREMT or by another state whose credentialing/education has been approved by the Department may be eligible for NC credentialing without additional examination (subject to rules).
- Criminal history: Applicants must undergo a criminal history background check consistent with the bill’s referenced subsection (g).
- Specialty certifications: Persons seeking specialty EMS credentials (e.g., flight paramedic, critical care paramedic, community paramedic, tactical/wilderness paramedic, designated infection control officer, medical transportation safety professional) must pass the appropriate International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) examination.
- Temporary credentials: The Department may issue temporary credentials (with or without examination) valid up to 90 days when in the public interest.
- Credential duration and discipline: Credentials are valid up to four years; the Department may deny, suspend, amend, or revoke credentials for substantial noncompliance and must consider EMS Disciplinary Committee recommendations.
Likely impacts and considerations
- Standardization: Aligns North Carolina with national certification standards, which may improve portability, uniformity of training, and public assurance of minimum competency.
- Administrative and training effects: EMS education programs may need to adjust curricula and testing preparation to ensure graduates can pass NREMT exams; state regulatory processes and recordkeeping will shift toward NREMT verification.
- Workforce burden and costs: Current NC‑credentialed personnel who lack NREMT certification will face testing costs and preparation requirements (with a four‑year transition window through 2030). Short‑term staffing impacts are possible if workers delay or cannot meet NREMT requirements.
- Reciprocity benefits: Easier recognition for NREMT‑certified applicants from other states; may assist interstate workforce mobility.
- Public safety: The bill aims to ensure EMS personnel meet nationally recognized competency standards, with criminal history checks and specialty certification safeguards.
Practical next steps for stakeholders
- EMS providers and training institutions should inventory staff/trainees’ certification status and plan for NREMT testing timelines.
- Individuals credentialed prior to Jan 1, 2026 who are not NREMT certified should plan for certification by Jan 1, 2030.
- The Department and Commission will need to adopt or revise rules and administrative procedures to implement the NREMT verification, background checks, and temporary credentialing processes.
For full statutory language and specific subsection references, see the bill text as filed (G.S. 131E‑155 and 131E‑159 amendments).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
