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How to become a certified EMT or Paramedic in Louisiana. NREMT certification required. EMT training: 120-150 hours. Total initial EMT cost: $50 (in-state license) + $104 (NREMT exam) + course tuition. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
EMT / Paramedic
Some information on this page has not been fully verified.
79% of data points are verified against official sources. 6 fields based on preliminary research. 7 fields need verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Yes
NREMT Required?
120-150
EMT Training Hours
4 levels
Certification Levels
$50 (in-state license) + $104 (NREMT exam) + course tuition
EMT Initial Cost
2 years
Renewal Period
40 hrs
EMT CE Hours
Training Hours
60 hours
Scope of Practice
Basic emergency care including bleeding control, CPR, AED use, oxygen administration, and basic patient assessment
NREMT Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Training Hours
120-150 hours
Scope of Practice
BLS care including patient assessment, vital signs monitoring, oxygen therapy, bag-valve-mask ventilation, CPR/AED, splinting, bleeding control, assisted medication administration (epinephrine auto-injector, nitroglycerin, albuterol), emergency childbirth, and spinal motion restriction
NREMT Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Training Hours
350 hours
Scope of Practice
All EMT-Basic skills plus IV/IO access, fluid administration, supraglottic airway devices, blood glucose monitoring, CPAP, and limited medication administration per protocol
NREMT Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Training Hours
1,200 hours
Scope of Practice
All AEMT skills plus endotracheal intubation, cardiac monitoring/12-lead ECG, manual defibrillation/cardioversion, transcutaneous pacing, needle chest decompression, surgical cricothyrotomy, comprehensive medication administration, and RSI where authorized
NREMT Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Training Program Requirements
Verified120-150
EMT Training Hours
1,200
Paramedic Hours
Notes
Louisiana requires 186 hours of EMT training, which exceeds the national standard of 150 hours. Students must attend at least 90% of training hours. Both NREMT certification and a state license are required by law (dual requirement). License expiration aligns with NREMT expiration. Government employees receive significant fee discounts.
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
NREMT Certification
Required
Cognitive Exam
Required
Psychomotor Exam
No
State-Specific Exam
NREMT Details
Louisiana has a dual requirement by law: both NREMT certification AND a state license are required. License expiration is aligned with NREMT expiration. NREMT is also required for recertification. The NREMT cognitive exam is CAT format with 70-120 questions for EMT level, 2-hour time limit, $104 per attempt, scaled score passing at 950/1500, up to 6 attempts with 15-day wait between attempts. Psychomotor exam is administered by the state.
State Exam Details
Louisiana relies on the NREMT cognitive and psychomotor exams. No separate state-specific written exam is required. Both NREMT and state license are required by law.
Passing Score
NREMT cognitive exam uses computer adaptive testing (CAT) with 70-120 questions for EMT level. Scaled score passing threshold is 950 out of 1500. The exam adapts difficulty based on candidate performance.
Retake Policy
NREMT allows up to 6 attempts with a 15-day waiting period between attempts. After the 3rd failed attempt, candidates must complete 24 hours of remedial training. After 6 failed attempts, full course completion is required. Exam fee is $80 per attempt.
What Each Level Can Do
VerifiedOnline Medical Direction (Real-Time)
Real-time physician contact via radio or phone for consultation on patient care decisions beyond standing orders
Offline Medical Direction (Standing Orders)
Standing orders and protocols developed by the EMS medical director that authorize specific treatments without real-time physician contact
Protocol Requirements
All EMS providers in Louisiana must operate under the authority of a licensed physician medical director. Each EMS agency must have approved medical protocols.
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Drug Screening
CPR/BLS Certification
Immunizations Required
Driver's License Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
NREMT Exam Fee NREMT EMT cognitive exam fee (increased from $70 in 2025) | $80 |
State Application Fee In-state initial fee; out-of-state is $100; government employees: $15 initial | $15 |
State License Fee In-state; $100 out-of-state; $15 government employees | $50 |
Renewal Fee In-state renewal; government employees: $10 renewal | $50 |
Total Initial EMT Cost Government employees pay only $15 initial; out-of-state pays $100 | $50 (in-state license) + $104 (NREMT exam) + course tuition |
Total Initial Paramedic Cost Government employees pay only $15; does not include textbooks or equipment | $50 (in-state license) + $104 (NREMT exam) + program tuition |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
40 hrs
EMT CE Hours
60 hrs
Paramedic CE Hours
Required
Skills Verification
NREMT Recertification Accepted for State Renewal
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$10
In-state; government employees pay $10
Regulatory Board
EMS certifications must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering patient assessment, trauma care, cardiac emergencies, and applicable protocol updates.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
NREMT-Based Reciprocity Available
Reciprocity Type
NREMT-based; EMS Compact member state
Transfer Details
Louisiana is an EMS Compact member state. EMS personnel from other compact states can practice in Louisiana under the compact privilege. Non-compact applicants must hold NREMT certification and apply for a Louisiana license. Out-of-state initial fee is $100.
Additional Requirements for Transfer
EMT/Paramedic reciprocity is often facilitated through NREMT certification. States that require NREMT typically allow easier transfer for certified providers. Always verify current reciprocity policies with your state EMS office.
Louisiana requires both NREMT certification AND a state license by law (dual requirement). The 186-hour training exceeds the national 150-hour standard. Must attend 90% of training hours. Government/public safety employees get significant fee discounts ($15 initial vs $50, $10 renewal vs $50). Louisiana is an EMS Compact member state. License expiration aligns with NREMT.
Louisiana has a dual requirement by law: both NREMT certification AND a state license are required.
License expiration is aligned with NREMT expiration.
The 186-hour EMT training exceeds the national standard of 150 hours.
Students must attend at least 90% of training hours.
Significant fee discounts for government/public safety employees: $15 initial (vs $50) and $10 renewal (vs $50).
Out-of-state initial license fee is $100 (double the in-state rate).
Louisiana is an EMS Compact (REPLICA) member state, allowing cross-state EMS practice.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Louisiana.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Salary
#49 of 51
Cost
#7 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Emergency Medical Technicians (SOC 29-2042)
Entry Level
$28,690
25th percentile
Median
$33,990
-18% vs. national avg ($41,340)Experienced
$36,810
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
2,290 employed in this state
Note: BLS EMT category includes EMT-Basic level. Paramedics (EMT-P) are classified separately under SOC 29-2043 with higher wages.
Source: BLS OEWS – Emergency Medical Technicians (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+8.8%
High DemandNew Jobs
+12,900
over 10 years
Annual Openings
19,600
per year (avg.)
147,300 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Emergency Medicine Career Ladder+281% salary growth potential
You are here
EMT
$33,990
EMT-Basic course (120-150 hours) + NREMT
You are here
EMT
EMT-Basic course (120-150 hours) + NREMT
$33,990
Paramedic program (1-2 years) + NREMT-P
$50,800
Master's in PA Studies + PANCE
$129,610
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: ~null weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of EMS — Licensing Requirements
2–6 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of EMS — Licensing Requirements
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Louisiana requires NREMT certification for EMS providers. EMT training requires 120-150 hours. All certification is managed through the Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of EMS.
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state EMS office.