Policy for International National Registry Certification
In 2011, the National Registry Board of Directors approved the National EMS Certification on an international basis. The Board determined that decisions regarding use of the National Registry in foreign countries would require a case-by-case decision making process that focused on two important elements:
- Candidates completing EMS education outside the United States must meet or exceeded the same standard applied in the United States
- A mechanism/partnership is established to recover all expenses associated with administering international based programs or examinations
International Partnership Steps
- Letter of approval
In the event that a foreign country, state, providence or region of a foreign country and/or school or EMS service requests use of National Registry certification services that entity must present to the National Registry a letter from that countries governmental authority that they approve of this use or the letter must state the country has no opposition to the use of the National Registry certification.
- EMS Education Approval
The National Registry will authorize EMR, EMT and AEMT certification to graduates who meet and/or exceed the current National EMS Education Standards as validated by an educational program that is affiliated with CAAHEP accredited paramedic education program and is currently state approved within the United States. The co-sponsoring institution must have faculty present during the delivery of the course.
At the Paramedic level the education program offered in a foreign country must be affiliated with a U.S. based CAAHEP accredited Paramedic education program.
- Prerequisites
Paramedic applicants must hold or have held NREMT certification or a foreign countries equivalent of EMT licensure and have authorization to practice in that country.
- Cognitive Examinations
Must be delivered at Pearson Professional Centers or Pearson VUE Select Centers. Examinations must be delivered in English only.
- Psychomotor Examinations
All Psychomotor examinations at the EMT, AEMT and Paramedic levels must be administered by a National Registry Representative, appointed by the National Registry.
- Examination Fees
The cognitive examination fee is the same fee (in U.S. dollars) as required for all U.S. candidates, plus any international surcharge or site fee established by Pearson Vue. The Psychomotor examination fees are established by the National Registry on a case-by case basis and must be prepaid. National Registry Representatives may be appointed who are residents of foreign countries after appropriate training and only with authorization by the National Registry.
- Entry-Requirements
All applicants must meet current National Registry entry requirements.
- Recertification requirements
All refreshers, continuing education, cardiac resuscitation courses that can be utilized for National Registry continuous certification must be approved by the Continuing Education Coordinator Board for EMS.