EMT certification is valid for two years. In order to maintain certification an individual must recertify every two years.  An individual is eligible for EMT recertification upon successful completion of the following requirements: 

1. Possess a current California EMT certificate or National Registry EMT certificate.
2. Possess a current and valid government-issued picture identification document such as a: driver's license, identification card, passport, military ID, etc.
3. Possess documentation of successful completion, every two years, of the following:
• Completion of a 24-hour EMT refresher class or completion of 24 hours of Continuing Education (CE) Hours
• AND
• Skills testing and a completed Skills Competency Verification Form from an approved EMT Training Program or by an approved EMS service provider 
  
4. If this is the first time you have applied for certification in Alameda County, you must possess a copy of a completed Alameda County EMS Agency-specific, California Department of Justice and FBI Live Scan application.
• Background Check Information Packet (how to complete the Live Scan Application).
• Alameda County EMS Agency Live Scan Application  
• Location of Live Scan Agencies (where to get your Live Scan application completed including obtaining your fingerprints) - Bring a current and valid photo identification with you, such as: driver's license, identification card, passport, military ID, etc.
5. Create an account in our Online Application Portal and submit an application as directed below, including the $102.00 fee along with a the credit card processing fees. If you are renewing your EMT certification and you are currently certified through a different EMS Agency, the fee for renewal through our Agency is: $140.00. If you submit this application within 15 days or less of the expiration of your current certification, you will need to also pay a $30.00 late fee for your application to be processed.
6. When you may apply for EMT recertification:

• Within six months before your current certificate expires. The new expiration date will be two years from the current expiration date.
• More than six months before your current certificate expires. The new expiration date will be two years from the last day of the month the requirements are met.

Once you meet the above requirements and have the documents listed above, you may start your EMT recertification application by following the instructions below:

1. Go to Alameda County EMS Agency - Online Application Portal - Login
   
2. If you know you log in information already, log into your account
3. If you have not logged in to this platform previously or if you do not know your login information, follow the steps below:
• Go to the link in step 1. Click "Forgot Username" and enter the required information and click "Lookup". 
• You will then prompted for an email address to have your login information sent to be asked if the email address on record is the one that you would like your login information to be sent to.
• You should receive the email with your username and a login link promptly. If you do not receive that email promptly, please check your junk/spam folders for an email from "noreply@imagetrend.com"
• If the platform was not able to locate your account, please send an email to: alcoems@acgov.org and one our staff members will assist you obtaining account access.
• If you do not have a Social Security Number, but you do have a California Tax Identification number, please contact our office at: alcoems@acgov.org as you will need assistance with claiming your account and obtaining your login information).
4. Once you have the email from "noreply@imagetrend.com", click on the link in that email and setup your password as directed and you will be logged into your account.
5. Once logged in, click on the "Applications" icon on the menu.
6. Under the "Applications" heading, click on the "Apply Now" button on the EMT recertification application and follow the prompts on the screen.

An individual may not work as an EMT or represent him/herself as an EMT with a lapsed certificate. There are no exceptions. 

To restore an EMT Certificate lapsed for less than 6 months, complete the steps listed for EMT recertification under the “EMT Recertification” Tab.

For an EMT Certificate lapsed greater than 6 months, but less than 12 months, complete the following items:

1. Complete 36 hours of continuing education from an approved CE provider OR complete a 24 hour EMT refresher course from an approved training program plus 12 hours of continuing education from an approved CE provider.
2. Skills testing and a completed Skills Competency Verification Form from an approved EMT Training Program or by an approved EMS service provider.
3. Complete steps 2, 4, and 5, as applicable, on the “EMT Recertification” Tab.

For an EMT Certificate lapsed 12 months or more, complete the following items:

In addition to California State Licensure as a Paramedic, Paramedic’s are required to apply for and maintain accreditation through the Alameda County EMS Agency in order practice as a Paramedic in Alameda County.

INITIAL PARAMEDIC ACCREDITATION

Who may complete the paramedic accreditation application:

• Anyone who possesses a current and valid California Paramedic License issued by the California EMS Authority AND is employed by an Alameda County ALS provider agency who wishes to obtain Paramedic Accreditation for the first time in Alameda County. 

Applicant Requirements:

1. Submit requested demographic information.
2. Possess and submit a copy of a government-issued picture identification document such as a: driver's license, identification card, passport, military ID, etc.
3. Disclose any prior and/or current certification, licensure, or accreditation actions including: 
   1. Against an EMT or Advanced EMT certificate, or any denial of certification by a LEMSA, including any active investigations;
   2. Against a Paramedic license, or any denial of licensure by the Authority, including any active investigations;
   3. Against any EMS-related certification or license of another state or other issuing entity, including denials and any active investigations; or
   4. Against any health-related license.
4. Disclose any pending or current criminal investigations, any pending criminal charges, and any prior convictions.
5. Disclose any other county or region in California that you have obtained Paramedic Accreditation in.

Please note: Paramedic accreditation applications that are incomplete, inaccurate, omit facts, or are in violation of the Alameda County EMS Agency's Paramedic Accreditation Policy may cause revocation of paramedic accreditation, and/or denial of the application. The Alameda County EMS Agency may revoke or deny accreditation upon discovering the applicant has committed any actions pursuant to Division 2.5, Chapter 7, Section 1798.200 of the Health and Safety Code.

Procedure for Paramedics to Apply for Paramedic Accreditation:

1. Go to the  Alameda County EMS Agency - Online Application Portal - Create Your Account page
2. Enter your demographics and click save. 
3. You will receive an email from "noreply@imagetrend.com" with your username and a link to set up your password. If you do not receive that email, please make sure to check your junk/spam folders for that email.
4. Click on the link in the above email and setup your password as directed and you will be logged into your account.
   

ALS Provider Agency Requirements:

The ALS provider agency that the applicant is employed with must complete the following for the Paramedic Accreditation application to be processed:

1. Train and verify the candidate's competency in all Alameda County Local Optional Scope of Practice (LOSOP) Skills. 
2. Verify that the candidate has successfully completed the provider Agency's approved field training and evaluation program.
3. Verify that the candidate has attended an Alameda County EMS Orientation course.

Alameda County EMS' Responsibilities:

Once all of the above items have been submitted/verified by the candidate and the ALS provider agency, Alameda County EMS will review the application and notify the candidate within ten (10) business days of the status of the application. 

CONTINUOUS PARAMEDIC ACCREDITATION

Once issued, accreditation shall be continuous as long as the following conditions are met:

• Maintain a valid California Paramedic License.
• Meet local requirements for updates in local policy, procedure, protocol and local optional scope of practice, and comply with the requirements in the system-wide Quality Improvement program Policy #2000.
• If any of the above requirements are not met or maintained, accreditation to practice will be withdrawn until the requirement(s) are successfully completed.
• A Paramedic whose accreditation has been withdrawn for more than one year is required to re-apply for initial accreditation.