Education FAQ

EMT Refresher / Recertification

Recertification Methods

There are two methods to re-certify your New York State Emergency Medical Technician certification. Only one is available to CPMU volunteers:

A NYS Department of Health-approved EMT recertification challenge course
- This course is taught in a "challenge" format, which means that you take a written and practical exam on the first day of the class, which determines which sessions you must attend throughout the remainder of the class schedule. Some sessions are mandatory (such as CPR) and cannot be waived through the challenge process. The results of your challenge practical exam determine which modules of the practical exam you must take at the end of the course. If you fail 2 or fewer, you may retake only those two. If you fail more than 2 you must retake the entire practical exam. The final part of the recertification process is the NYS written exam. Your course provider will give you more information about this.
The NYS DOH Continuing Medical Education (CME) track (NOT AVAILABLE TO CPMU VOLUNTEERS)
- NOTE: YOU MUST BE AN EMPLOYEE OR VOLUNTEER WITH A NYS EMS AGENCY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE CME PROGRAM IN ORDER TO RECERTIFY YOUR EMT THROUGH THIS METHOD. CPMU DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CME PROGRAM. IF CPMU IS THE ONLY EMS AGENCY WITH WHICH YOU ARE AFFILIATED IN NEW YORK STATE, YOU CANNOT RECERTIFY THROUGH THE CME METHOD.

Why is CPMU Not a CME Agency?

The New York State Department of health has a program that allows regularly practicing providers to recertify through continuing medical education credits (CMEs). In order to participate in this program, providers must be associated with a NYS DOH EMS agency that participates in the CME program (CME Agency).

Becoming a CME Agency is a significant administrative burden that CPMU is not able to fulfill. This includes appointing a CME Coordinator, maintaining multiple different types of records at the agency and provider level and regularly filing DOH compliance reports. This also includes policy development and regular oversight of every submitted course that providers wish to submit for credit. CME Agencies are also required to have a NYS DOH Certified Instructor Coordinator (CIC) approve or teach the core part of the training curriculum. These administrative requirements are typically fulfilled by a full-time paid training coordinator.

CPMU has also investigated the possibility of using third-party educational course providers (including local area hospitals) to assist in participating in this program. However, doing so unfortunately does not alleviate the agency administrative requirements CPMU would still be obligated to fulfill with DOH.

If you are interested in becoming the CPMU CME Coordinator, including making a commitment to fill this position for a minimum of five years, contact admin@cpmu.com. It is estimated that this position would require a commitment of 5-10 hours per month.

https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/certification/cmerecert.htm

Reciprocity - NOT FOR RECERTIFICATION

RECIPROCITY CANNOT BE USED FOR RECERTIFYING AN EXISTING NYS EMT CERTIFICATION.

Reciprocity is a process offered by the NYS Department of Health for providers with an out-of-state or National Registry certification who do not hold a NYS certification to become certified in New York State. Once you hold a NYS EMT certification, you must recertify through the NYS DOH process outlined above (i.e. NYS refresher course). You cannot recertify your out-of-state certification and attempt to use that process to receive a new NYS EMT certification.

Tuition Assistance - (Must be a CPMU member for at least 1 year)

There are two methods through which NYS provides tuition assistance. This assistance is only available to Active members who have been a CPMU member for at least 1 year.

Method 1 – Tuition Waiver – Preferred Method

In this process, at the start of the course, you bring a Verification of Membership form, signed by a CPMU Officer, which causes you to not have to pay the tuition for the course in the first place. Administrative fees often still apply (usually less than $75). This is the simplest and most desirable method, and will cost you the least. To apply for this, you must have been a member of CPMU for at least 1 year. If you meet this requirement, once you begin your course, contact admin@cpmu.com asking for a Tuition Waiver form. Provide your full name as it appears on your current EMT card, EMT number, as well as your mailing address. You’ll then receive a NYS EMS Verification of Membership Form, which you’ll provide to your Course Instructor, which will cause your tuition to be waived. You’re still responsible for non-tuition course fees, such as textbook(s), CPR card fees, and course administrative fees.

Method 2 – Tuition Reimbursement – NOT Preferred Method

THIS IS NOT PREFERRED BY CPMU. YOU MUST GET APPROVAL FROM CPMU BEFORE YOU PAY THE FULL COURSE TUITION FOR THIS METHOD.

This method is more complicated, and requires you to pay the full course tuition in advance. The course sponsor is allowed to charge any amount for their course, which you are responsible for in its entirety. If you finish the course and pass the test, you are then eligible to request CPMU to get reimbursed on your behalf; once CPMU receives the reimbursement check, we will issue a check to you. The NYS reimbursement rate for EMT-B refresher courses is $335. You are responsible any costs in excess of $335.

To request tuition reimbursement, you must wait until you have received your new certification card and then email the following information and documents to admin@cpmu.com :

Copy of your tuition receipt from the course sponsor
Copy of your new EMT certification card
Your mailing address
The NYS DOH course number

Please note that it takes approximately 6-8 weeks to receive reimbursement after you submit the above documents. Additionally, if you do not complete the course for any reason, you are not eligible for reimbursement. Any arrangements you make with the course sponsor regarding a full or partial refund are directly between you and the course sponsor – not through CPMU.

EMT Refresher Course Providers

A: There are several options. Here is the official list of NYS DOH Course Sponsors: http://www.health.ny.gov/nysdoh/ems/pdf/csponsors.pdf. Additional, these entities frequently offer courses in our area:

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