Arkansas EMT, AEMT & Paramedic License Renewal Requirements
Arkansas EMS provider licenses are managed by the Arkansas Department of Health, Section of EMS. Arkansas follows the NREMT NCCP model and now requires NREMT certification for state license renewal.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Body | Arkansas Department of Health, Section of EMS |
| Renewal Cycle | Every 2 years |
| Renewal Deadline | March 31 of expiration year |
| NREMT Required | Yes — NREMT renewal required for state license renewal |
| Online Renewal | Yes — Arkansas EMS Public Portal |
| EMR Level | Not offered in Arkansas |
Critical Change: NREMT Now Required for State Renewal
Arkansas now requires documentation of NREMT renewal to process your state license renewal. If you were previously a state-licensed-only provider acknowledged by the Section of EMS, you must upload all required CE documentation to your Public Portal account.
Continuing Education Requirements by Level
EMT
- Total CE Hours: 40 hours per 2-year cycle (NREMT NCCP)
- National Component: 20 hours (7 hours may be distributive/online)
- State/Local Component: 10 hours (7 hours may be distributive) — must include:
- Arkansas Trauma System training (2 hours, available free on TRAIN Arkansas)
- Pediatric topics as specified
- Stroke care topics as specified
- Individual Component: 10 hours — flexible, EMS patient care related
- Pediatric Requirement: 4 hours (10% of total, per 2025 NCCP guidelines)
AEMT
- Total CE Hours: 50 hours per 2-year cycle (NREMT NCCP)
- National Component: 25 hours
- State/Local Component: 12.5 hours — must include Arkansas Trauma System (2 hours)
- Individual Component: 12.5 hours
- Pediatric Requirement: 5 hours (10% of total)
Paramedic
- Total CE Hours: 60 hours per 2-year cycle (NREMT NCCP)
- National Component: 30 hours
- State/Local Component: 15 hours — must include Arkansas Trauma System (2 hours), plus cardiac care training
- Individual Component: 15 hours
- Pediatric Requirement: 6 hours (10% of total)
- Medical director electronic signature required on renewal application verifying competency in advanced skills
Arkansas-Specific Requirements
- Arkansas Trauma System Training (2 hours): Required at all levels. Available free on TRAIN Arkansas (train.org/ADH). This is separate from the NREMT NCCP and must be completed in addition to national requirements.
- Medical director verification: Paramedic renewals require the medical director's electronic signature on the application verifying competency.
- Distributive education limits: Both the National and State/Local components have caps on how many hours can be completed via pre-recorded online courses (F3 format). Live virtual instructor-led (F5) courses count as live education.
Free CE Through TRAIN Arkansas
Arkansas provides free CE courses through the TRAIN platform. Create an account at train.org/ADH and search for EMS-specific courses. These satisfy the Arkansas Trauma System requirement and provide additional CE hours.
How to Renew
- Renew your NREMT certification first (NREMT renewal is now required)
- Complete any Arkansas-specific CE (Trauma System, pediatric, stroke topics)
- Obtain medical director signature (Paramedics)
- Log in to the Arkansas EMS Public Portal
- Upload NREMT renewal documentation or CE certificates (state-only providers)
- Submit application before March 31
Contact Information
Arkansas Department of Health — Section of EMS
- Website: healthy.arkansas.gov/emergency-medical-services
- EMS Portal: aremslicense.adh.arkansas.gov
- Phone: (501) 661-2262
This page is for informational purposes only. Requirements may change — always verify current requirements with the Arkansas Section of EMS before renewing. Last reviewed March 2026.
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