EMT and paramedic training, licensing and certification in the state of Mississippi are governed by the Mississippi State Dept. of Health, Mississippi Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. This state bureau must approve all the applicants, as well as their certifications before the individual can be employed in the state as an EMT.
The state of Mississippi and the Mississippi Emergency Medical Services (EMS) also requires the individual who has completed training to pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam and recognizes the exam certification if taken in other states. Passing of a MS state approved exam is also required before state licensing is issued.
Certification Levels and Requirements:
Mississippi has five levels of EMT training certification: Medical First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, EMT-Paramedic, and EMT-Paramedic Critical Care. To qualify for entering EMT training courses in the state of Mississippi an individual:
• must be at least 18 years of age
• must enroll in EMT training through an approved EMT course
• must pass a criminal background check
• must possess current CPR certification
• must have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
• must pass a drug screening
EMT training information, requirements and prerequisites:
Training programs in Mississippi must meet minimum standards for coursework and clinical experience to be accredited. These MS programs vary in length and credit hours due to the variables in each program. In addition to the program course hours, clinical experience is required for each MS EMT and paramedic training level. Mississippi also requires at least 5 hours of ambulance experience for certification.
1. Prerequisites for Mississippi certification as a Medical First Responder:
• must be at least 18 years of age
• must successfully complete a Board approved First Responder Training Program
• must pass the NREMT exam
• must register with the National Registry as a First Responder
First Responders certified from out-of-state must provide the following, according to the MS Bureau of EMS:
a. completion of a Medical First Responder program which meets the guidelines of the First Responder National Standard Curriculum. Provide written verification from the State of training and of current status.
b. completion of a State-approved Medical First Responder skills course which must include automatic external defibrillation and the required sections of the DOT EMT-Basic module for oxygen therapy (or equivalent, with MSDH, BEMS approved terminal competencies).
2. Prerequisites for Mississippi certification as an EMT-Basic:
• must be at least 18 years of age
• must successfully complete a Board approved EMT training program
• must pass the NREMT exam
• must provide verification of medical control (Jurisdictional Medical Control Agreement)
EMTs certified from out-of-state must provide the following, according to the MS Bureau of EMS:
a. present a need for reciprocity by submitting a Jurisdictional Medical Control Agreement from a licensed ambulance service or a facility providing basic life support service indicating the applicant is presently employed or will be employed upon moving to MS.
b. completion of an EMT program (basic level) which meets the guidelines of the national standard curriculum. A copy of the program curriculum and educational objectives must be submitted to an approved by the DEMS.
c. proof of registration as an EMT-Basic by the National Registry of EMTs
3. Prerequisites for Mississippi certification as an EMT Advanced:
• must be at least 18 years of age
• must successfully complete an approved EMT Intermediate or Paramedic Training Program
• must pass the NREMT exam
• must provide verification of medical control (Jurisdictional Medical Control Agreement)
• completion of a DEMS approved EMT-I defibrillation course and passage of the state defibrillation exam (applicable to EMT-Intermediate only), or equivalent with MDH, DEMS approved terminal competencies (ACLS may be substituted for the EMT-I defibrillation course, but applicant must still pass the state defibrillation exam.)
• must meet all Mississippi criteria for EMT Basic certification
EMS Reciprocity for Mississippi:
EMTs/paramedics certified from out-of-state must provide the following, according to the MS Bureau of EMS:
a. present a need for reciprocity by submitting a Jurisdictional Medical Control Agreement from a licensed ambulance service or a facility providing Advanced life support service indicating the applicant is presently employed or will be employed upon moving to MS.
b. completion of an EMT-Intermediate or EMT-Paramedic program (Advanced level), which meets the guidelines of the national standard curriculum for EMT-I or EMT-P. A copy of the curriculum and educational objectives must be submitted to and approved by the DEMS.
c. must provide verification of medical control (Jurisdictional MC Agreement)
Applications for certification can be found online; however the form is dated 2007, so you will be better served if you contact the State EMS office for current information and to verify the forms.
Employment and Licensing:
Once training courses have been successfully completed, all candidates applying for certification must pass the National Registry Exam (NREMT) and must keep current registration within the state of Mississippi. The Mississippi Office of Emergency Planning and Response (OEPR) is responsible for administering the NREMT Exam. There are test sites located across the state and often the OEPR will travel to locations approved to administer the National Registry Exam by remotely connected computers.
In the state of Mississippi EMT certification will expire concurrently with the National Registry certification. If a certification lapses, the Bureau of EMS could deny or withhold re-certification for a certain amount of time. This time period is usually equal to the time that the certification was lapsed.
Additional information and requirements for entry to EMT training and training sites are listed online or available at OEPR. Application for courses and application for certification forms can be found online. EMS-Driver Classes can be found across the state of Mississippi. A list can be found online.
Currently Mississippi states that ninety-six percent of the land area of Mississippi is served by Paramedics, equivalent to 99 percent of the population.
Most Mississippi EMS training programs are through local community colleges and technical schools. East Central Community College in Decatur, Holmes Community College in Ridgeland, and University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson are just a few of Mississippi paramedic schools offering certification courses.
According to the United States Department of Labor: Employment of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics is expected to grow by 19 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Contact Information
Further information can be obtained by contacting the following Mississippi state agencies:
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
EMS and Trauma Care System
Mailing address: Post Office Box 1700
Jackson, Mississippi 39215
24 Hour Information (866) 458-4948 or (866) HLTHY4U
Physical address: 570 East Woodrow Wilson
Annex Building, 3rd Floor
Jackson, Mississippi 39215
601-576-7380
Address questions regarding Mississippi EMT Certification, Training and Testing to:
Director of EMS Testing, Training, and Certification
601-576-7380
Address questions regarding Mississippi EMT Licensure to:
Licensure Officer
601-576-8145