Emergency Medical Technician
All 50 states and D.C. require emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to obtain licenses. On average, these laws require $108 in fees, about a month (34 days) of education and experience, and two exams—the 74th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because EMTs are licensed everywhere, the occupation is the 15th most widely and onerously licensed.
License requirements are somewhat uniform across states. Every state has an age requirement (between 16 and 18 years), one or two exams, and education or experience requirements. (See Appendix B for details on education requirements.) However, fees range from $0 in North Carolina and Vermont to $235 in Oregon. Similarly, education and experience requirements can vary, from about 23 days in Missouri to over three times as much (about 81 days) in Kansas.
Burden Rank | State | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kansas | 51 | $130.00 | 81 | 11.5 credit hours | - | 2 | 12 | 17 |
2 | Hawaii | 51 | $184.00 | 74 | 180 clock hours | 135 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 |
3 | Virginia | 51 | $80.00 | 63 | 9 credit hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
4 | Michigan | 51 | $120.00 | 45 | 194 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
5 | New Mexico | 51 | $218.30 | 42 | 180 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
6 | Alabama | 51 | $90.00 | 42 | 180 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
7 | North Carolina | 51 | $0.00 | 43 | 166 clock hours | 24 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 |
8 | Wyoming | 51 | $39.00 | 42 | 180 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
9 | California | 51 | $129.00 | 37 | 160 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
10 | Texas | 51 | $144.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
11 | Indiana | 51 | $80.00 | 37 | 160 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
12 | Minnesota | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
13 | Oklahoma | 51 | $165.00 | 36 | 154 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
14 | Maryland | 51 | $60.00 | 39 | 165 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 16 |
15 | Illinois | 51 | $65.00 | 37 | 160 clock hours | - | 1 | 12 | 18 |
16 | Massachusetts | 51 | $150.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
17 | Delaware | 51 | $149.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
18 | Colorado | 51 | $98.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
19 | Idaho | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
19 | New Hampshire | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
19 | North Dakota | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
19 | Ohio | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
19 | South Dakota | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
19 | Wisconsin | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
25 | West Virginia | 51 | $50.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
26 | Nebraska | 51 | $80.00 | 32 | 138 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
27 | South Carolina | 51 | $80.00 | 34 | 144 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
28 | Connecticut | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 16 |
28 | Pennsylvania | 51 | $80.00 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 16 |
30 | Kentucky | 51 | $168.00 | 28 | 119 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
31 | Mississippi | 51 | $145.00 | 28 | 120 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
32 | Oregon | 51 | $234.50 | 28 | 110 clock hours | 16 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 |
33 | Utah | 51 | $195.00 | 28 | 120 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
34 | Rhode Island | 51 | $205.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
34 | Tennessee | 51 | $205.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
36 | D C | 51 | $125.00 | 28 | 4 credit hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
37 | Alaska | 51 | $105.00 | 28 | 120 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
38 | Montana | 51 | $130.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
39 | New Jersey | 51 | $145.45 | 27 | 110 clock hours | 10 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 |
40 | Arkansas | 51 | $80.00 | 28 | 120 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
41 | Nevada | 51 | $90.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
42 | Washington | 51 | $80.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
43 | New York | 51 | $20.00 | 28 | 118 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
44 | Georgia | 51 | $155.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
45 | Louisiana | 51 | $110.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
46 | Arizona | 51 | $80.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
47 | Florida | 51 | $115.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 1 | 12 | 18 |
48 | Iowa | 51 | $110.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 17 |
49 | Vermont | 51 | $0.00 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
50 | Maine | 51 | $121.00 | 26 | 111 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 16 |
51 | Missouri | 51 | $80.00 | 23 | 100 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |