Emergency Medical Technicians licensed by the Florida Department of Health must complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) every renewal cycle, and keep a current CPR certification. The renewal cycle is biennial, running December 2 to December 1 of even-numbered years. Your CE cycle actually ends on the date you renew, which isn’t always December 1 — see Renewing Early below.
First Renewal requirements
Your first-renewal requirement depends on when you were licensed relative to the current cycle:
- If you were licensed shortly before this cycle ends, you’re exempt from CE for this renewal — you just need a current CPR certification.
- If you were licensed before this cycle’s start date (meaning you’ve already had close to the full two years in this cycle), you complete the full standard requirement below, just like any other renewal.
Requirements
| Requirement | Hours | Description |
|---|---|---|
| EMT Refresher Courses | 30 hours total | Must include at least 2 hours in Pediatric Emergencies — this isn’t an additional requirement on top of the 30, it’s part of it. |
| Current CPR Certification | Not an hour requirement | Must be from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or ASHI. This is a standing certification you keep current, not something you report hours toward. |
HIV/AIDS refresher training is capped at 2 hours per biennium — hours beyond that won’t count toward your 30-hour total.
A couple of general rules apply: the minimum reportable CE activity is 0.5 hours, in 0.5-hour increments. You cannot repeat the same course for credit within the same biennium.
Banking Excess Hours
Florida does not allow you to carry excess hours into your next renewal cycle. All 30 hours must be earned within your current cycle.
Renewing Early
If you renew before your cycle’s December 1 end date, your CE cycle end date moves to the date you actually renewed — and your next CE cycle doesn’t start until the next regular cycle start date. This creates a “dead zone”: any CE you complete between your renewal date and the following December 1 doesn’t count toward either cycle. For example, if you renew on October 26, any CE completed between October 27 and December 1 won’t apply to your prior cycle or your new one — only CE completed starting December 2 counts toward your new cycle. If you’re close to your renewal date, it’s worth timing your remaining coursework around this.
Renewing Late
If you renew after your cycle’s December 1 end date, there’s no dead zone — your next CE cycle simply starts the day after you renew.