How to Become an EMT in Arizona
To work as an EMT in Arizona, you must be at least 18, finish Arizona's statewide standardized EMT training, pass the exam set by the state health department, and get certified by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The clock matters: you have 2 years from the end of your course to finish. Every rule below is taken from the state rule itself (Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-403).
Updated October 2026 · Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-403, NREMT, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Minimum age
- 18Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-403
- Certification exam
- Set by staterequired by the state health department
- Colleges with EMT programs
- 18IPEDS 2023–24
- Arizona median pay
- $39,500$18.99/hr · BLS May 2025
Arizona EMT requirements at a glance
| Certifying agency | Arizona Department of Health Services |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | at least 18 |
| Training | Arizona's statewide standardized EMT training |
| Exam | The statewide standardized certification test, or current registration at the EMT level or higher with a national certification organization |
| Also required | Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence (A.R.S. § 41-1080), such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate or naturalization documents |
| Also required | Answers to the criminal-history questions on the application, with an explanation and documents for each yes |
| Time limit | Apply within 2 years of finishing the statewide standardized training |
| Renewal | Apply in the 90 days before your certification expires, with a refresher course or refresher challenge exam finished in the past 2 years or current national registration; filing within 30 days after it expires costs a $150 extension fee |
| Moving from another state | Certified in another state: send a copy of that certification; current national registration or comparable U.S. Armed Forces training and testing also qualifies |
From Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-403, Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-402 and Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-404, read in October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Arizona Department of Health Services before you apply.
Step 1: Check that you qualify
Arizona requires you to be at least 18. Background: You cannot be certified while incarcerated, on parole, supervised release or probation; murder, sexual offenses and crimes against children within 10 years, and other felonies or misdemeanors involving moral turpitude within 5 years, bar certification unless the conviction was discharged, expunged or vacated.
Step 2: Finish an approved EMT course
Arizona's statewide standardized EMT training. 18 colleges in Arizona report EMT or paramedic programs to the U.S. Department of Education; see them with costs and graduates. Fire departments, hospitals and private schools also run EMT courses that are not in that federal data, so check any course's state approval before you pay.
What college EMT programs charge in Arizona
2 colleges report a price: $1,420 to $1,816, median $1,618 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). More: how much EMT classes cost by state.
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| East Valley Institute of Technology | Mesa | $1,420 |
| GateWay Community College-Central City | Phoenix | $1,816 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24; it covers the college's largest EMT or paramedic program. Exam and state fees are extra.
EMT classes in Arizona's biggest metro areas
Step 3: Pass the Arizona certification exam
The statewide standardized certification test, or current registration at the EMT level or higher with a national certification organization.
Step 4: Apply for Arizona certification
Apply to the Arizona Department of Health Services. You will also need:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence (A.R.S. § 41-1080), such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate or naturalization documents
- Answers to the criminal-history questions on the application, with an explanation and documents for each yes
Apply within 2 years of finishing the statewide standardized training.
Step 5: Keep it current
Apply in the 90 days before your certification expires, with a refresher course or refresher challenge exam finished in the past 2 years or current national registration; filing within 30 days after it expires costs a $150 extension fee. Certified in another state: send a copy of that certification; current national registration or comparable U.S. Armed Forces training and testing also qualifies.
3,970 EMTs work in Arizona. The median earns $39,500 a year; the top 10% earn $50,790 or more (BLS May 2025). Arizona EMT pay by metro area.
EMT requirements by state
| State | Min. age | Exam | Time limit | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 18 | Set by state | 2 years | 18 |
| Florida | — | Set by state | 2 years | 43 |
| New Jersey | 18 | NREMT | — | 5 |
| New York | 17 | Set by state | 2 years | 14 |
| Ohio | 18 | NREMT | 2 years | 39 |
| Texas | 18 | NREMT | 2 years | 53 |
| Washington | 18 | Set by state | — | 13 |
Only states whose EMT rules we have read in full are listed. How to become an EMT: all states compared.
Becoming an EMT in Arizona: FAQ
How old do you have to be to become an EMT in Arizona?
Arizona requires you to be at least 18 (Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-403).
Do you need the NREMT to be an EMT in Arizona?
The Arizona rule does not name the NREMT for EMTs trained in the state. It requires the statewide standardized certification test, or current registration at the EMT level or higher with a national certification organization (Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-403). Ask your program which exam you will sit.
How long do I have to get certified after my EMT course in Arizona?
Apply within 2 years of finishing the statewide standardized training (Ariz. Admin. Code R9-25-403).
How much do EMT classes cost in Arizona?
2 Arizona colleges report an EMT or paramedic program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $1,420 to $1,816, median $1,618 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24).
How much do EMTs make in Arizona?
The median Arizona EMT earned $39,500 a year ($18.99 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, below the U.S. median of $44,470. The middle half earned $34,820 to $48,350.