How to Become an EMT in Texas
To work as an EMT in Texas, you must be at least 18, finish a DSHS-approved EMT course, pass the NREMT exam, and get certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). 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 (25 TAC §157.33).
Updated October 2026 · Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: 25 TAC §157.33, NREMT, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Minimum age
- 1825 TAC §157.33
- Certification exam
- NREMT$104 per attempt
- Colleges with EMT programs
- 53IPEDS 2023–24
- Texas median pay
- $37,260$17.91/hr · BLS May 2025
Texas EMT requirements at a glance
| Certifying agency | Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | at least 18 |
| Education | High school diploma or GED (volunteer emergency care attendants are exempt) |
| Training | A DSHS-approved EMT course |
| Exam | Current National Registry (NREMT) certification at the EMT level |
| Also required | Texas jurisprudence exam on state EMS laws and rules |
| Also required | FBI fingerprint criminal history check |
| State fee | $60 application fee; EMS volunteers pay no fee |
| Certification lasts | 4 years |
| Time limit | Meet every requirement within 2 years of finishing your course, or take the course again |
From 25 TAC §157.33, read in October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) before you apply.
Step 1: Check that you qualify
Texas requires you to be at least 18. High school diploma or GED (volunteer emergency care attendants are exempt). Background: FBI fingerprint check.
Step 2: Finish an approved EMT course
A DSHS-approved EMT course. 53 colleges in Texas 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 Texas
1 college reports a price: $5,900 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). More: how much EMT classes cost by state.
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Valley College | Pharr | $5,900 |
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 Texas's biggest metro areas
Step 3: Pass the NREMT exam
Current National Registry (NREMT) certification at the EMT level. The NREMT EMT exam is computer adaptive: 70 to 120 questions in up to 2 hours, $104 per attempt, taken at a Pearson test center or proctored online. You also pass a skills (psychomotor) test approved by the state. The NREMT requires your course to be finished within the past 2 years, and passed portions stay valid for 24 months (NREMT). What the exam covers.
Step 4: Apply for Texas certification
Apply to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). You will also need:
- Texas jurisprudence exam on state EMS laws and rules
- FBI fingerprint criminal history check
$60 application fee; EMS volunteers pay no fee. Meet every requirement within 2 years of finishing your course, or take the course again.
Step 5: Keep it current
Texas EMT certification lasts 4 years. Renewal is covered by a separate rule we have not summarized here; ask the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). NREMT certification has its own recertification ($29 fee from October 1, 2026).
12,770 EMTs work in Texas. The median earns $37,260 a year; the top 10% earn $52,160 or more (BLS May 2025). Texas 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 Texas: FAQ
How old do you have to be to become an EMT in Texas?
Texas requires you to be at least 18 (25 TAC §157.33).
Do you need the NREMT to be an EMT in Texas?
Yes. Current National Registry (NREMT) certification at the EMT level. The NREMT EMT exam costs $104 per attempt.
How long do I have to get certified after my EMT course in Texas?
Meet every requirement within 2 years of finishing your course, or take the course again (25 TAC §157.33).
How much do EMT classes cost in Texas?
1 Texas college reports an EMT or paramedic program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $5,900 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). Add $104 for each NREMT exam attempt and the $60 state application fee.
How long is Texas EMT certification good for?
4 years.
How much do EMTs make in Texas?
The median Texas EMT earned $37,260 a year ($17.91 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, below the U.S. median of $44,470. The middle half earned $35,130 to $44,240.