GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 675
Short Title: EMT Personnel Credentialing Modifications. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Pless.
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, Regulatory Reform,
if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 3, 2025
*H675 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REQUIRE TH E NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL 2
TECHNICIANS EXAMINAT ION FOR CREDENTIALING AS VARIOUS EMERGENCY 3
MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. G.S. 131E-155 reads as rewritten: 6
"§ 131E-155. Definitions. 7
As used in this Article, unless otherwise specified: 8
… 9
(17) "Practical examination" means a test that complies with National Registry of 10
Emergency Medical Technicians examination standards where an applicant 11
for credentialing as an emergency medical technician, emergency medical 12
responder, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic 13
demonstrates the ability to perform specified emergency medical care skills." 14
SECTION 2. G.S. 131E-159 reads as rewritten: 15
"§ 131E-159. Credentialing requirements. 16
(a) Individuals seeking credentials as an emergency medical technician, advanced 17
emergency medical technician, paramedic, emergency medical responder, emergency medical 18
dispatcher, or emergency medical services instructor shall apply to the Department using forms 19
prescribed by that agency. The Department's representatives shall examine the applicant by either 20
written, practical, or written and practical examination. The Department shall issue appropriate 21
credentials to the applicant who meets all the requirements set forth in this Article and the rules 22
adopted for this Article and who successfully completes the examinations required for 23
credentialing. Emergency medical technician, emergency medical responder, emergency medical 24
dispatcher, advanced emergency medical technician, paramedic, and emergency medical services 25
instructor credentials shall be valid for a period not to exceed four years and may be renewed if 26
the holder meets the requirements set forth in the rules of the Commission. The Department is 27
authorized to revoke or suspend these credentials at any time it determines that the holder no 28
longer meets the qualifications prescribed. 29
(b) The Subject to subsections (c1) and (d1) of this section, the Commission shall adopt 30
rules setting forth the qualifications required for credentialing of emergency medical responders, 31
emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 32
emergency medical dispatchers, and emergency medical services instructors. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 675-First Edition
(b1) Beginning January 1, 2026, a person seeking credentialing or renewal of credentialing 1
under subsection (b) of this section shall only qualify for credentials under this section if the 2
person passes the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination for the level 3
of certification desired. Any other examination shall not be recognized by the Commission. 4
Persons that possess a State credential or other accepted credential that is not from the National 5
Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for their respective certification prior to January 1, 6
2026, shall be certified under the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians by 7
January 1, 2030. 8
(c) Individuals currently credentialed as an emergency medical technician, advanced 9
emergency medical technician, paramedic, emergency medical responder, and emergency 10
medical services instructor by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or by 11
another state where the education/credentialing requirements have been approved for legal 12
recognition by the Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with rules 13
promulgated by the Medical Care Commission, and who is either currently residing in North 14
Carolina or affiliated with a permitted EMS provider offering service within North Carolina, may 15
be eligible for credentialing as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical 16
technician, paramedic, emergency medical responder, and emergency medical services instructor 17
without examination. This credentialing shall be valid for a period not to exceed the length of the 18
applicant's original credentialing or four years, whichever is less. 19
(c1) A person seeking credentialing under subsection (b) of this section is required to pass 20
the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination for the level of 21
certification desired and undergo a criminal history background check in accordance with 22
subsection (g) of this section. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians 23
examination requirements shall include all sections of the examination as appropriate for each 24
level, including (i) didactic, practical, and clinical requirements, (ii) cognitive and psychomotor 25
skills examinations, and (iii) the receipt of the National Registry of Emergency Medical 26
Technicians certification. 27
(d) An individual currently credentialed as an emergency medical dispatcher by a 28
national credentialing agency, or by another state where the education/credentialing requirements 29
have been approved for legal recognition by the Department of Health and Human Services, in 30
accordance with rules issued by the Medical Care Commission, and who is either currently 31
residing in North Carolina or affiliated with an emergency medical dispatcher program approved 32
by the Department of Health and Human Services offering service within North Carolina, may 33
be eligible for credentialing as an emergency medical dispatcher without examination. This 34
credentialing shall be valid for a period not to exceed the length of the applicant's original 35
credentialing or four years, whichever is less.examination for up to one year. If a person is 36
seeking credentialing in this State and holds a state-level certificate as an emergency medical 37
technician, advanced emergency medical technician, paramedic, emergency medical responder, 38
emergency medical dispatcher, or emergency medical services instructor in another state, the 39
person must obtain a credential from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians 40
within one year of the issuance of their credentialing in this State. After one year, the person 41
cannot continue to be credentialed until passage of the National Registry of Emergency Medical 42
Technicians examination for the level of certification desired. 43
(d1) Any person seeking credentialing as a specialty certification, including a flight 44
paramedic, critical care paramedic, community paramedic, tactical paramedic, wilderness 45
paramedic, designated infection control officer, or a medical transportation safety professional, 46
shall pass the appropriate examination from the International Board of Specialty Certification. 47
(e) Duly authorized representatives of the Department may issue temporary credentials 48
with or without examination upon finding that this action will be in the public interest. Temporary 49
credentials shall be valid for a period not exceeding 90 days. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 675-First Edition Page 3
(f) The Department may deny, suspend, amend, or revoke the credentials of an 1
emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical 2
technician, paramedic, emergency medical dispatcher, or emergency medical services instructor 3
in any case in which the Department finds that there has been a substantial failure to comply with 4
the provisions of this Article or the rules issued under this Article. Prior to implementation of 5
any of the above disciplinary actions, the Department shall consider the recommendations of the 6
EMS Disciplinary Committee pursuant to G.S. 143-519. The Department's decision to deny, 7
suspend, amend, or revoke credentials may be appealed by the applicant or credentialed 8
personnel pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the 9
Administrative Procedure Act. 10
(g) An individual who applies for EMS credentials, seeks to renew EMS credentials, or 11
holds EMS credentials is subject to a criminal background review by the Department. At the 12
request of the Department, the Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Committee, established 13
by G.S. 143-519, shall review criminal background information and make a recommendation 14
regarding the eligibility of an individual to obtain initial EMS credentials, renew EMS 15
credentials, or maintain EMS credentials. The Department and the Emergency Medical Services 16
Disciplinary Committee shall keep all information obtained pursuant to this subsection 17
confidential. The Medical Care Commission shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this 18
subsection, including rules to establish a reasonable fee to offset the actual costs of criminal 19
history information obtained pursuant to G.S. 143B-1209.33. 20
(g1) A person who is credentialed under this Article shall be required to keep on their 21
person a certification card that is up to date. In the event of a person losing their certification 22
card, the person shall order a duplicate. The Commission shall publish on their website a method 23
for contact to assist persons in ordering a replacement card. 24
(h) A person who is required to register as a sex offender under Article 27A of Chapter 25
14 of the General Statutes, or who was convicted of an offense which would have required 26
registration if committed at a time when such registration would have been required by law, shall 27
not be granted EMS credentials. The Department shall not renew the credentials of any person 28
who would be ineligible for EMS credentials under this subsection." 29
SECTION 3. The Medical Care Commission shall adopt temporary rules to 30
implement the provisions of this act. The temporary rules adopted shall remain in effect until 31
permanent rules are adopted to replace the temporary rules. 32
SECTION 4. This act becomes effective January 1, 2026. 33