In Illinois, the EMT-B must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health. To be licensed, one must:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• complete an approved EMT training program (110 classroom hours and 10 clinical hours);
• successfully take the licensure exam; and,
• pay a fee.

Licensure must be renewed every four years.

Before becoming an EMT-I or an EMT-P, a person must be a licensed EMT-B. Paramedic and Intermediate training involves additional classroom instruction and clinical experience. To maintain licensure with the Illinois Department of Public Health, an EMT-B and EMT-I must:

• complete 120 hours of continuing education;
• complete a refresher course or Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) or Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) in the last two years of the licensure period; and
• maintain a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card.

An EMT-P must also complete 120 hours of continuing education and maintain a current CPR card.

For additional information, contact: