Alaska's entry level is called EMT-1, and you need it before moving up to EMT-2 or Advanced EMT. The Department of Health's EMS Office licenses EMTs; its public pages say little, so everything below comes from its EMT certification page and the state regulations, 7 AAC 26, checked October 18, 2026. Ask your program or the EMS Office ([email protected]) for the rest.
Study aid, not a protocol. Nothing on this site replaces your course, your medical director or your agency's protocols. Built by an RN and former EMT. Headed In LLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) or any state EMS office; their names appear here only to point you to the real thing.
The national steps, briefly
A state-approved EMT course
Every state approves its own programs, all taught to the National EMS Education Standards. Most run 150 to 300 hours over three to six months.
A healthcare-provider CPR card
AHA BLS or an equivalent your state accepts, usually before clinicals.
The cognitive exam
The National Registry (NREMT) EMT exam: 70 to 120 adaptive questions in 2 hours, $104 per attempt, six attempts within two years of your course.
Your state's license or certification
The card comes from the state, not the Registry. The state's own steps are below.
Course: a state-approved EMT-1 course; eligibility varies by course, so check with the course or the EMS Office. Instructors must arrange your exam and make sure you hold a valid CPR credential (or teach CPR).
Exam: a department-approved cognitive and psychomotor exam on the national standards; the National Registry EMT exam qualifies for the matching Alaska level (7 AAC 26.070).
Record: some convictions bar certification permanently and others for set waiting periods (7 AAC 26.950); if you report a charge or conviction, you get the court records yourself.
Age, fees and term: not on the EMS Office's public pages; ask your program.
From another state: with current National Registry certification and the additional training in the Alaska Scope of Practice, you can get reciprocity at the EMT-1 level.