NJ EMT Recertification Process
As promised, here’s the post about the EMT Recertification process. Many years ago, EMT cards were just issued to you if you completed your recertification requirements (24 electives and 24 Core CEUs). When we began the transition to the new National Curriculum (not to be confused with the National Registry) the recertification process went from automatic to user initiated (fancy term for you have to do it yourself or you get nothing). As I’m not currently within in the recertification window, I can’t provide you with screen shots so we’ll do the best we can with words.
When you are within six (6) months of the end of your card (typically January 1 for those that expire on June 30th and July 1st for those that expire on December 31st) you can log into the www.njems.us page and you will see a link to recertify. When you click on that link, you will be asked questions that require a Yes or No button to be clicked. To paraphrase them (as I can’t view them without being within that window) they are “Are you currently suspended in any other state” and “Are you a felon/pedophile” basically questions that go to morale character and whether or not you have a restriction that would prevent you from being certified. Now, if you have a conviction, this doesn’t mean that you can’t be an EMT, all of these cases are reviewed by OEMS individually and a decision is made.
After you check the appropriate answers to these boxes, you will be asked to submit your application. Please note that as of that moment when you click Submit, that’s the time stamp that gets used for you to verify your education and CEU status. There have been cases in the past where individuals have clicked submit to recertify assuming that they would be issued a card at the end of the current cards expiration date and were planning on completing their refreshers and/or were currently registered for them. This doesn’t work. I personally know of someone that went through hell in an effort to get their certification back after making this mistake. It took years and thousands of dollars in legal fees as they were accused of fraudulently recertifying and had their certification suspended. Now, if you are a volunteer and decide “Oh Well” then it really isn’t a major issue, but if your paycheck and ability to provide for your family are tied to that certification, well that’s a completely different story.
Your application for recertification will be reviewed, OEMS will pull your transcript to verify your Refresher classes have been completed and if you are a 5 series they will pull your transcript to see what credits you have listed on there. If everything lines up, there is no further action required on your part. If not, and you are missing credits you will receive correspondence from OEMS asking for verification on the remainder of your credits. You can send via email PDF copies of your certificates showing that you are in compliance and typically the next email you receive from them says Thanks, and you’ll notice that your status online has changed from In Progress to Processed for your new card.
If you are unable to provide the required documentation during the audit process, you will be in a position that you really don’t want to be in and as I don’t have first hand knowledge of the process that follows, I can’t speak to it.
So the moral of the story is this: Take your education seriously. Obtain the credits that you are required to have. Keep your own training records and ensure that you have all of your T’s crossed and your I’s dotted before submitting for recertification.
