How to Become an EMT in Florida (2026)

Q: How long does emt training take in Florida?

Most people become an EMT in Florida through a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification.

Q: How much do EMTs earn in Florida?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), EMTs in Florida earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,870. Employment concentration in Florida is roughly 0.53 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: Do EMTs need a license in Florida?

Yes. Florida requires state-level licensing or registration for EMTs, administered by the FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

Q: What is the job outlook for EMTs in Florida?

Florida currently employs approximately 6,060 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Florida emergency medical technicians earn a median annual wage of $39,870 ($19.17/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,060 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -10.3% below the national median of $44,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $39,870 ($19.17/hr)
25th percentile: $36,690 per year
75th percentile: $47,000 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $59,000 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $34,120 per year
Workers employed in Florida: 6,060
Versus national median: -10.3% below the U.S. median of $44,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.53 - this occupation is less concentrated in Florida than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Florida employs about 6,060 EMTs earning a median $39,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an EMT here means completing a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification, then applying through FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance.

Florida employs approximately 6,060 EMTs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,870 ¹. Nationally, emt employment is projected to grow 5.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an EMT in Florida, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: state-approved EMT course at a community college, fire academy, or EMS training program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification
Licensing authority: FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Licensing authority: FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Exam: NREMT (most states)
Median wage (Florida): $39,870 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an EMT in Florida

How to become an EMT in Florida? Complete a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification. Apply through FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance. See the NREMT ³ for the national exam.

How long does it take? Most people finish a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months), the NREMT exam, and state or local EMT certification. Confirm current hour totals with the training program and FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance.

Do I need a license in Florida? Yes. Florida certifies EMTs through FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance ⁴. You also pass the NREMT exam in most states. See the licensing section below.

What do EMTs earn in Florida? The median annual wage for EMTs in Florida is $39,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,120 and experienced professionals can earn $59,000 or more ¹.

How to Become an EMT in Florida

Meet basic requirements. Most Florida EMT courses require you to be 18 (some allow 16 or 17 to train), hold a high school diploma or GED, and hold current CPR or BLS. Confirm the current age and health-screening rules with the training program.
Complete a state-approved EMT course. Finish a state-approved EMT course in Florida. Courses are usually a few months at a community college, fire academy, or EMS training program, with classroom hours plus skills labs and clinical time. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass the NREMT exam. Pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT exam. Most states use NREMT as the cognitive test; some still require a psychomotor exam. See the NREMT ³.
Get your Florida EMT certification. Apply through FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance. Some states also issue a local EMS agency card on top of the state credential. You cannot practice as an EMT until that certification is current.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

EMT License Requirements in Florida

The FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance oversees EMS certification in Florida ⁴. Most candidates also take the NREMT exam ³.

Typical EMT path

Meet age, diploma or GED, and CPR requirements.
Complete a state-approved EMT course (typically a few months).
Pass the NREMT EMT exam.
Apply for Florida EMT certification (and a local EMS agency card if the state uses one).

EMT is the entry credential. Advanced EMT and paramedic are later rungs on the same ladder, not the first license to chase.

Hour totals, background checks, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the Florida EMS office before you enroll.

EMT Wages by Metro Area in Florida

Emergency Medical Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Florida

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), emergency medical technicians wages in Florida vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach	1,110	$40,100	$46,450	$34,480	$81,730
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater	1,040	$43,540	$42,320	$34,520	$47,760
Jacksonville	540	$39,120	$42,330	$36,410	$49,410
Cape Coral-Fort Myers	350	$39,220	$46,270	$32,030	$68,200
Tallahassee	250	$39,020	$40,160	$32,830	$49,610
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent	200	$42,990	$41,180	$36,670	$47,010
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach	160	$38,000	$41,280	$37,980	$45,690
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin	150	$42,500	$46,980	$36,810	$47,650
Lakeland-Winter Haven	150	$48,510	$51,510	$34,870	$80,600
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota	150	$46,690	$44,240	$31,780	$50,980
Gainesville	110	$39,560	$43,630	$37,620	$50,760
Port St. Lucie	110	$40,310	$49,420	$36,260	$89,760
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville	100	$34,680	$36,190	$31,370	$44,870
Naples-Marco Island	90	$46,220	$54,210	$34,820	$94,520
Ocala	90	$38,480	$41,450	$32,890	$51,580
Homosassa Springs	50	$33,610	$38,370	$33,610	$49,880
Panama City-Panama City Beach	50	$38,020	$46,460	$36,600	$62,290
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford	N/A	$38,510	$43,280	$33,810	$55,980

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for EMTs in Florida? Florida currently employs approximately 6,060 EMTs ¹. Nationally, emt employment is projected to grow 5.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an emt in Florida with an out-of-state license? Contact the FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Florida? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Florida.

How much do EMTs earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for EMTs in Florida is $39,870, which is $1,470 below the national median of $41,340 according to BLS data ¹.

In Florida

Florida Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Explore More Trades in Florida

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NREMT - National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians: https://www.nremt.org/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance - Licensing Information: https://www.doh.state.fl.us/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)