Military EMS Personnel
Military Personnel and the United States EMS Compact
The United States EMS Compact provides specialized support for veterans, active-duty military personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, and their spouses. All Member States have enacted legislation requiring expedited EMS licensure processing for qualified military-affiliated individuals.
This commitment recognizes the invaluable contributions of military service members to emergency response, while ensuring that their medical training and credentials are recognized promptly when relocating or transitioning between duty stations or civilian employment.
Acknowledging the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), as amended in 2023, supports professional license portability for service members and their spouses. This federal law allows certain professional licenses, including EMS licenses, to remain valid when the holder relocates under official military orders.
How the SCRA Supports Interstate Licensure Compacts
- The SCRA prioritizes the use of interstate compacts—including the EMS Compact—as the preferred method for ensuring license portability and recognition across state lines.
- When an interstate compact covers a professional license, the compact’s rules govern the individual’s ability to practice in the new state.
- If the license is not covered by a compact, the SCRA ensures that the professional may continue to work at a comparable scope of practice in the new jurisdiction during the period of military relocation.
For more information, see the Department of Justice’s SCRA License Portability Fact Sheet or visit the DOJ’s Servicemembers and Veterans Resources page .
Who Is Eligible?
The REPLICA legislation (Section 7) applies to:
- Veterans
- Active-duty service members
- Members of the National Guard and Reserves
- Individuals separating from an active-duty tour
- Spouses of the above
See the REPLICA Model Legislation, Section 7 for full legal text.
Requirements for Expedited Licensure
To request expedited processing, eligible individuals must hold a current, valid, and unrestricted National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) certification at or above the level of the state license they are seeking. This satisfies the Compact’s minimum education and examination requirements for EMS licensure.
- Member States shall consider veterans, active-duty service members, Guard and Reserve personnel, and their spouses who hold a current unrestricted NREMT certification at or above the level of the requested state license as meeting the minimum training and examination requirements.
- Member States shall expedite the processing of applications from veterans, service members, Guard and Reserve personnel separating from active duty, and their spouses.
- Individuals practicing under this section remain subject to the Adverse Actions provisions of Section 8 of the REPLICA model legislation.
