One license,
valid in multiple states.
The EMS Compact, state law in 28 states and operational in 27, works like your Driver's License. If you are an EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic with a qualified license issued in any participating state, your license is recognized (as a Privilege to Practice) across ALL participating states. No Fee. No Reciprocity Paperwork. The Compact is administered by the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice, the governmental body responsible for the interstate practice of EMS in the United States.
Can I practice in another state? New here? Start with the clinician guide
There is no separate "compact license" to apply for. If your home state participates and your EMS license is current, you already have a Privilege to Practice. You just verify it.
Verify a Privilege to Practice
Confirm whether an EMS clinician holds an active Compact Privilege to Practice. Enter the clinician's National EMS ID, a 12-digit number that is different from a state license or National Registry (NREMT) number.
Can I practice in another participating state?
You may be eligible for a Privilege to Practice if all of the following are true:
- You hold a valid, unrestricted EMS license issued by your Home State.
- Your Home State is a participating state that is in force.
- You are affiliated with an EMS agency authorized in the state where you intend to practice.
- You practice under a medical director.
- You follow the remote state's scope of practice, protocols, and laws.
- You are not restricted, suspended, or otherwise ineligible.
No matching EMS ID found for "".
To validate a Privilege to Practice, enter a valid National EMS ID. This 12-digit number (####-####-####) differs from a state license number or National Registry (NREMT) number.
- Only EMS clinicians licensed in states that have enacted the Compact are eligible for a Privilege to Practice. View participating states.
- If your state participates but your information is not shown, contact your State EMS Office for assistance.
- The EMS Compact office cannot change, modify, or add records to the database.
- If your EMS ID is not found, check your home state's NEMSCD integration status.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
What brings you here?
The Compact reaches clinicians, employers, states, and the public in different ways. Pick the starting point that matches your question and go straight to the answers.
EMS Clinicians
Can I practice in another state? Do I need to apply or take the NREMT again? Start here for eligibility, how the Privilege to Practice works, and how to verify a status.
Where the Compact Applies
Already licensed and crossing state lines? See how the Privilege to Practice applies to your situation: ground, air, special events, wildland, military service, and more.
Employers & Medical Directors
Verify privileges, understand agency affiliation, and access official source documents and position papers.
Elected Officials
How states join the Compact, the model legislation, and what participation means for your constituents.
The Commission
Governance, commissioners, meetings, rules, and the public record of the Interstate Commission.
Where the Compact Is Law
The Compact has been enacted in 28 states and is operational in 27, and 1 more has enacted it but is not yet operational.
Hover over a state for details, or select it to open its page.
View all states as a table
| State | Status | Enacted |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Participating | 2017 |
| Alaska | Participating | 2026 |
| Arizona | Participating | 2026 |
| Arkansas | Participating | 2025 |
| Colorado | Participating | 2015 |
| Delaware | Participating | 2017 |
| Georgia | Participating | 2017 |
| Idaho | Participating | 2016 |
| Indiana | Participating | 2020 |
| Iowa | Participating | 2019 |
| Kansas | Participating | 2016 |
| Louisiana | Participating | 2020 |
| Mississippi | Participating | 2017 |
| Missouri | Participating | 2018 |
| Nebraska | Participating | 2018 |
| Nevada | Participating | 2023 |
| North Dakota | Participating | 2019 |
| South Carolina | Participating | 2018 |
| South Dakota | Participating | 2021 |
| Tennessee | Participating | 2016 |
| Texas | Participating | 2015 |
| Utah | Participating | 2016 |
| Virginia | Participating | 2016 |
| West Virginia | Participating | 2020 |
| Wyoming | Participating | 2017 |
| Oklahoma | Enacted, implementing | 2023 |
| Pennsylvania | Enacted, implementing | 2022 |
| Connecticut | Enacted, not yet operational | 2026 |
| California | Not yet | – |
| Florida | Not yet | – |
| Hawaii | Not yet | – |
| Illinois | Not yet | – |
| Kentucky | Not yet | – |
| Maine | Not yet | – |
| Maryland | Not yet | – |
| Massachusetts | Not yet | – |
| Michigan | Not yet | – |
| Minnesota | Not yet | – |
| Montana | Not yet | – |
| New Hampshire | Not yet | – |
| New Jersey | Not yet | – |
| New Mexico | Not yet | – |
| New York | Not yet | – |
| North Carolina | Not yet | – |
| Ohio | Not yet | – |
| Oregon | Not yet | – |
| Rhode Island | Not yet | – |
| Vermont | Not yet | – |
| Washington | Not yet | – |
| Wisconsin | Not yet | – |
What the Compact Does and Does Not Do
A Privilege to Practice allows eligible EMS clinicians to practice in participating states without obtaining a separate license in each state. It does not create independent practice authority, replace medical direction, authorize agency operations, or override state scope-of-practice rules.
What the Compact Does
- Allows a State EMS license issued by any participating state to be immediately valid in all participating states.
- Is established in law, takes effect immediately, and carries no separate application or fee.
- Preserves local authority and accountability, including each state's control over EMS practice, licensure, and discipline within its borders.
- Supports interstate workforce mobility, disaster response, and cross-border EMS operations.
- Provides a coordinated system for verifying eligibility and practice status.
What the Compact Does Not Do
- It does not authorize independent EMS practice.
- It does not replace state scope of practice or medical direction.
- It does not authorize an EMS agency to operate in another state without meeting that state's requirements.
- It does not override employer credentialing, insurance, billing, or operational requirements.
Latest News
Alaska Appoints Todd McDowell as Commissioner as the EMS Compact Goes Live in Alaska
The Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice announced the appointment of Todd McDowell, NRP, as Alaska's inaugural EMS Compact Delegate and Commissioner. The EMS Compact is in force in Alaska as of October 9, 2026, making Alaska the 27th state with active Privilege to Practice recognition.
Fourth Quarter Commission Meeting Rescheduled to December 9, 2026
The Q4 2026 Commission Meeting, originally scheduled for November 18, 2026, will be held Wednesday, December 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time via Microsoft Teams.
Alaska's Implementation of the EMS Compact Is Delayed
The EMS Compact is not yet active in Alaska. Although Alaska's EMS Compact law became effective on September 20, 2026, additional implementation steps are required before Alaska clinicians hold a Privilege to Practice in other states and clinicians from other participating states hold a Privilege to Practice in Alaska.
Public Meetings
As a governmental body, all meetings of the Commission and its committees are open to the public, and public comment and input are encouraged. Upcoming meetings are posted here as public notice; recent meetings link to the official record.
Upcoming
- October 14, 2026 Executive Committee
- October 21, 2026 Stakeholder Advisory Committee
Recent
- September 9, 2026 Executive Committee
- August 19, 2026 Full Commission
Official Source Documents
These are the Commission's official documents, straight from the source. Read the position papers that explain where the Compact stands on key issues, the resolutions adopted by the Commissioners, a plain-language factsheet, and the legislation states use to join. Each is here in full so you can review it, share it, or cite it with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the United States EMS Compact?
The United States EMS Compact is an interstate compact enacted as law by participating states. It creates a legal pathway for eligible EMS clinicians to practice across state lines through a Privilege to Practice, administered by the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice.
Does the Compact give me a national EMS license?
No. The Compact does not create a national license, and no federal or national EMS license legally exists. Under the Constitution, licensing the professions is reserved to the states under their police powers, not granted to the federal government. Your EMS license remains issued by your Home State. That state-only authority is exactly why occupational licensure compacts matter: an interstate compact is the constitutional mechanism, an agreement among states under the Compact Clause (Article I, Section 10), that lets states recognize one another's licenses without surrendering their authority. The EMS Compact uses that mechanism to extend a Privilege to Practice across participating states.
Can I work in another participating state without applying for another state license?
In many cases, yes, if you are eligible for a Privilege to Practice and comply with the remote state's laws, scope of practice, protocols, and medical direction.
Do I still need to be affiliated with an EMS agency?
Yes. The Compact does not create independent practice authority. You must be affiliated with an EMS agency that is licensed or authorized in the remote state and practice under a medical director.
Does the Compact replace National Registry certification?
No. The Compact does not replace employer requirements, state requirements, or National Registry certification where required by law, employer policy, or agency credentialing.
Who controls discipline if I practice in another state?
The remote state retains authority over practice within its borders, and your Home State retains authority over the EMS license it issued. A remote state may investigate complaints arising in that state and may suspend your Privilege to Practice there.
Why is my EMS ID not found when I search?
The National EMS ID is a 12-digit number that is different from a state license number or National Registry number. If it is not found, it may be missing or unverified in your state's records, or your Home State may not yet be integrated with the database. The Compact office cannot change or add database records.
Who do I contact if my information is wrong?
Your State EMS Office. The Compact office cannot modify state licensure records; corrections must be made by the state, and updates then flow to the database.
About the Commission
The Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice is the governmental body established by participating states to administer the EMS Compact. It is created by state law, not a private association. Each participating state appoints one Commissioner and holds one vote, and its work is guided by the seven legislative declarations written into the Compact.
By enacting the Compact, participating states have legislatively unified EMS licensure standards (the NREMT examination for new EMT and Paramedic licenses), required FBI background checks for initial licensure, shared discipline reporting to the national database within two business days, and State EMS Office authority over every clinician working in their jurisdiction.
The Commission Governance & rules Public meetings History of the EMS Compact Legal foundation