Tennessee Successfully Integrates with the National EMS Coordinated Database
23 SEPT 2025 — Washington, DC — The United States EMS Compact congratulates the State of Tennessee on successfully connecting its EMS licensure system to the National EMS Coordinated Database (NEMSCD). This achievement fulfills a legal requirement under Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-140-601, Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA), and represents a major advancement in both public protection and interstate mobility for EMS clinicians.
Tennessee joined the Compact in 2016 when HB 1888 passed with unanimous, bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. This overwhelming legislative endorsement reflected a strong commitment to strengthening EMS, improving emergency response, and supporting clinicians who serve the public across state lines.
Across all 25 Compact states, the legislation has received extraordinary bipartisan backing, with more than 3,200 elected officials voting in favor and an overall 98% “yes” vote. This makes the United States EMS Compact one of the strongest and most widely supported EMS legislative initiatives in the history of the profession.
With this integration, more than 20,000 licensed Tennessee EMTs, Advanced EMTs, and Paramedics now have immediate access to a Privilege to Practice (PTP) in all 25 EMS Compact member states. This expanded mobility enables Tennessee EMS clinicians to respond where they are needed most, while ensuring patient safety through real-time verification of licensure status.
The Compact also recognizes the leadership of Tennessee EMS Commissioner Brandon Ward, who oversaw the technology upgrades necessary to achieve this milestone.
Employers and EMS clinicians can validate an individual’s EMS Compact PTP status through the online portal at www.emscompact.gov by entering the clinician’s 12-digit National EMS ID number. If the number is not readily available, it can be retrieved through the individual’s NREMT account or the state EMS office portal.
Under the Compact, any EMS clinician with a valid, unrestricted license issued in a member state is immediately recognized under state law in all other Compact states. Clinicians remain subject to state requirements, including agency affiliation, physician medical direction, approved protocols, and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
“Tennessee’s successful integration into the National EMS Coordinated Database is a win for both clinicians and the public,” said Donnie Woodyard, MAML, NRP, Executive Director of the United States EMS Compact. “By meeting this milestone, Tennessee strengthens the protections that keep patients safe, while at the same time empowering more than 20,000 EMS professionals with the ability to serve across state lines when duty calls.”
“This milestone is not only a success for Tennessee but also a strengthening of the entire Compact,” said Kraig Kinney, JD, Indiana Commissioner and Chair of the United States EMS Compact Commission. “Every state that integrates with the National EMS Coordinated Database helps build a more reliable, connected, and responsive EMS system. Tennessee’s leadership demonstrates how collaboration across state lines directly benefits the clinicians who serve and the communities that depend on them.”
For more information about the EMS Compact, member states, or to validate an EMS clinician’s Privilege to Practice, please visit www.emscompact.gov.
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