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HB182 • 2026

Health department; to require acceptance of military education or training as credit towards EMS licensure

Health department; to require acceptance of military education or training as credit towards EMS licensure

Education Healthcare
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Morris
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the amount of military training needed for full credit toward an EMS license.

Health Department; Accept Military Training for EMS Licenses

This law requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to accept military education and training as credit towards obtaining an emergency medical service (EMS) license.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to recognize military education or experience as part of the requirements for EMS licensure.
  • Allows proof of passing the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam to count toward EMS licensing qualifications.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who have completed military education or training and are seeking an EMS license in Alabama.

Terms To Know

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Medical care provided to patients outside of a hospital setting, often by ambulance personnel.
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
A national organization that certifies and registers emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law only applies to those seeking EMS licensure in Alabama.
  • It does not specify how much military training or education is required for full credit towards an EMS license.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 House

    Enacted

  2. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 646 (Yeas 32, Nays 0)

  3. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 32, Nays 0)

  4. 2026-02-26 House

    Delivered to Governor

  5. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Signature Requested

  6. 2026-02-26 House

    Enrolled

  7. 2026-02-26 House

    Ready to Enroll

  8. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  9. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  10. 2026-02-19 House

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 505 (Yeas 104, Nays 0)

  11. 2026-02-19 House

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 102, Nays 0)

  12. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  13. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on State Governmental Affairs

  14. 2026-01-21 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  15. 2026-01-21 House

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  16. 2026-01-13 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  17. 2026-01-13 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Official Summary Text

This act amends Section 22-18-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to require the Alabama Department of Public Health to accept education or experience gained while serving in the military and proof of passing the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Examination as credit toward obtaining an emergency medical service license.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB182 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB182
TBS7M95-2
By Representative Morris
RFD: Boards, Agencies and Commissions
First Read: 13-Jan-26
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HB182 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 13-Jan-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to emergency medical services personnel; to
amend Section 22-18-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to require the
Alabama Department of Public Health to credit education or
training acquired in military service toward qualifying for an
emergency medical services personnel license; and to delete
duplicative language and make nonsubstantive, technical
revisions to update the existing code language to current
style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 22-18-4, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§22-18-4
(a) In addition to all other fees now payable, the
Board of Health department shall establish, by rule, a fee for
EMSP and air or ground provider service licenses. Each license
issued to an EMSP shall be valid for a period of 24 calendar
months. Each license issued to a provider service shall be
valid for a period not to exceed 12 calendar months. The same
fee shall be charged for renewal of a license. No additional
fee shall be collected when an EMSP becomes eligible for
reclassification of his or her license to a higher level.
(b) All fees collected under this chapter shall be
retained in a separate fund by the Board of Health department
for the purpose of enforcing this chapter , and shall be
disbursed as other funds of the state are disbursed; provided,
that no fee or permit charge authorized under this chapter
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HB182 Enrolled
Page 2
that no fee or permit charge authorized under this chapter
shall be charged or collected for the issuing of a permit to a
volunteer rescue squad, as defined in Section 32-11-1, for
providing ambulance service on a gratuitous basis, or any
member thereof who volunteers his or her service, unless
licensure is requested by the squad, company, or individual,
whereupon, a fee willshall be charged.
(c) Any person desiring EMSP licensure shall complete
an approved EMSP course as defined by rules of the Board of
Health department , successfully pass the appropriate level
licensure examination as determined by the Board of
Health department , and submit an application to the
boarddepartment . An approved EMSP course for any level shall
be a course conforming to the curriculum for that level as
approved by the United States Department of Transportation, or
approved by any other federal agency as , in the future, may
takehave jurisdiction over EMSP training curriculum
development. A curriculum may be required to be supplemented
with additional modules : (i) if the modules are optional
modules approved by the United States Department of
Transportation, or itsa successor as specified above ,; and
(ii) the optional modules are prescribed , by rule , by the
boarddepartment pursuant to the Alabama Administrative
Procedure Act .
(d)(1) The department shall accept, upon satisfactory
presentation by the applicant, education, training, and
experience completed while a member of the Armed Forces or
Reserves of the United States or the National Guard, Military
Reserves, or Naval Militia of any state, and proof of
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HB182 Enrolled
Page 3
Reserves, or Naval Militia of any state, and proof of
successful passage of the National Registry of Emergency
Medical Technicians examination as credit toward the
qualifications for EMSP licensure.
(2) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
subsection.
(d)(e) No air or ground ambulance shall be operated for
ambulance purposes , and no individual shall fly, drive,
operate, attend, or permit the ambulance to be operated for
the purpose of transporting a patient from any point within
the State of Alabama to any other point within the State of
Alabama unless the ambulance is duly licensed by the Board of
Health department . The Board of Health department may prescribe
exceptions to this requirement consistent with the interests
of public health. Any ground ambulance shall at all times be
driven by a person holding a valid driver's driver license and
who has passed the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course approved
by the Board of Health department , the Apparatus Operator's
Course taught by the Alabama Fire College, or the Emergency
Vehicle Driver Course taught by the Alabama Fire College."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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HB182 Enrolled
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1, 2026.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House 19-Feb-26.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 26-Feb-26 Passed
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