How Does Tennessee Recertification Work

If you’re an EMS professional in Tennessee, staying certified means keeping up with a very specific recertification schedule—and it’s not the same for everyone. Unlike states that follow a fixed calendar or use the National Registry’s model, Tennessee has its own system, and if you’re not paying close attention, it’s easy to miss your deadline.

Let’s start with the basics. In Tennessee, recertification occurs every two years. But rather than using the same expiration date for everyone, Tennessee ties your expiration to the last day of the month of your birth year. And here’s the catch—it’s also based on whether your birth year is odd or even.

If you were born in an odd-numbered year, your recertification is due on the last day of your birth month in the next odd-numbered year. The same rule applies for even-numbered birth years—your license expires on the last day of your birth month in the next even-numbered year.

Here are a couple of quick examples to make it clear:

Example 1:
If your birthday is June 4, 1999 (an odd year), your recertification date would be June 30, 2025. That’s the last day of your birth month and the next odd-numbered year.

Example 2:
If your birthday is October 12, 2000 (an even year), your recertification deadline would fall on October 31, 2026. Again, the last day of your birth month, but in the next even year.

This rolling recertification model means people expire every single month in Tennessee—not just at the end of the year like in many other states. That’s why it’s so important to know your specific expiration date and start working toward your continuing education (CE) requirements well in advance.

Now, here’s something else you need to know—Tennessee requires that 50% of your CE be completed through live instruction. That means you can’t rely solely on self-paced modules. To meet the requirement, half of your hours must be completed through live instructor-led education.

That’s where DistanceCME comes in.

We offer 100% online continuing education for EMS professionals, and our platform is built to meet Tennessee’s requirements. With live instructor-led F5 (VILT) courses and self-paced F3 (Distributive) options, you can complete your CE from the comfort of home—or wherever you are—with no need to travel or rearrange your entire schedule.

Our F5 classes are conducted in real time with expert instructors and fellow EMS professionals. You’ll be able to ask questions, engage with the content, and meet your live learning requirements with ease. And because we offer more live classes than any other provider, you’ll always find a time slot that fits your schedule—even if you’re working nights or weekends.

Pair those with our flexible F3 self-paced courses, and you’ve got a complete solution to meet Tennessee’s 50% live education rule and still get everything done at your convenience.

So, if you’re a Tennessee EMS provider, don’t wait until the last minute. Know your expiration date, plan your CE hours accordingly, and contact DistanceCME help you stay compliant—without the stress