Beginning July 1, 2024, The Bureau of Emergency Medical and Trauma Services will implement a new policy requiring Fieldprint for all licensure background checks. This innovative approach aims to streamline the background check process for EMS personnel by leveraging Fieldprint's advanced technology. Students will be able to utilize Fieldprint's website to create an account and schedule a time for fingerprinting at one of Fieldprint's locations across the state. The applicant will pay for the background check when they schedule their appointment with Fieldprint. 

Here are some important dates to note: 

  • As of June 1,  BEMTS will no longer mail paper background check packets to individuals or training programs. 
  • Between June 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024, the student must contact BEMTS to apply the paper background check fee to their Amanda account if they submit the paper background check packet. 515-281-0620. 

BEMTS will no longer accept completed paper fingerprint packets after June 30, 2024.

Iowa HHS is the lead agency responsible for the implementation of Iowa code as it relates to the Emergency Medical Services profession. The BEMTS EMS program is responsible for the regulation of EMS providers, service programs, and training programs in Iowa. The Bureau’s staff emphasize high quality technical assistance and system development to optimize the quality of emergency care delivered in Iowa. The EMS advisory council (EMSAC) helps guide the priorities of the BEMTS EMS program.

The Iowa EMS System Standards are a change initiative that provides a consistent and accountable approach to protecting the health of Iowans through EMS. The Standards describe, in a tempered and realistic manner, the minimum infrastructure and EMS services that all Iowans can reasonably expect from Emergency Medical Services.

The EMS data registry utilized in Iowa is the ImageTrend Elite application. The Iowa ImageTrend Elite application is a comprehensive pre-hospital data collection, analysis and reporting system. This system enables Iowa’s authorized service programs to satisfy data reporting requirements, and provides numerous user tools to assist agency administration.

Iowa Code and Admin Rules

Iowa Code

147A Emergency Medical Care-Trauma Care

147D  Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact 

Iowa EMS Administrative Rules

IAC 641-130 Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council 

IAC 641-131 Emergency Medical Services -Provider

IAC 641-132 Emergency Medical Services-Services 

IAC 641-139 Emergency Medical Services -Training Programs 

IAC 641-140 Emergency Medical Services System Development Grant Funds

IAC 641-142 Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders

IAC 641-144 Emergency Medical Services- Air Medical Service

Iowa Pharmacy Rules for EMS

IAC 657-10 Controlled Substances 

IAC 657-11 Drugs in Emergency Medical Services

EMS Data Request

BEMTS is piloting a data request form to standardize, track, and quickly fulfill the data requests received by the bureau. Please utilize the form for all data requests submitted to the bureau.

EMS Workshops

The EMS program provides workshops for medical director and service director training, both refresher and introductory courses.

October 17, 2024 - EMS Medical Director / Service Director Workshop (Refresher)

6:00-9:00 P.M.

Register Here

January 22, 2025 - EMS Medical Director / Service Director Workshop (Introductory) 

6:00-9:00 P.M. 
Register Here

April 23, 2025 - EMS Medical Director / Service Director Workshop (Refresher)

6:00-9:00 P.M.
Register Here 

July 23, 2025 - EMS Medical Director / Service Director Workshop (Introductory)

6:00-9:00 P.M.
Register Here 

October 22, 2025 - EMS Medical Director / Service Director Workshop (Refresher)

6:00-9:00 P.M.
Register Here 

EMS Providers

BEMTS is responsible for the regulation and licensure of EMS providers in the state of Iowa. EMS providers play a crucial role in the emergency response system. BEMTS is proud to work alongside the EMS profession to assure access to high quality healthcare to the citizens of Iowa.

EMS Provider Licensure and Renewal Links:

Scope of Practice

Guidance Documents

EMS Provider Compliance Incident Reporting Form

EMS Students

Credentialing

EMS Evaluator and Instructor Workshops

  • For providers interested in becoming an evaluator or instructor please contact your sponsoring EMS training center for information regarding upcoming Evaluator and Instructor Workshops.

EMS Service Programs

The BEMTS is responsible for the regulation and authorization of EMS service programs in the state of Iowa. EMS service programs provide a rich tradition of emergency medical services to Iowa’s communities utilizing both paid and volunteer models. BEMTS staff highly qualified, customer service oriented EMS field coordinators who play an integral role in providing technical assistance to Iowa’s service programs. The field coordinators can provide resources to service programs on a wide variety of topics including system development, mobile integrated healthcare – community paramedicine, continuous quality improvement, and medical director/service director responsibilities. Additionally, for those seeking initial service program authorization in Iowa, currently authorized EMS services wishing to change the level or type of service or those currently authorized EMS services that wish to add satellite or affiliate services please contact a BEMTS EMS field coordinator.

EMS Training Programs

The Bureau regulates EMS training programs in Iowa. Responsibilities range from ensuring proper certification of instructors, to establishing minimum acceptable scores, and attendance requirements. The Bureau works to ensure that the next generation of EMS providers are well trained and capable of providing high quality emergency medical care when called upon. Training programs, either in state or out-of-state, seeking initial or renewal applications please contact a BEMTS EMS field coordinator.

Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (EMSAC)

Find meeting dates and past meeting minutes.