Emergency Medical Services
Submit an EMS Support Ticket
317-234-7322
emscertifications@dhs.in.gov
About Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Emergency Medical Services, or EMS, is a system that provides emergency medical care to Hoosiers more than 2,000 times per day. EMS is most easily recognized when emergency vehicles or helicopters are seen responding to incidents, but EMS is much more than a ride to the hospital. It is a system of coordinated response and emergency medical care, involving multiple people and agencies. With more than 800 provider agencies, operating more than 2,000 ambulances, with more than 24,000 emergency medical personnel, EMS is the front line of the health care system safety net and stands proudly at the intersection of health care, public health and public safety.
The IDHS EMS Division leads and supports Indiana's EMS agencies and personnel. It oversees EMS certifications and training, and the division works closely with the EMS Commission to develop and implement EMS professional standards.
EMS District Managers
EMS Recognitions
EMS Scope of Practice
PSID Lookup
ImageTrend Reporting
EMS Forms
First-Ever Indiana EMS Workforce Assessment
The EMS Division released the 2023 Indiana EMS Workforce Assessment, which culminates a year-long evaluation of the current Indiana EMS workforce. It will guide policy and grant-funding decisions in applicable projects. Highlights of the workforce assessment include:
- Mapped locations of EMS training centers and their corresponding test/pass rates
- Data that reveals training challenges from an educational perspective
- Survey results of why EMS professionals let their certifications lapse or leave the industry
- A county-level needs assessment based on population and local EMS workforce numbers
The assessment was a collaborative effort that included IDHS, Indiana Department of Health, Indiana University Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, and the Indiana Management Performance Hub. The EMS Division is working with the Bowen Center on a proposal to extend the workforce assessment for 2024 and establish a new EMS workforce dashboard.
Sections and Services
- Individuals
Individual Certifications
You can access the full list of certification applications and instructions on the Individual Certifications page. The page also includes testing, continuing education and general information.
Note: All certifications must be renewed online. Paper copies of individual renewals will only be accepted if you get audited. IDHS will issue paper copies of responders' initial certification via mail, but not for renewals. If you want a paper copy of your renewed certification, go to your Acadis Portal account and print it there.
- Service Providers
Service Provider Certifications and Forms
On the Service Providers page, you can find forms for BLS and ALS providers, transport and non-transport, air ambulances, supervising hospitals, vehicle certification, exposure notification and out-of-hospital DNRs. General information, guidance documents and statutory information are also provided.
- Training Institutions and Primary Instructors
Training Institutions and Primary Instructors
Certifications information, including reference manual and applications, are available for training institutions on the Training Institutions and Primary Instructors page. How to become a primary instructor, all the associated forms for primary instructors and EMS courses information are also available.
- Mobile Integrated Health (MIH)
Mobile Integrated Health
Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), or community paramedicine, is a patient-centered model of care delivered in a patient's home or in a mobile environment. This includes teams that come to patients as well as the use of telehealth platforms. Community paramedics can visit patients at their home and assist with health screenings, vaccinations, treatments and follow-ups.
In Indiana and around the country, MIH is a growing, innovative approach to how the EMS system works as part of the overall public health system. The EMS Commission and IDHS EMS Division actively support the development of MIH programs. Learn more about MIH and find local programs on the interactive MIH program dashboard.
- Resources and Data
First Responder Behavioral Health
All first responders need to know when they need help and how to get it. Organizational leaders and coworkers also need to establish work environments that provide adequate training, protect from overwork and support public safety personnel seeking help when they need it. Find resources for first responders on the First Responder Behavioral Health page.
Complaint Form
File a complaint, problem or issue online regarding Indiana certified providers or personnel.
EMS Data
Local, state and federal organizations use EMS data to better inform health care decisions and policies. Find incident data, naloxone administration heat map, EMS Division annual reports and related information on the EMS Data page.
EMS Grants
A variety of grants are open to fire departments and EMS providers for EMS-related uses. Discover them via the EMS Grants page.
Mobile Simulation Laboratory (Sim Lab)
Request the mobile simulation laboratory for EMS training. This free service, using a repurposed ambulance and human patient simulators, travels the state providing hands-on training.
Vehicle Accident Reporting Form
In compliance with IAC 836, all certified EMS providers must submit a vehicle accident report within 10 days when a provider vehicle is involved in a motor vehicle accident.
- EMS Commission
EMS Commission
The EMS Commission is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of an effective system of emergency medical services. This includes the necessary equipment, personnel and facilities to ensure that all emergency patients receive prompt and adequate medical care throughout the range of emergency conditions encountered. The commission has also established the Mobile Integrated Healthcare Advisory Committee. Visit the Boards and Commissions page for more information, including instructions on submitting a waiver and recent meeting minutes.