Seems nutty to me. Jersey does that? You can just get your original card, take your CE and recert?
I should probably clarify that.... Because NJ does it, NC does it, NR does it, and I'm sure there are plenty of other states that do too.. Yes, you need to retest, but it's with a local instructor, so if the instructor knows you, they are more willing to help you out. After all, no one wants to be known as the instructor who fails people for not meeting the standards, then people will stop hiring that instructor to do the classes. You do need to pass a practical exams (at least on paper, and at least in theory), but outside of NY, I wasn't aware of any state that required you to take the proctored state entry level exam to maintain your credential once you expired.
I'm convinced that is also how many fire department based EMS providers maintain their credentials, because they know the elevators, and no one wants to fail their coworker and cost them their job, despite being mediocre providers at best (but that's an entirely different topic).
and
@NysEms2117, reciprocity is different... in NY, they will grant you a card once, with the same expiration as your current card... after that, you need to recert through their process (jammed up a buddy of mine who was granted reciprocity when his NJ cert was expiring that month, which was the same date of expiration they gave for his NY card; lesson learned, when possible, apply for reciprocity after you have a new card). But oddly enough, you can be an EMT in NJ using a PA or NY card, no reciprocity is needed (but again, that's an entirely different topic).
Kinda weird that NJ let him do it multiple times, but I guess the thinking is, if you can pass the requirements for one state, you should be good enough for the other.
