When people think of paramedics or even emergency medical technicians (EMTs) they normally
think of nurses, firefighters, or doctors working for the government or a nearby hospital.
However, what most people do not know is that a private individual can set up their own medical
transportation business in Florida in very easy steps.
What Do I Need to Set up an Emergency Medical Transportation Business in Florida?
To set up an emergency medical transportation business in Florida, you need to follow these
steps: (1) register your business; (2) obtain the necessary licenses and permits; (3) purchase
insurance; (4) purchase vehicles and equipment; (5) hire and train employees; (6) develop
standard operating procedures; and (7) establish relationships with hospitals and healthcare
providers.
When registering your business, you must choose a business structure, such as a sole
proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation, and register it with the Florida Department of
State. You will also need an EMT transport license from the Florida Department of Health, as
well as a business tax registration certificate from the Florida Department of Revenue. You will
then need liability insurance to protect your business and your clients in case of accidents or
injuries.
Once your business is registered, you will need vehicles equipped with necessary medical
equipment and supplies to provide emergency transportation. Next, comes hiring certified EMTs,
paramedics, and drivers and providing them with necessary training and certification. As a
business you must also establish protocols and procedures for handling medical emergencies,
patient care, and transport. Once all of this is done, you must establish relationships with
hospitals and healthcare providers by networking with hospitals and healthcare providers to
establish a referral network for your business.
Requirements vary depending on the type of transportation service you offer and your specific
location within Florida. Be sure to check with the Florida Department of Health and other
relevant agencies for the most up-to-date information and regulations.
What Are the Requirements for Applying for an EMT Transport License with the Florida
Department of Health?
As discussed above, to apply for an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) transport license
with the Florida Department of Health, you need to meet the following requirements: (1)
business entity documentation; (2) proof of liability insurance; (3) vehicle specifications; (4)
employee information; (5) vehicle equipment list; (6) operating procedures; and (7) pay the
application fee.
You must first provide proof of business formation, such as articles of incorporation or a
certificate of limited partnership. Then you must provide proof of liability insurance coverage
with a minimum coverage amount of $300,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate. Vehicle
specifications are an essential piece of information, as such you must provide specifications for
each vehicle used for EMT transport, including make, model, year, and VIN number.
You must also provide information about each employee, including name, address, phone
number, certification type and number, and driver’s license number. Equally, you must provide a
list of all medical equipment and supplies that will be carried in each vehicle. Alongside the
information of your employees and equipment, you must submit a copy of your standard
operating procedures for medical emergencies, patient care, and transport.
Finally you must pay the applicable application fee. Note that these requirements may change, so
it is important to check with the Florida Department of Health for the most up-to-date
information and regulations. Additionally, it is important to follow all state and federal
regulations, including HIPAA and OSHA, when operating an EMT transport business in Florida.
What Are the Different Emergency Medical Transportation Licenses in the Florida
Department of Health?
The Florida Department of Health has several different types of emergency medical
transportation licenses, including: (1) an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Provider License,
which is required for organizations that provide emergency medical services, including
ambulance transportation, in Florida; (2) an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Transport
License, which is required for organizations that provide ambulance transportation for patients in
non-emergency situations; (3) a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) License, which is required for
organizations that operate special purpose vehicles, such as wheelchair vans or stretcher vans, to
transport patients; (4) an Air Ambulance License, which is required for organizations that
provide air ambulance services in Florida; and (5) an Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Instructor License, which is required for individuals who provide training and education to
emergency medical services personnel in Florida.
Note that these licenses may have different requirements and fees, and they may also be subject
to different regulations and standards. It is important to check with the Florida Department of
Health for the most up-to-date information and requirements for each type of license.
What Are the Costs of Obtaining Emergency Medical Transportation Licenses in the
Florida Department of Health?
The costs of obtaining emergency medical transportation licenses in the Florida Department of
Health can vary depending on the type of license and the size of the organization. Some of the
factors that can affect the cost of a license include: (1) an application fee, which is a non-
refundable fee is required at the time of application, which varies depending on the type of
license.; (2) a vehicle inspection fee, which may be required for each vehicle used for emergency
medical transportation; (3) a Background check fee, which may be required for a criminal
background check for each employee involved in the provision of emergency medical services;
and (4) a Training and certification fees, employees may need to complete training and
certification courses, which can have associated fees.
How Long Does it Take to Obtain an Emergency Medical Transportation License With the
Florida Department of Health?
The time it takes to obtain an emergency medical transportation license with the Florida
Department of Health can vary depending on several factors, including: (1) the completeness of
the application, applications with missing information or documentation may take longer to
process; (2) the processing time, the Florida Department of Health may take several weeks or
months to process the application and issue a license; (3) vehicle inspections and the time
required for the inspection will depend on the number of vehicles and the schedule of the
inspector, this may be required; (4) background checks, which may be required for each
employee, which can take several weeks to complete; and (5) training and certification that
employees may need to complete training and certification courses, which can take several
weeks or months to complete.
These time frames are estimates and may vary depending on the specific circumstances of your
application. To get an accurate estimate of the time it will take to obtain a license, it is
recommended to check with the Florida Department of Health for the most up-to-date
information.
