Minnesota EMS Provider Recognition Program
The EMS Provider Recognition Program honors individuals who have made a lasting impact on emergency medical services through years of service, leadership, exceptional actions, professional achievement, or sacrifice. Recognition opportunities include both nomination-based awards and the Minnesota EMS Years of Service Recognition Program.
This program allows OEMS, EMS agencies, families, and the public to celebrate those who embody the core values of Minnesota EMS: service, integrity, compassion, and professionalism.Recognition Programs
Select a recognition program below to learn more about eligibility, submission requirements, and recognition criteria.
- Minnesota EMS Years of Service Recognition Program
- Prestigious Retirement Recognition
- EMS Lifetime Achievement – Emeritus Designation
- Service in Memory Recognition
- Silent Sacrifice Honor
- Minnesota EMS Star of Life – Line of Duty Honor
- Honorary EMS Recognition
- OEMS Director's Award for EMS Excellence
Recognition Recipients and Honorees
Learn more about the individuals who have been recognized through Minnesota EMS recognition programs and honors.
- Minnesota EMS Honors
Recipients of the OEMS Director's Award for EMS Excellence, Honorary EMS Recognition, EMS Lifetime Achievement – Emeritus Designation, Prestigious Retirement Recognition, and Service in Memory Recognition. - Some Gave All: Minnesota EMS Line of Duty Honorees
Honoring Minnesota EMS professionals who gave their lives in service to others. This page includes both line-of-duty honorees and individuals whose deaths were connected to the cumulative emotional, psychological, and occupational toll of emergency medical services. By recognizing both forms of sacrifice, Minnesota acknowledges that the impact of EMS service extends beyond physical injury and that mental health injuries deserve equal remembrance and respect. - Minnesota EMS Years of Service Recognition Program
Recognizing EMS professionals for cumulative Minnesota EMS service at five-year milestones beginning at five years of service and continuing through 50+ years of service. Learn about eligibility requirements, recognition levels, submission procedures, and annual recognition recipients. Recipient lists are published on the final day of EMS Week following the applicable recognition cycle.
Recognition Program Submission Forms
Ready to recognize an EMS professional? Use the submission options below to nominate an individual for recognition or submit eligible recipients for the Minnesota EMS Years of Service Recognition Program.Nomination-Based Recognition Awards
Recognize individuals for exceptional service, leadership, achievement, sacrifice, or lasting contributions to Minnesota EMS. Applicable awards include:
- OEMS Director's Award for EMS Excellence
- Honorary EMS Recognition
- EMS Lifetime Achievement – Emeritus Designation
- Prestigious Retirement Recognition
- Service in Memory Recognition
- Silent Sacrifice Honor
- Minnesota EMS Star of Life – Line of Duty Honor
Submit a Recognition Nomination
Minnesota EMS Years of Service Recognition Program
Recognize EMS professionals who have achieved five-year service milestones through cumulative service to Minnesota communities.
Submissions must be made by the participating EMS organization responsible for verifying eligibility and years of service.
Learn more about the Minnesota EMS Years of Service Recognition Program.
Submit Years of Service Recipients
Recognition Categories
Minnesota EMS Years of Service Recognition Program
Recognizes EMS professionals who have achieved significant service milestones through cumulative service to Minnesota communities. Recognition is available in five-year increments beginning at five years of service and continuing through 50+ years of service.
Eligible service may be volunteer or paid, does not need to be continuous, and may be accumulated across multiple Minnesota EMS organizations.
Recognition materials are distributed annually during EMS Week for local presentation by participating organizations.
Who May Submit:
- Licensed ambulance services
- Medical response units (MRUs)
- Other EMS organizations recognized by OEMS
Recognition Levels:
- 5 Years
- 10 Years
- 15 Years
- 20 Years
- 25 Years
- 30 Years
- 35 Years
- 40 Years
- 45 Years
- 50+ Years
Submit Years of Service Recipients
Prestigious Retirement Recognition
For individuals who are retiring after 15 or more years of active EMS service in Minnesota, including those who served prior to the establishment of the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) in 1995. Individuals who formally retire their credentials may also be granted the honorary title suffix “-Retired” to reflect their service. For example, a retired Emergency Medical Technician may use the designation “EMT-Retired” or “EMT-Ret.”
Required Documents:
- Confirmation of retirement
- Summary of service history
EMS Lifetime Achievement – Emeritus Designation
For individuals whose career reflects exceptional, sustained contributions to EMS in Minnesota. This designation may be awarded upon retirement, after retirement, or posthumously, including those who served prior to the establishment of the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) in 1995. Recipients may be granted the honorary title suffix “-Emeritus” to recognize their lasting impact on the profession. For example, a retired paramedic may use the designation “Paramedic-Emeritus.”
Required Documents:
- Career timeline or biography
- Letter(s) of support describing the individual’s impact
Service in Memory Recognition
For certified or registered EMS providers who passed away outside the line of duty, in recognition of their career and commitment to EMS.
Required Documents:
- Level and status of Minnesota EMS credential
- Documentation or obituary referencing EMS service
- Supporting documentation, such as a letter, photos, or other materials referencing EMS involvement
Silent Sacrifice Honor
The Silent Sacrifice Honor recognizes EMS professionals whose lives were cut short due to the cumulative trauma of emergency medical service, including suicide, substance use disorder-related death, or other mental health-related causes. While these losses may fall outside traditional line-of-duty definitions, they are no less connected to the burdens borne in service to others. This honor affirms that emotional and psychological wounds are real, and that the lives behind those stories deserve remembrance, not silence.
Eligibility includes EMS professionals whose death is documented or strongly believed to be linked to duty-related trauma, cumulative occupational stress, or PTSD.
Required Documents:
- Level and status of Minnesota EMS credential
- Narrative description outlining the connection between EMS service and the nominee’s passing
- Documentation or obituary referencing EMS service and, when available, cause of death, such as a public record, family statement, or agency acknowledgment
- Any supporting letters, photographs, or statements from colleagues, peer support teams, or family
Note: Information provided for this honor is treated as confidential and used solely to determine eligibility and notify the nominee’s family. Cause-of-death details will only be included in public recognition if they are already part of the public record or shared with the consent of next of kin.
Minnesota EMS Star of Life – Line of Duty Honor
The highest distinction awarded by OEMS, given to EMS providers who lost their lives in the line of duty while serving the people of Minnesota. An EMS Star of Life designation is automatically conferred once OEMS and the Director confirm that the death occurred in the line of duty during certified EMS service.
Honorary EMS Recognition
For individuals who are not actively practicing as EMS providers but who have taken exceptional action to support EMS efforts, improve outcomes, or advance emergency care. This includes those in related emergency service roles such as dispatchers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers.
Individuals who hold EMS credentials due to agency or job requirements, but do not provide patient care as part of an EMS team, may be considered for this award if their contribution falls outside the scope of direct EMS practice.
Required Documents:
- Written description of the event or contribution
- Letter(s) of support from EMS personnel or agency leaders
OEMS Director’s Award for EMS Excellence
Awarded at the discretion of the OEMS Director to individuals who have made a significant and measurable impact on the EMS system in Minnesota.
Required Documents:
- Nomination narrative outlining the contribution
- Any supporting documentation available
Submit a Recognition Nomination
Eligibility Overview
Eligibility varies by recognition category. The following general eligibility standards apply to nomination-based recognition awards:
- Nominations may be submitted by EMS colleagues, supervisors, agency leaders, OEMS staff, or members of the public.
- Nominees may include currently certified personnel, retired professionals, or community members with a direct impact on EMS.
- Posthumous recognition may be awarded for both line-of-duty deaths and deaths determined to be duty-related due to cumulative occupational trauma, including those honored through the Silent Sacrifice Honor.
- Nominees must not be under current disciplinary action or active investigation.
Exceptions
- The Honorary EMS Recognition Award may be given to individuals without EMS credentials, including civilians, students, or professionals in other fields who have contributed meaningfully to EMS.
- Years of Service Recognition Program submissions must be made by the participating EMS organization responsible for verifying eligibility and years of service.
Submission Requirements
Nomination-Based Awards
Each nomination must include details explaining how the nominee meets the criteria for the award. Additional materials, such as letters of support, service records, or incident summaries, are identified for each recognition category.
To complete a nomination, please submit:
- A completed nomination form
- A clear description of the nominee’s contribution, service, or act
- Any supporting documentation or letters of support identified in the category description
Years of Service Recognition Program
Participating EMS organizations may submit eligible recipients for recognition of cumulative Minnesota EMS service. Recognition is available in five-year increments beginning at five years of service and continuing through 50+ years of service.
Learn more about the Minnesota EMS Years of Service Recognition Program.
Organizations must submit:
- Recipient name
- Recognition level
- Submitting organization information
- Verification of eligibility and years of service
OEMS relies on the submitting organization’s attestation and does not independently verify years of service.
Judging Criteria
- Nominations are evaluated based on impact, alignment with award intent, and completeness.
- The OEMS Director makes the final award decisions, with guidance from the appropriate Deputy Directors.
- Incomplete or insufficiently supported nominations may not be approved.
If a nomination is not selected, it is not a reflection of the nominee’s worth or the value of their service. It simply means that, based on the details provided, OEMS was not able to fully meet the criteria for recognition at this time. OEMS appreciates every submission and encourages nominators to strengthen and resubmit if they wish.
Submission Checklist
Before submitting a nomination-based award, make sure you have:
- Selected the appropriate award category
- Completed the nomination form
- Attached supporting documentation
- Verified the nominee’s eligibility
- Included your contact information
If nominating for the Silent Sacrifice Honor:
- Be prepared to provide a narrative describing the connection between the nominee’s EMS service and their passing
- Include any documentation or public record that supports this connection, such as an obituary, agency statement, public memorial, or letter from a colleague
- Know that all information is treated as confidential and will only be shared publicly if it is part of the public record or with next-of-kin consent
Questions?
For help with the nomination process, or to confirm eligibility:
- Email: info.oems@state.mn.us
- Phone: 651-201-2800