The provision of emergency medical services is regulated by West Virginia law 
. Any entity intending to provide emergency medical services must either be granted a license or become associated with a licensed agency before doing so. Therefore, emergency medical services may be provided by a licensed rapid response agency, a licensed Emergency Medical Services agency, or an agency associated with one of these licensed agencies.
Definitions
- EMS Agency—An entity that intends to provide emergency medical services that includes patient transport to and from medical facilities.
- Rapid Response Agency—An entity that provides on-scene EMS support but does not provide patient transport to and from medical facilities.
- Rapid Response Affiliate—An entity, affiliated with a licensed EMS Agency, that provides rapid, on-scene EMS but does not perform patient transport to and from medical facilities.
Licensure term
All agencies are licensed on a two-year (biennial) basis.
Becoming a licensed agency
EMS licenses shall be issued for any combination of the following EMS services:
- Fire department rapid response—basic life support.
- Fire department rapid response—advanced life support.
- Rapid response—basic life support.
- Rapid response—advanced life support.
- Basic life support.
- Advanced life support.
- Critical care transport.
- Rotary wing transport.
- Fixed wing transport.