Emergency Management Certification Program

1. Emergency Management Certification Program North Carolina Training and Standards Advisory Board Fall 2013

2. Board Members • Jo Ann Smith, Carteret County • Mike Sprayberry, NCEM • Donald Campbell, Guilford County (Chair) • Bill Gentry, UNC – Chapel Hill • Dianne Benton, NCEM • Gary Cornett, Biltmore Estate • Jerry VeHaun, Buncombe County • Alan Byrd, NCEM

3. Certification Program Process • Previous 4 Tiered system has ended • All previously certified members will automatically transition into the new program • Type 1 – Executive Emergency Manager • Type 2 – 4 – Associate Emergency Manager • All future applicants are on the new system

4. Certification Elements • Two tiered process: • Associate Emergency Manager • Executive Emergency Manager • Educational Requirement • Training hour requirements are not course specific • Experience requirement (4 phase process) • References • Contributions to the Profession • Exam • Essay • Transition Process

5. Educational Requirements • Associate Experience • High School / GED • Executive Experience • Associates Degree in Emergency Management (Public Safety) • Or a Bachelors Degree in any subject • Or additional experience may be substituted for this requirement (total of 5 years)

6. Training Requirements • Hours of emergency management training • Associate Emergency Manager = 100 Hours • Executive Emergency Manager = 100 Hours • Hours of general management training • Associate Emergency Manager = 40 Hours • Executive Emergency Manager = 60 Hours • No more than 25 hours are allowed in any given topic or specialty • Example – You may have 68 hours of ICS classes, however you can only use 25 hours total for ICS topics. • FEMA Independent Study classes may account for 10% of total hours in training sessions • Recommended Classes – NOT REQUIRED

7. Emergency Management vsGeneral Management Training • We are utilizing the IAEM Allocation Chart found online • E = Emergency Management Training • G = General Management Training • E/G = Can be use for either Emergency Mgnt or General Mgnt

8. College Degree Substitution • Applied Associates Degree in Emergency Management, Emergency Preparedness, etc. will use years since completion of degree to determine training hours available for substitution: • 0 – 3 Years since degree –50 hours • 4+ Years since degree – 0 Hours • Bachelors of Science / Arts in Emergency Management, Emergency Preparedness, etc. (to include degrees with an emphasis in emergency management) will use years since completion of degree to determine training hours available for substitution : • 0 – 3 Years since degree –100 hours • 3 Years since degree – 80 Hours • 4 Years since degree – 60 Hours • 5 + years since degree – 40 Hours • Masters of Science or Arts in Emergency Management, Preparedness, etc. (to include degrees with am emphasis in emergency management) will use years since completion of degree to determine training hours available for substitution : • 0 – 5 Years since degree – 100 hours • 5 +Years since degree – 50 hours

9. Experience Requirements • Associate Experience • 2 years of documented 4 phase experience • 1 year in NC • Executive Experience • 3 years of documented 4 phase experience • 2 years in NC

10. Candidate References • Both levels require contact information for 3 references to include the candidates current supervisor

11. Contributions to the Profession • Associate level requires: • 3 Contributions (2 in NC) • Executive level requires: • 6 contributions (3 in NC) • Helps to validate the Experience of the candidate • Helps to advance the profession of Emergency Management • In-Line with other Certification Programs

12. A. Active membership in an emergency management or related professional organization for at least three years. B. Attend a state, regional or national educational session meeting or emergency management related conference. C. Serve as an active member on a board, a committee, a task force, or a special project for a professional, emergency management or a jurisdictional organization. D. Serve for at least one term as an officer or in a leadership position on a Board, a Committee, a task force, or a special project for a professional, emergency management or a jurisdictional organization. E. Complete a special assignment or project for a jurisdictional or governmental committee or task force addressing emergency management issues. An example would be a special assignment or project for the county, LEPC, FEMA, EMI, etc. The resulting product or decisions must make a significant contribution to or impact on the emergency management profession. F. Develop and participate in an educational or informational speaking engagement on an emergency management issue at a professional conference or public forum (including conferences, workshops, radio, television, educational video, etc.). G. Complete a teaching or instructing commitment on an emergency management related topic for a minimum of three actual platform hours H. Serve as a Developer, Evaluator or Controller for either a full-scale, functional, or a tabletop exercise or complete a disaster assignment outside the candidate’s jurisdiction. Demonstrate a significant role in the exercise or assignment and describe the lessons learned through participation. I. Write and have published (in print or on the Internet) an emergency management article, research project, brochure, or instructional pamphlet. J. Develop and distribute a completed audio, video, audio-visual or computer software project directly related to emergency management. K. Receive an award or special recognition in the field of emergency management by an outside agency, organization or association. L. Complete a significant role as a full partner in the development or extensive revision of a course in emergency management offered at the state, national, or international level. M. Testify before a legislative/regulatory body or contact an elected representative (the candidate must receive a written reply as a result of the contact), at the national or state level, on any emergency management-related issue. N. Other contributions must be approved in advance by the NC TASAB.

13. Exam Requirement • Why are we having an Exam? • Courses normally do not have tests or exams so in the past just sitting in a class would count. • Removing the “required” courses makes it difficult to ensure the certified emergency manager has the base set of knowledge • The exam helps to support a base set of knowledge within the community • What makes up the exam elements? • Recommended course objectives

14. Essay Requirement • Associate Experience • None! • Executive Experience • An essay is required based on a scenario. The candidate should focus on how they would manage their way through the problem statement.

15. Reciprocity • No Interstate Reciprocity at present • IAEM CEM or AEM can apply for reciprocity with NC experience to include: • Year of Experience in NC • 1 for Associate • 2 for Executive • Contributions to the Profession in NC • 2 for Associate • 3 for Executive

16. Recertification Requirements • Required for BOTH levels of certification • Requires 100 hours in 5years (20 hours per year) • 75 Emergency Management • 25 General Management • Teaching classes can count as 50% of your hours

17. The Process • Download the Application Templates on the NCEMA / TERMS websites • Place the template in a 3 ring binder and start completing the sections • Make sure application materials are based on the application template and typed where required • Take and pass the test (offered at each future conference and in the Branch Offices) • Submit your application by January 1st or August 1st each year

18. Questions?