EM Certification Programs

Professional Development Series (PDS)

Advanced Professional Series

Students who complete the five required courses and any five of 16 elective courses are eligible to receive the EMI Advanced Professional Series (APS) Certificate of Completion. Students who complete any or all of the courses in the original APS can use those for credit. Upon completion of all training, student must submit a request for their certificate through VDEM. Copies of all supporting certificates/documentation must accompany the request. Download the request form. [34kb PDF]

View a list of emergency management professionals who have completed the Advanced Professional Series.

Required Courses

G191 Incident Command System/Emergency
Operations Center (ICS/EOC) Interface
G250.7 Local Situation (RAPID) Assessment Workshop
G270.4 Recovery from Disaster: The Local Government Role
G393 Mitigation for Emergency Managers
G775 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Management and Operations (Revised 2007) or
IS-775, the Independent Study version.

Elective Courses
Complete any 5 of the following:

G108 Community Mass Care Management
G110 Emergency Management Operations Course
(EMOC) for Local Governments E/L/G 146 or 147
Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
G197 Emergency Planning and Functional Needs Populations
G202 Debris Management Planning for State, Tribal, and Local Officials
G271 Hazardous Weather and Flood Preparedness or
IS-271—Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk
G272 Warning Coordination
G288 Local Volunteer and Donations Management
G290 Basic Public Information Officers
G358 Evacuation and Re-entry Planning
G361 Flood Fight Operations
G362 Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools
G366 Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters
G386 Mass Fatalities Incident Response
G408 Homeland Security Planning for Local
Governments (formerly Terrorism Planning)
IS-703 National Incident Management System

Course descriptions, information regarding the original required courses and changes to course electives are available on FEMA's website at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/APS

Professional Development Series

The Professional Development Series is central to professionalizing the emergency management workforce and developing its core skills. Those who complete all Professional Development Series courses below are eligible to receive a PDS certificate of completion from FEMA's Emergency Management Institute. All PDS courses are available as Independent Study online at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/PDS.

View a list of PDS certified emergency management professionals.

Required Courses

Principles of Emergency Management (IS230)
Introduces participants to fundamental principles of emergency management in an integrated system. The perspective of the local community, officials and citizens is emphasized within the context of multiple hazards and potential resources from various sources.
Emergency Planning (IS235)
Develops expertise of community planning teams along the principles offered in the guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning.
Leadership and Influence (IS240)
How to assess differences in personal values and interpersonal influence styles, and when to apply situational leadership behaviors in emergency management.
Decision-Making and Problem-Solving (IS241)
Practice in making individual and group decisions based on a model problem-solving process.
Effective Communications (IS242)
Skill development in public and interpersonal communication.
Developing Volunteer Resources (IS244)
Issues in the management of volunteers, including skills, recruitment and motivation.
Exercise Design (IS139)
Develops skills necessary to produce exercises that can test a community's plan and operational response capability.

When a student has completed all the required courses and passed a written exam with a score of 75 or better, the Independent Study Program Office will automatically send a Certificate of Completion directly to the student.