Professionalism in Emergency Management

1
Professionalism in Emergency Management
The road to recognition as a Certified Emergency
Manager
2
Emergency Management Certification Programs
The CEM/AEM Application
3
Presentation Outline
Requirements
4
(No Transcript)
5
Purpose of IAEMs Certification Program

• Elevate the visibility of emergency managers
• Encourage and mandate continued professional
  development, education and technical skills
  
• Ensure minimal Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  (KSAs)

6
Foundation of a Profession
7
Certification Process

• Application
• Credential Process
• Testing
• Re-Certification

8
CEM Credential Process
9
CEM Credential Process
10
CEM Commission
Federal Government State Government Local Govern
ment
Private Industry Education Military
11
CEM FactoidsAs of 6 January 2009

• 1,257 professionals certified
• 771 current CEMs
• 16 current AEM
• In 48 states and five countries
• 219 have been certified more than
• 5-years, 191 certified for 10 years
• 450 total fee for enrollment, application and
  exam (325 for IAEM members)

12
(No Transcript)
13
CEM Requirements Application Packet

• Emergency management experience
• 3 years FTE comprehensive EM
• 2 years FTE with 4-year EM degree
• Three professional references
• One must be current supervisor
• Include job descriptions, not resume
• Actual disaster/contingency experience or
  substantive role in managing a full-scale exercise

14
CEM Requirements Application Packet

• Education (Until 2010)
• Any 4-year college degree
• Substitute 2 years FTE per year of college
• Emergency management training
• 100 contact hours
• 25 hours or less per topic
• General management training
• 100 contact hours
• 25 hours or less per topic

15
CEM Requirements Application Packet

• Six of 15 contributions to the profession
• Professional membership
• Professional conference attendance
• Leadership
• Service
• Special assignment
• Speaking
• Teaching

16
CEM Requirements Application Packet

• Six of 15 contributions to the profession
• Course development
• Publication
• Audiovisual or interactive product
• Awards, honors, or special recognition
• State/Province certifications
• Legislative contact
• Conducting Research
• Other

17
CEM Requirements Application Packet

• Emergency management essay
• Scenario-based
• 1,000 or so words
• 12 Knowledge, Skills Abilities Criteria
• 24 out of 42 points (57)
• Signed verification statement

18
CEM Requirements Application Packet

• Comprehensive EM exam
• 100 multiple choice questions
• Passing score is 75
• Recertification every 5 years

19
AEM Requirements Application Packet

• Three references
• Emergency management training
• 100 contact hours
• 25 hours or less per topic

20
AEM Requirements Application Packet

• General management training
• 100 contact hours
• 25 hours or less per topic
• If in the future you plan on upgrading from an
  AEM to a CEM, you may not use any college
  courses whichwould make up your baccalaureate
  degree to fulfill eitherthe emergency or general
  management training hours.

21
AEM Requirements Application Packet

• Emergency management essay
• Scenario-based
• 1,000 or so words
• 12 Knowledge, Skills Abilities Criteria
• 24 out of 42 points (57)
• Signed verification statement

22
AEM Requirements Application Packet

• Comprehensive EM exam
• 100 multiple choice questions
• Passing score is 75
• Recertification every 5 years

23
Application Complete
24
(No Transcript)
25
Application Pitfalls - General Considerations

• Application Packet Killers
• Incompleteness
• Sloppiness
• Lack of order
• Lack of documentation
• Missing information/signatures
• Invalidated claims

26
Application Pitfalls - Work History and
Experience

• Application Packet Killers
• Lack of comprehensive emergency management
  experience
  
• Official job description missing
• Unaccounted employment periods
• Lack of volunteer hours documentation
• Missing documentation showing relationship or
  of time in emergency management

27
Application Pitfalls - Professional References

• Application Packet Killers
• Missing three professional references
• References not familiar with candidates work
  history
  
• Missing or inaccurate contact numbers
• After-work and weekend contact numbers helpful

28
Application Pitfalls - Actual Disaster or
Exercise Experience

• Application Packet Killers
• Significant role not explained
• Significant role not documented
• Tangential roles too often claimed

29
Application Pitfalls - Education

• Application Packet Killers
• Official or notarized transcripts best
• Copy of official transcript OK
• Transcript provided does not list degree
  conferred
  
• Graduate transcripts OK. They usually show BA/BS
  degree earned
  

30
Application Pitfalls - Management Training

• Application Packet Killers
• General management training claimed for emergency
  management training
  
• Emergency management training claimed for general
  management training
  
• More than 25 hours per topic area claimed
• Graduate classes 15 contact hours per credit
  hour
  
• FEMA IS courses usually 10 contact hours

31
Application Pitfalls - Contributions to the
Profession

• Application Packet Killers
• Cannot be required by job
• Six different contributions
• Missing documentation or documentation does not
  prove claim of contribution
  
• Contribution did not meet requirements
• Missing signatures or contact information
• Must be a contribution and not an attribution

32
Application Pitfalls - Emergency Management Essay

• Application Packet Killers
• Required statement not provided and signed
• Did not solve the problem statement
• Did not cover the KSAs
• Difficult to read
• Too many grammar and spelling errors
• Not double spaced
• This is an essay, not a book, not a report, or
  not a magazine article

33
Other Certifying Agencies that recognize CEM
Certification

• American College of Contingency Planners
  American Academy of Medical Administrators

Certification CEM Recognized

• Department of Defense - Defense Activity for
  Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES) offers
  the IAEM certification exam to military
  personnel. Check their website
  www.voled.doded.mil/dantes/cert/
• As of 2006 the only two branches of Service
  that currently reimburse its members for
  certification exams is the Army National Guard
  and Air Force Reserve.

Certification CEM Recognized
34
The Effort Is Real
CEM
35
The Benefits Are Real
CEM
36
You Have the Knowledge
CEM
37
Go For It!
CEM
38
(No Transcript)
39
(No Transcript)