FEMA Independent Study Courses

What Is The Purpose Behind FEMA Conducting Tests?

The purpose of the exercise is to ensure that public safety officials have the methods and systems in place to send out urgent alerts and warnings to the public in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Relationship Between EMI & FEMA 

The Emergency Management Institute’s (EMI) mission is to “assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) objectives by enhancing the skillsets of U.S. officials at all levels of government to prevent, prepare for, respond to, recoup from, and minimize potential effects of all types of hazards and emergencies on the American people”.

The National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is home to EMI, the emergency management community’s flagship training institution.

The National Emergency Training Center (NETC)

The NETC is the U.S government’s reliable interagency emergency management training body. To add on, NETC is home to multiple agencies such as the National Fire Academy, United States Fire Administration, and the Emergency Management Institute (EMI), which is run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Directorate of Preparedness (FEMA).

Incident Command System (ICS)

The Incident Command System (ICS) was formed by local, state, and federal emergency personnel to help them better manage emergencies. It’s a basic, all-risk system that lets any company or organization work in a cross setting. 

Any incident, from the smallest threat to the most complex natural disasters such as earthquakes, river flooding, and major manufacturing accidents, are taken care of by the ICS. Even local situations involving multiple jurisdictions, such as industrial fires and hazardous material accidents, can be managed more efficiently using ICS.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS)

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a set of operational systems that govern how people collaborate during an incident.

In support of the NIMS Training Program, EMI collaborates with the entire community to provide training.

Everything You Need to Know About Independent Study (IS) Courses 

Let’s deep dive right into independent study (IS) courses:

Where To Begin?

Visiting our website is the quickest way to get started taking classes. From the comfort of your own home or office, you can learn about each course, access study materials, and submit final exams.

1. Go to https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid to register for a FEMA student ID number.
2. Go to https://training.fema.gov/IS/ to learn more about the Independent Study Program.
3. On the left side of the page, click “IS Course List.”
4. Select a course and activate it.

Eligibility

All applicants for EMI resident classes, including FEMA employees, must sign up and acquire a Student Identification Number (SID). This number substitutes the Social Security Number on the General Admissions Application Form.

Candidates are required to meet the eligibility criteria and prerequisites for each EMI course to enroll. Keep in mind, the same course cannot be taken more than once by a participant.

EMI courses are generally only open to U.S residents, but a small number of international participants are accepted each year.

Get College Credit

It is possible to earn transferable academic credit for Independent Study courses through regional accreditation agencies. Frederick Community College has taken over the evaluation of our Independent Study courses. Not to forget, lower-division academic credit is available for courses that meet their academic standards.

You must pass a course in order to apply for college credit. After that, you can request a personal copy of your mark sheet by filling out an application and paying a fee.

Free of charge, two official copies may be sent to other institutions.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

The ISP courses are assessed, and CEUs are awarded according to the International Association of Continuing Education and Training’s standards (IACET). Our website lists the number of CEUs for each course.

Military Personnel, Active, and Reserve

Some military branches may be able to use ISP courses as part of their promotion and retention programs if they complete them. Contact your personnel or education office to see if this program is appropriate for your career path. 

According to our experience, members are usually required to apply and pay for college credit before being considered for promotion or retention points based on their participation in the ISP. Members of the reserve components who are required to collect retirement and retention points can usually get credit for their efforts through the ISP.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I enroll myself in an online Independent Study course? 

Follow these steps to register in an online Independent Study course:

• Select your course from the ISP Course List by clicking on it.
• Choose from the options in the “Take This Course” box on the right-hand side of the page to review course materials.
• Once you’ve successfully attempted all the answers, submit the examination online. Right after submitting your responses, you will be enrolled in the course.
• Within 1-2 business days, you will receive an email notification addressing your confirmation for the course at the same email address you provided on your final exam submission.

How many FEMA independent courses are available?

There are almost 200 online courses accessible. Some courses are intended for the general public, while others are more specialized and targeted towards emergency management experts.

Several courses are valuable for training and educational programming for local emergency service providers, extension educators, and teachers.

Who is eligible to enroll in FEMA’s Independent Study Course? 

The Independent Study program’s primary audience consists of first responders, EMI personnel, and U.S citizens.

How long does a FEMA certification last?

Course certificates from the Independent Study Program never expire. You may retake the exam if you want to brush up on your skills. However, the system will not grade the exam anew. The original completion date will be retained on your certificate of completion.

Are FEMA courses free of cost?

FEMA provides free disaster preparedness and emergency management courses, which are held online and can be completed in a matter of hours.

Is it necessary for me to apply for a FEMA SID in order to complete IS courses?

You must use a FEMA Student Identification (SID) number starting April 1, 2015. To apply for a SID, follow these steps.

Students who have previously taken courses using their social security number should call our office at 301-447-1200 to have their records consolidated under their FEMA SID number.

We suggest that all FEMA employees take the IS course through FEKC first. If the course is not mentioned in FEKC, use your SID to sign up.

Where should I go if I have SID questions?

FEMA Student Identification (SID) Numbers are now required for Independent Study Exams. If you do not already have a SID, you can apply for one here. Please do not contact the Independent Study program office for assistance with these requests as they cannot help.

Conclusion 

Today, EMI is achieving its goal of improving the capabilities of U.S officials and agencies of government to prevent, prep for, react to, recoup from, and minimize the impacts of disasters and emergencies.

The National Response Framework (NRF), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and an all-hazards approach are used by EMI to promote integrated emergency management principles and practices. All in all, EMI is the nation’s leading provider of emergency management training, exercises, and education.