International Association of Emergency Managers (iAEM)

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)

Credential: Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)  GI Bill resource
Credentialing Agency: International Association of Emergency Managers (iAEM)

Renewal Period: 5 years

The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification is an advanced-level credential recommended for emergency management professionals. CEMs have the knowledge, skills and ability to effectively manage a comprehensive emergency management program, in all environments, and be able to plan and coordinate with other agencies and community members ways to best respond to emergencies. Professionals considering this credential must possess expertise in all four phases of disaster activity: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. CEM candidates must meet all the requirements of the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) plus additional requirements, which include three years of emergency management experience, a four year baccalaureate degree and evidence of professional contributions to the field. Candidates must pass a written exam, submit documentation of training requirement, provide references and submit an emergency management essay.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:    medium

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite
  • Experience: 3 years
  • Education: Bachelors
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

Exam Administration (View Details)

  • In-person exam
  • Remote proctored on-line exam
  • Third-party test vendor

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 5 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

International Association of Emergency Managers (iAEM)

201 Park Washington Court
Falls Church, VA  22046

Phone: (703) 538-1795

Fax: (703) 241-5603
Email: info@iaem.com

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A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution is required.

Candidate must have three years of emergency management experience. Comprehensive experience must include participation in a full-scale exercise or actual disaster.

Training and proof thereof must have occured within the last ten years and meet the following additional criteria:

  • 200 contact hours total of which–
    • 100 hours are in emergency management, and
    • 100 hours are in general management.

The Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential has the following other requirements:

  • Candidate must provide documentation of six separate contributions to the emergency management profession. Examples of contributions include professional membership, speaking, publications, and serving on volunteer boards or committees.
  • Candidate must submit a management essay which demonstrates knowledge of emergency management concerning real-life scenarios.
  • Candidate must submit three references, including one from the current supervisor.
  • Candidate must submit a credential binder for review by the CEM Commission.
  • A baccalaureate degree in emergency management reduces the experience requirement depending on how current. See iAEM Certification page for details.
  • Candidate may not use degree to both satisfy the education requirement and satisfy training hours.

Written Exam

  • Core
    • IS-1a Emergency Manager
    • IS-15b Special Events Contingency Planning for Public Safety Agencies
    • IS-100b Introduction to the Incident Command System
    • IS-120a An Introduction to Exercises
    • IS-130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
    • IS-139 Exercise Design
    • IS-200b ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
    • IS-230d Fundamentals of Emergency Management
    • IS-235b Emergency Planning
    • IS-242b Effective Communication
    • IS-244b Developing and Managing Volunteers
    • IS-271a Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk
    • IS-318 Mitigation Planning for Local and Tribal Communities
    • IS-340 Hazardous Materials Prevention
    • IS-366 Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters
    • IS-393a Introduction to Hazard Mitigation
    • IS-547a Introduction to Continuity of Operations (COOP)
    • IS-559 Local Damage Assessment
    • IS-619 Research in Training and Education
    • IS-632a Introduction to Debris Operations
    • IS-775 EOC Management and Operations
    • IS-910a Emergency Management Preparedness Fundamentals
    • IS-2001 Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)
  • Additional (US exam)
    • IS-208a State Disaster Management
    • IS-288 Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management
    • IS-403 Introduction to Individual Assistance (IA) (DF-103)
    • IS-634 Introduction to FEMA’s Public Assistance Program
    • IS-700a National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
    • IS-701a NIMS Multiagency Coordination System (MACS)
    • IS-702a National Incident Management System (NIMS) Public Information Systems
    • IS-703a NIMS Resource Management
    • IS-706 NIMS Intrastate Mutual Aid - An Introduction
    • IS-800b The National Response Framework, An Introduction
    • IS-2900 National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) Overview

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) examination:

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

  • Exam Administration

    Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential where checked:

    • In-person exam
    • Remote proctored on-line exam
    • Third-party test vendor

  • For more information on the International Association of Emergency Managers (iAEM) testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential has the following recertification information:

  • Certification is effective for a period of five years. In order to recertify, candidates must meet and submit recertification requirements prior to December 31 of the fifth year of previous certification/recertification. All current holders of the CEM who wish to maintain their designation must recertify at five-year intervals by submitting documentation that demonstrates continuing education in Emergency Management and General Management topics as well as professional contributions. For details, visit the recertification page.
  • Note: Marine Corps COOL will only pay recertification fees for the current year, no arrears will be paid. Voucher requests for recertification fees must be submitted with proof of the current status of the certification (for example, a screen shot of your credentialing agency dashboard or a copy of a current fee receipt).

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsored CareerOneStop's analysis indicates the certification is frequently mentioned in online job postings.

Click for external link to CareerOneStop's Credentials Center.

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

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Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

CA Eligible

This certification is eligible for CA.

Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click Menu at the top of any page, then click "2 Complete Voucher and Apply" under Credentialing Steps.

CG Bucks

Current Coast Guard policy states all credentials listed on CG COOL may be reimbursed assuming the enlisted service member meets the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Coast Guard Voluntary Credentialing Program Policy (COMDTINST 1540.1(series))

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 through E9

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 through E9

Early Career

1-6 years experience; Officer O1 through O2

Mid Career

6-12 years experience; Officer O3 through O5

Late Career

12+ years experience; Officer O6 and Above

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click to go to the external link for GI Bill licensing and certification information.

ANAB (ANSI)

This credential has been accredited by ANAB (ANSI).

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ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC.

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ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC.

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NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA.

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IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS.

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Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: minimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
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Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Registered Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Go to the Apprenticeship Finder and enter career path or location to find apprenticeship opportunities.

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Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Click here for external link to: My Next Move for Veterans State Map for Emergency Management Directors

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Updated: January 29, 2021
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