Iowa Emergency Management Association

The certification program for Emergency Managers in Iowa is designed to provide a method of professional certification for Emergency Management Professionals. The impetus for such certification is directed toward increasing visibility and professional scope of Emergency Management throughout Iowa. It is also designed to provide a tool by which persons occupying an Emergency Management Coordinator’s position can be evaluated.

The Iowa Certified Emergency Manager’s Program is not mandated by local, State or Federal policy. The program is conducted by the Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA). To pursue certification is encouraged, but strictly voluntary, and is in no way tied to IEMA membership.

Applicants who are not County EMA Coordinators must have their county Emergency Management Coordinator sign the application as a recommendation for IACEM status.

Criteria for Selection

I. Initial Certification:

A. Formal Education

At least a High School Diploma or equivalent.

B. Experience

1. General. At least two (2) years of emergency experience (can be a combination of emergency management, fire, EMS, law enforcement, RADEF, military, disaster preparation, etc.) OR at least twelve (12) months as an Emergency Management Coordinator.

2. Specific. Within the experience outlined above the following specific experience is required:

a. Planning. The candidate must have been responsible for (or a major participant) in the creation or update of an Emergency Operations Plan or Hazardous Materials Emergency Plan/Annex within the last three years.

b. Professional Education/Training. The candidate must have completed within five (5) years immediately prior to application, at least the minimum FEMA Independent Study Courses and Professional Development Series (PDS) of required training [see Administrative Rules 7.3(4)].

c. Exercise. The candidate must have been responsible for (or a major participant) in at least one functional or full-scale exercise within the last three years.

d. Professional Status. The Applicant must currently occupy an emergency management position at the State or local government level or private sector, within the State of Iowa. The position may be paid, volunteer, full or part-time.

II. Recertification [Three (3) years]

A. Planning. The candidate must have been responsible for (or a major participant in) the creation or update of an Emergency Operations Plan or Hazardous Materials Emergency Plan/Annex within the last three years.

B. Professional Education/Training. The applicant must have completed at least 24 hours of emergency management related training annually during the three (3) years preceding the certification expiration date. Not more than eight (8) of which may be from the radiological curriculum.

C. Exercise. The applicant must have conducted or been a major participant in a yearly exercise that meets the requirements outlined in the State Administrative Rules.

D. The applicant must submit for recertification by March 31st of the year of expiration.

E. Any previously certified applicant who has failed to maintain certification for two or more consecutive years will be required to re-apply for certification.

III. Procedures

A. Certification Committee:

1. Shall be the Executive Committee of the Iowa Emergency Management Association and one representative from Iowa Homeland Security Emergency Management appointed by the Administrator.

2. All applications will be reviewed by the Committee at the next regularly scheduled Executive Committee meeting within the requirements described below.

3. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to receive, review and approve all applications for certifications, using this document and where appropriate, their professional judgment. Additionally, the Committee shall make such changes in these guidelines as may be necessary.

B. Applications

1. New Applications. Applications will be sent to the IEMA Secretary using the current “New Certification Application Form” (attachment 1) for new applications and in adherence to the following guidance:

a. Applications must be received a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the regularly scheduled Executive Committee meeting.

b. The Committee shall review and make a decision on an application at the next regularly scheduled Executive Committee meeting.

c. The applicant shall be notified by mail of the decision of the Committee.

d. Attachments 3 and 4 are copies of the approval and denial letters.

e. A certificate (attachment 5) shall be mailed to the Chair of the Emergency Management Commission (or EMA Coordinator, as applicable) of that applicant’s jurisdiction with a cover letter (attachment 6) requesting presentation to the applicant.

f. Acknowledgment of the certification will be made at the awards ceremony at the next Iowa Emergency Management Association Annual Conference.

2. Renewal Applications. Applications for renewal of certification shall be sent to the IEMA Secretary along with the “Renewal Certification Application Form” (attachment 2). The committee shall follow the same procedures for recertification as outlined in item number one (1) above with the exception that a new certificate will be issued for the renewal. The certificate will include the original certification award date, the renewal issue date and the expiration date of the new certificate.

3. Fee Structure. A fee of $25.00 for certification and $10.00 for recertification payable to the Iowa Emergency Management Association shall accompany each application.

To apply for IACEM status or to re-certify, you will need the following forms:

•  IACEM Brochure (87.07 kB)
•  IACEM Application (32.5 kB)
•  IACEM Renewal Application (30 kB)