the certified emergency manager® program

List of Current Holders of CEM® and AEMSM (as of 30 Sept 2011)

General Info | Latest News & Resources | VA GI Bill Reimbursement

Significant Changes: CEM®/AEMSM Application Process (06 Dec 2010)

Upgrading from AEMSM to CEM® (08 Aug 2011)

IAEM Code of Ethics | Candidates for CEM® Commission

History of the CEM®/AEM Program

General CEM®/AEMSM Information

IAEM created the Certified Emergency Manager and Associate Emergency Manager Programs to raise and maintain professional standards. It is an internationally recognized program that certifies achievements within the emergency management profession.

CEM® and AEMSM certification is a peer review process administered through the International Association of Emergency Managers. Candidates do not have to be an IAEM member to be certified, although IAEM membership does offer you a number of benefits that can assist you through the certification process. Certification is maintained in five-year cycles. The CEM® and AEMSM Programs are served by a CEM® Commission, which is composed of emergency management professionals, including representatives from allied fields, education, military and private industry. 

Development of the CEM® and AEMSM Programs was supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and a host of allied organizations.

CEM® News & Resources

• CEM News: Those candidates who have had their credential binders approved and are making arrangements to take the CEM®/AEMSM Exam should note that completed exams must be received at IAEM Headquarters no later than Oct. 20, 2011, in order to be part of the awards ceremony during the IAEM-USA Annual Conference. (posted 05 Oct 2011)
• Press Release: Thirty-Eight Emergency Managers Receive the CEM® Credential (posted 23 Sept 2011)
• Press Release: Twelve Emergency Managers Receive the AEMSM Credential (posted 23 Sept 2011)
• CEM News: Updates in Application and Recertification Booklets (22 July 2011) As of July 22, 2011, the CEM®/AEMSM Application booklet and Recertification booklet have been updated to reflect the most recent changes. The new booklets highlight the following updates:
  • A new candidate signature page attesting that candidates have read and understand information published by IAEM.
  • A new tab for the submission binder called “Copy of candidate’s signatures”. Candidates must now include a second copy of the candidate signature page and a second copy of the essay verification statement.
  • Candidates will no longer have the option to have their packet returned after the review.
  • All candidates completing their original certification must include three letters of reference on letterhead.
  • The professional contributions section has been updated to reflect that contributions may be part of a candidate’s job responsibilities except for C. Service Role and D. Leadership Role.
  • The updated booklets are writeable and savable as long as candidates have the full Acrobate Adobe version. It is recommended that candidates test saving this document before completing it in its entirety.
    
• Press Release: Forty-Five Emergency Managers Receive the CEM® Credential (posted 11 July 2011)
• Press Release: Five Emergency Managers Receive the AEMSM Credential (posted 11 July 2011)
• Press Release: Sixty-Two Emergency Managers Receive the CEM® Credential (posted 25 Mar 2011)
• Press Release: Eleven Emergency Managers Receive the AEMSM Credential (posted 25 Mar 2011)
• CEM News: IAEM Spain Chapter of the Europa Council Provides CEM® Resource Materials in Spanish (10 Feb 2011) The IAEM Spain Chapter, under the leadership of Chapter President José Antonio Aparicio Florido (aparicioflorido@iaem.es), has prepared three CEM®-related documents in the Spanish language: CEM® Requirements, CEM® Presentation, and CEM® Portfolio. The documents were reviewed by IAEM-Europa President Arthur Rabjohn, CEM, Daryl Spiewak, CEM, IAEM-Global Professional Standards Director and CEM® Commissioner, and Tom Greenlee, CEM, IAEM-Global CEM® Commissioner and USA CEM Commission Chair, and are posted as resource materials at the request of President Rabjohn. Please note: These documents are posted on the IAEM website with the intention of translating the official information published in the CEM® Corner and brochures to Spanish for a better understanding of non-English speaking applicants. However, please remember that all application packages must be submitted in English at this time. Download documents here.

• CEM News: IAEM and The Knowledge Foundation are offering a monthly CEM® Webcast Series (07 Jan 2011) Earn CEM® credit toward conference attendance or training requirements. Learn more

More CEM® News & Resources Here

Significant Changes in the CEM®/AEMSM Application Process

(posted 06 Dec 2010)

Please Note: These changes have not yet been added to the CEM®/AEMSM Application Booklet, so please read them and print out this page for future reference. Effective immediately, two significant changes in the CEM®/AEMSM application process have taken place:

• The first change is that “letters of reference” are required in the references section and must be on official letterhead stationary. Supporting letters in the exercise/experience and professional contributions section must also be on official letterhead stationary.
• The second significant change is under the professional contributions section: from this point on, professional contributions will be accepted if the contribution is part of the candidate’s normal job functions cited in the job description, except for the “service role” and “leadership role.” This change will help many emergency management practitioners who previously were unable to validate many of their professional contributions because the previous CEM® requirement would not allow the contributions to be counted or validated if the contributions were part of the candidate’s regular job functions.

VA GI Bill Reimbursement

• Veterans Administration GI Bill Program Will Reimburse Eligible Service Personnel for IAEM Certified Emergency Manager® (CEM®) Program Costs (07 Apr 2009)

Upgrading from AEMSM to CEM® (08 Aug 2011)

Candidates wanting to upgrade from AEMSM to the CEM® designation should send a cover letter indicating their interest in upgrading and submit the various CEM® section requirements found in the Application Booklet which were not already approved during their AEMSM credential review (including all necessary documentation). Currently, there is no fee to upgrade. Note: if you successfully upgrade to the CEM® designation, you will remain part of your original commission class.

IAEM Code of Ethics

• IAEM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Candidates for CEM® Commission

• Application for Appointment. Annually, each Council shall present a slate of potential Commissioners to their appropriate Council Board for approval. This slate shall include three potential replacement candidates in priority order in case it is later determined than an approved Commissioner is unable to complete the term of appointment. In order to be considered for appointment to the Commission, applicants must submit a letter of application and a resume. If the applicant is an emergency management practitioner, he or she must be a current CEM®.
• Candidates Sought for Oceania-Asia CEM® Commission (07 Oct 2011) The Oceania-Asia CEM® Commission is looking for candidates to fill two commissioner openings for the Class of 2014, serving on the panel from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014. The Oceania-Asia CEM® Commission discusses policy and procedure changes regarding the certification program, and reviews applicant packages for the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) and Associate Emergency Manager (AEMSM) credentials. Commissioners who are emergency management practitioners must be a current CEM®. Candidates interested in serving on the Oceania-Asia CEM® Commission should submit a letter of interest with current resume to Kate Walker at kwalker@iaem.com by Dec. 1, 2011. Upon receipt, candidate will receive confirmation that letter and resume were received by IAEM HQ. The Oceania-Asia CEM® Commission meets on an as-needed basis as well as has periodic teleconference calls. Candidates are expected to make every effort to attend all Oceania-Asia CEM® Commission meetings. The typical credential review can be viewed here. For additional information, please contact CEM® Certification Administrator Kate Walker at kwalker@iaem.com.
  
• USA CEM® Commission. The USA-CEM® Commission is looking for candidates to fill three openings for the Class of 2014, serving on the panel from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014. The USA CEM® Commission discusses policy and procedure changes regarding the certification program, and reviews packets of applicants for the Certified Emergency Manager® (CEM®) and Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) credentials. Commissioners who are EM practitioners must be a current CEM®. Candidates interested in serving on the USA-CEM® Commission should submit a letter of interest with current resume to IAEM Headquarters by July 1, 2011. The USA-CEM® Commission meets three times a year, with each review meeting lasting four to five days, along with periodic conference calls. Candidates are expected to make every effort to attend all USA-CEM® Commission meetings and participate in conference calls. Credential Review Dates
  For additional information, please contact CEM® Administrator Kate Walker at kwalker@iaem. com.