CEM Corner: the CEM® COMMISSION

By Brian V. Bovyn, CEM, Emergency Services Supervisor, Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department

The CEM® Commission reports to the IAEM- Global Board of Directors. The IAEM-Global Board serves as the oversight body for the CEM® and AEM programs and bears the ultimate responsibility.

The CEM® Commission is comprised of 24-30 Commissioners with backgrounds in local, state and federal government emergency management, private sector, academia, military and the IAEM global councils. Appointments are for up to three years, with a two-term service limit.

 
Nominations for potential CEM® Commissioners are made by the IAEM-USA Training & Education Committee with the final approval made by the IAEM-Global Board of Directors. The CEM® Commission is geographically and demographically diversified, and greater than 90% of the CEM® Commissioners are currently certified CEMs®.

The Review Process

IAEM staff receive the portfolio packets as they come into IAEM Headquarters from the CEM® candidates. The portfolio packets are stored in a secured area until an informal review is conducted by IAEM staff, after which packets are re-secured until the CEM® Commission formally reviews them at the next review (normally three times annually).

IAEM staff conduct an initial review of the packets to ensure that application fees are paid; that the packets are typed, neat and orderly; that key components of documentation appear to be present in the packets; and that minimum requirements appear to have been met. If staff find obvious discrepancies or omissions in a portfolio, a form letter is sent to the applicant identifying the discrepancy or omission. Additional documentation may be requested, and the candidate may send additional documents until the formal review by the CEM® Commissioners begins.

Once the formal review process begins, the CEM® Commissioners present are assigned to teams based on their experiential backgrounds, and individual commissioners are assigned packets for review. Independent peer reviews are initiated by a minimum of two CEM® Commissioners per portfolio packet. If the two Commissioners disagree on the status of the packet, then a third CEM® Commissioner is assigned to review the packet and a decision is made, based upon the conclusion of the two Commissioners in the majority.

Each CEM® Commissioner uses a Candidate Evaluation Worksheet (CEW). The CEW is like a flow sheet, that mirrors the chapters or sections of the CEM® and AEM application packet. The CEW Worksheets are used to ensure that all documentation is present; that knowledge, skills and abilities are documented; and that ratings are assigned for the individual sections of the packet and point values for the comprehensive essay.

Following each portfolio review, the CEM® Commissioner makes an overall recommendation for approval as CEM® or AEM, or not approved for CEM® or AEM, and additional documentation is necessary for further consideration. If the candidate has previously made an unsuccessful attempt at CEM® or AEM certification, a reject assessment is given and the candidate must begin the entire process over from the beginning, including paying the application fee again.

Although CEM® Commissioners are not required to do so, it is not uncommon that if one or two pieces of supporting documentation are missing from an applicant packet, the CEM® Commissioner may make a phone call or send an e-mail to the candidate soliciting the additional documentation by fax or e-mail.

Additionally, CEM® Commissioners often call candidate points of contact on the reference form, in an effort to validate claims made by the applicant. Further, the CEM® Commissioners review the supporting documentation to ensure validation of the candidate’s claim of completion.

 
If the CEM® Commissioners do not accept a packet, a letter will be sent to the candidate advising the candidate of the specific performance gaps or documentation shortfalls. The candidates will have 90 days from the date on the letter to submit additionally required documentation. Only the portions of the application packet that were not approved require additional supporting documentation in the resubmission.

The Appeals Process

All candidates will receive a letter within three weeks of the CEM® Commission review, whether that candidate was successful or not. Please do not call IAEM Headquarters to find out your results. IAEM does maintain an appeals process for rejected applicant packets. The appealed packets are reviewed by three additional CEM® Commissioners selected by the CEM® Commission Chair, and that decision is final.

Serving on the Commission

If you would like to serve on the CEM® Commission, click here for information.

Author’s Note: The author would like to thank Daryl Lee Spiewak, CEM, CFM, TEM, for contributing to this article.

August 2010, IAEM Bulletin