CEM Corner: thinking about retiring?

The lifetime CEM® could be for you

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

For those emergency management practitioners who have successfully achieved their CEM® and are near retirement, the Lifetime CEM® could be a great option for you. The Lifetime CEM® is an honor awarded to the candidate by the CEM® Commission. The Lifetime CEM® honor will be presented to successful candidates at the IAEM Annual Conference, upon meeting the following criteria:

• The candidate must have previously been awarded the CEM® credential at one time, and successfully recertified, prior to being eligible for the Lifetime CEM®.
• The candidate must be a current CEM® at the time of the application.
• The candidate must be nominated by a member of the IAEM-Global Board of Directors or the CEM® Commission.
• The nomination form (available on the IAEM website) must include a narrative stating the candidate’s achievements deserving of the honor.
• Two letters of recommendation must be provided for each Lifetime CEM® candidate. Excerpts from these letters will be read during the Lifetime CEM® award presentation at the IAEM Annual Conference.
• The nomination form must be submitted to the CEM® Commission Chair for review. A simple majority vote of the CEM® Commission and the IAEM Board of Directors is required to successfully attain the Lifetime CEM® credential.
• The candidate must be retired from full-time service as an employee in the field of emergency management and remain retired.
• Retired from emergency management, for the purpose of this requirement, means 400 hours or less employment, self-employment or principal in a consulting firm in a one-year calendar period.
• The exception to the 400-hour rule is a recall to emergency management service during a federal declaration.
• The Lifetime CEM® must adhere to the IAEM CEM® Code of Ethics.
• Should a Lifetime CEM® consider changing his or her status back to a regular CEM®, they must continue to maintain the normal re-certification process which is in place during that period of time when the candidate opts to revert back to regular CEM® status.
• Any training and contributions to the profession obtained during the Lifetime CEM® status may be used in the recertification process; however, it is subject to the same formal review as any other re-certification packet.

Nomination Procedures for the Lifetime CEM®

For currently certified CEM®s planning to retire soon, consider requesting nomination for the IAEM Lifetime CEM® credential from a current IAEM-Global Board member or CEM® Commissioner. You will find the procedures on the IAEM website at www.iaem.com/CEM; click on the right menu link for “Lifetime Requirements.”

June 2010, IAEM Bulletin