CEM Corner: Training Requirements, Part 1

By Daryl Lee Spiewak, CEM, TEM, CFM, CEM® Commissioner and Past ASPEP President Emergency Action Coordinator, Brazos River Authority, Waco, TX

The training requirements for certification include the successful completion of 100 classroom (contact) hours in disaster/emergency management subjects and 100 classroom (contact) hours in general management subjects. Part One of this three-part series will focus on the general training requirements. Part Two will offer some tips on the disaster/emergency management section, and Part Three will provide some tips for the general management section.

No Time Limits. Right now there are no time limits on when you could have completed the training for initial certification. However, do not list your entire training history but do provide ample training listings in the event the CEM® Commissioners determine a claim for training credit is questionable.

25 Hours Maximum Per Subject Area . A candidate can only receive credit for a maximum of 25 hours in any one subject. As an example, the candidate attended three courses on hazardous materials for a total of 64 hours. Only 25 hours in hazardous materials training will be allowed for credit. With this limit in mind, the candidate will have to successfully complete training in a minimum of four different subject areas in both sections.

Training Forms . The application packet contains three forms. The first form is a Summary of Training Hours Form for Disaster/Emergency Management Training; the second form is a Summary of Training Hours Form for General Management Training; and the third form is a Training Submissions Form that the candidate uses for both types of management training.

The candidate must complete the two Summary of Training Hours Forms that reflect the totality of training courses submitted for accreditation. They help the candidate summarize the training and ensure that the training credit claimed does not exceed the 25 classroom (contact) hours per subject area.

On the form, there is a section to list each subject area and lines for three courses. The candidate may combine two or more subject areas on the form to list courses if necessary. Make sure there are training courses listed in at least four different subject areas; additional subject areas are also
acceptable. Under the Title of Training Course section, list the course number (if one is known) and a short title. Then list the total classroom hours of the course. The CEM® Commissioners will use the Allowable Hours section to verify the hours claimed and to ensure that no more than 25 hours are awarded per subject area.

The Training Submissions Form is the most important form. Here the candidate lists the details about each course where credit is claimed. Include one completed form for each course. Provide a brief summary of what the course covered, because it helps the CEM® Commissioners to verify subject area content. Also provide a brief description of how you used the knowledge gained from the training course. A few sentences will suffice.

Duplicate the required forms as often as is necessary to fulfill the 100 classroom (contact) hours in Disaster/Emergency Management Training and General Management Training. Attach proper documentation to each Training Submissions Form. Include a copy of the course catalog, syllabus or other printed description (such as from the Internet) of training content.

Other Documentation. Candidates must document all claimed training courses and hours. Attach to each Training Submissions Form a copy of the college transcript, FEMA or state OEM transcript, certificate of completion, a final class roster provided by the course manager, or some other acceptable documentation from the institution conducting the training. The CEM® Commissioners will not award credit for any course claims without proper documentation. Whenever possible, ask the course manager to include the number of contact hours, CEUs or credit hours directly on the certificates.

Credit Hours. One college semester hour is equivalent to 15 classroom (contact hours). One-quarter hour is equivalent to 10 classroom (contact) hours. Remember not to claim training credit for college courses included in your degree requirement. Double dipping of credits is not allowed, and the CEM® Commissioners will check for this.

Some organizations, and the courses they teach, are accredited – and the organization will award continuing education credits (CEUs). One CEU hour is equivalent to 10 classroom (contact hours). Some unaccredited organizations will inadvertently list a course's contact hours as CEUs. They are not real CEUs, and the CEM® Commission will only count them as regular classroom (contact) hours. Unless otherwise specified on a training certificate or some other official documentation, the CEM® Commissioners will only award eight contact hours per full day of training and 10 contact hours for FEMA correspondence courses.

If there is a range of training hours listed, the CEM Commissioners will only accept the minimum amount of hours as the allowed maximum for that course.

Final Reminders. It is the candidate's responsibility to provide independent verification of training hours for the courses for which he or she is claiming credit. This means the candidate must provide a copy of the course catalog or something similar if the number of training hours is not specified directly on the training certificate.

November 2001, IAEM Bulletin