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Certification News 2010-2013

Certification Certification News 2010-2013

CEM News 2010-2013

  • Attention Canadian CEM Candidates: Changes to Education Requirement (03 Dec 2013) Changes to the education requirement for Canadian CEM applicants will be implemented on July 1, 2014. Details will be circulated in the months to come. In the meantime, Canadian candidates can continue to submit CEM applications using the current degree waiver (substitute two years of additional experience in a disaster/emergency management position for each year of college credit lacking) until June 30, 2014.
     
  • Results of CEM Survey on Certification Retention (21 Nov 2013) The CEM Commission undertook data collection efforts to address certification retention rates. A few years ago, the recertification rate was around 40%, although in recent years it has held steady around 68%. Commissioners are examining reasons for the fluctuation with an aim to encourage more CEMs to keep the credential. The invitation to participate in the CEM recertification survey was sent to approximately 1,700 current and former CEMs, and we received a total of 822 responses. We are delighted to receive so much input. Of particular interest, 85% of respondents indicate that their CEM credential is personally valuable or very valuable, while 88% noted that the CEM certification makes them a better candidate for a job in emergency management. Over the course of the next few months, a small working group is being formed to review all the comments provided by current and former CEMs. The CEM Commission would like to thank everyone who took the time to participate in this survey. We will provide updates on changes in the months to come.
     
  • CEM Program Terminology Changes Announced (21 Nov 2013) Based on a recommendation from the Global CEM Commission, the USA Board approved the following terminology changes relating to the structure of the CEM/AEM Program:
    • The Global CEM Commission will now be called the CEM Executive Board and will continue to oversee the CEM program as a whole.
    • The council commissions (formerly the USA CEM Commission and the Oceania-Asia CEM Commission) will now be called the North American Application Review Commission and the Oceania-Asia Application Review Commission. We think these changes will reflect the valuable participation of the different councils within IAEM.
       
  • Press Release: Emergency Managers Receive CEM Credential, September 2013 (posted 07 Oct 2013)
     
  • Press Release: Emergency Managers Receive AEM Credential, September 2013 (posted 07 Oct 2013)
     
  • Changes to the IAEM-Oceania and IAEM-Europa CEM Education Requirements (12 Aug 2013) Currently, Oceania and Europa CEM candidates may substitute experience for a degree in the education requirements component of the credential. This waiver will expire at the end of 2013.

    As an interim step to enable Oceania and Europa CEM candidates to transition to the full education requirement, a compromise was recommended by the Global CEM Commission for the next two years. From Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2015, 2015, Oceania and Europa CEM candidates can satisfy the education requirement with a:

    • Bachelor's (Baccalaureate) degree in any discipline; or
    • Master's degree in any discipline; or
    • Graduate level qualification specifically in emergency management plus relevant experience e.g.
      • Graduate/Postgraduate Certificate in Emergency Management + 4 years emergency management experience; or
      • Graduate/Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Management or Advanced Diploma in Emergency Management/Public Safety(Emergency Management) + 2 years emergency management experience.

This interim step will expire at the end of 2015. At that time, all Oceania and Europa CEM candidates must have a bachelor's degree to satisfy the education requirements for the CEM credential. This will bring Oceania and Europa CEM candidates in line with USA CEM candidates.

  • USA CEM Commission Issues Clarification on Degrees with Concentration in EM/Homeland Security (05 Aug 2013) During the USA CEM Commission review meeting in July, Commissioners discussed the need to clarify that degrees with a concentration in EM/Homeland Security may not reduce the work experience requirement. However, candidates may be able to use relevant courses toward the training requirements. Commissioners will review transcripts for degrees with concentrations in EM/Homeland Security and will determine if the courses were mostly focused on emergency management topics or law enforcement before making a decision.
  • Increase in Certification Fee Effective Sept. 16, 2013 (19 July 2013) The IAEM-Global Board has approved an increase in the certification fee. Effective Sept. 16, 2013, the new rates will be $395 (USD) for IAEM members and $595 (USD) for Non-IAEM members. Candidates interested in the CEM/AEM program are encouraged to submit their certification fee now to avoid the additional cost.
  • FEMA and IAEM Announce New Opportunity for Associate and Certified Emergency Managers (21 Jan 2013) Through FEMA’s continuing partnership with IAEM, both prospective and current CEMs and AEMs have new opportunities to contribute toward their certification and recertification requirements by using the Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov) program. LLIS.gov is the free, national online network of lessons learned, best practices, and innovative ideas for the emergency management and homeland security communities. CEM and AEM candidates can now conduct pre-recorded or interactive webinars to contribute toward IAEM’s certification and re-certification requirements. Webinars must be related to emergency management while enhancing the knowledge of the whole community. Additional guidance and submission criteria on how to conduct a webinar can be found here. For questions or feedback on this program, please contact CEMSubmissions@llis.dhs.gov.
         Update: In September 2013, the IAEM-USA Board approved that prospective CEMs could also use LLIS.gov in the following ways to contribute to the profession:
    • Publications: Authoring an article about a lesson learned or innovative practice to be published on LLIS.gov.
      • These documents can be derived from personal emergency management experience, interviews, after-action reports, or independent research.
      • The LLIS.gov team will provide templates and editing support as requested to ensure that quality, peer-validated information is published.
    • Audiovisual: Producing a video about a lesson learned or innovative practice useful to the greater emergency management community.
    • Videos will be embedded into LLIS.gov web pages. 

     Update: On Apr. 24, 2015, IAEM learned that the Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS) program will cease independent operations and consolidate its content with the Naval Postgraduate School’s Homeland Security Digital Library and FEMA.gov. Because of this consolidation, third party content will no longer be accepted through LLIS.gov, and therefore this will no longer be an option for CEM/AEM candidates to complete professional contributions.

  • CEM News: Updates in Application and Recertification Booklet (22 July 2011) As of July 22, 2011, the CEM/AEM 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.
       
  • Significant Changes in the CEM/AEM Application Process (06 Dec 2010)
    • The first change is that “letters of reference” are required in the references section and must be on official letterhead stationery. Supporting letters in the exercise/experience and professional contributions section must also be on official letterhead stationery.
    • 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 the “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.