Levels of Certification

There are two types of certification offered: the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) and the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM).

AEM Requirements

• Training: 100 hours Emergency Management training (considered specific to the profession) & 100 hours of General Management Training (content that can be applied beyond emergency management).
  • No more than 25% of hours can be in a single topic.
  • Must be completed within the last 10 years.
• References: One letter of reference, signed and on letterhead from current supervisor, plus contact information, for a total of three references.
• Certification Exam: Pass a 120-multiple choice question exam. Exam details can be found on the Prep Course & Exam Dates webpage.

CEM Requirements

Candidates must meet all AEM requirements in addition to the following:

• Emergency Management Work History: 3 years of comprehensive emergency management experience.
• Emergency Management Experience: Participation in two functional exercises, a major public event, a full-scale exercise, or actual disaster, and cover all phases of emergency management.
• Professional Contributions: Submit six separate contributions completed with the last 10 years.
• Degree Requirement: A baccalaurate degree in emergency management or higher reduces the disaster/ emergency management training requirement, depending on how current. Candidates cannot use their degree to both satisfy the education requirement and satisfy the training hours requirement.

• • U.S., Europa, and Oceania applicants: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution as recognized by the appropriate governing body or bodies of the specific country from which the degree was issued (Example: U.S. Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions). 
  • Canadian applicants: Any three- or four-year bachelor program or any post-graduate degree in emergency management or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Asia, International, Latin America, and Caribbean applicants: Any baccalaureate degree or the equivalent thereof, or additional experience, may be substituted as two years of full-time EM employment per year of college/university.

  
  AEM® and CEM® are registered trademarks of the International Association of Emergency Managers.