Online Certification Exam Requests

The IAEM Certification Exam is available online! A how-to guide for requesting the online exam can be found here. Request the online exam using this online form. 

Note: 

• The applicant must provide proctor's direct email address. A testing facility email is not acceptable.
• Multiple emails will be sent to the proctor automatically through the exam program which could potentially be blocked by their firewall (ie .mil, .edu, and .gov). Proctors should request their IT Department to whitelist @iaemexam.com so messages are not blocked. If the proctor has not received any of the following emails, please have the proctor contact IAEM HQ at info@iaem.com with the subject line of "Certification Exam Forms Not Received."
  Within 3 business days prior to the exam:
  (1) The Proctor Agreement must be completed.
  (2) The email which contains the exam keycode for use on the day of the exam will be sent to the proctor.

• The applicant is not permitted to take the online exam on his/her personal or work computer. The applicant must use a computer with Internet connection provided by an approved proctor. 

Upcoming Exam and Prep Courses

May 1, 2025, AEM/CEM Online Exam Murfreesboro, TN

• Location: Tennessee Emergency Management ASSN (EMAT) Conference, 1200 Conference Center Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
• AEM/CEM Exam Date/Time: Thursday, May 1, 2025, 8:00-10:30 a.m. CST
• AEM/CEM Certification Application Fee: The certification application fee must be paid before sitting for the exam. Pay the application fee here.
• PLUS you also must register to sit for the exam. Register online here.
• Registration Deadline: April 17, 2025 (onsite registration is not available)
• Additional Information about this exam offering: This is an online exam offering. The conference will be providing computers.

May 5, 2025, AEM/CEM Online Exam Burlingame, CA

• Location: CESA Annual Conference - 1800 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA 94010, Anaheim Meeting Room.
• AEM/CEM Exam Date/Time: Monday, May 5, 2025, 1:30pm - 4:00pm PST
• AEM/CEM Certification Application Fee: The certification application fee must be paid before sitting for the exam. Pay the application fee here.
• PLUS you also must register to sit for the exam. Register online here.
• Registration Deadline: April 21, 2025 (onsite registration is not available)
• Additional Information about this exam offering: This is an online exam offering. The conference will be providing computers.

May 30, 2025, AEM/CEM Preparatory Course AND/OR Online Exam, Fort Worth, TX

• Location: The Texas Department of Emergency Management Conference, 1300 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102, Fort Worth Ballroom #2
• AEM/CEM Preparatory Course Date/Time: Friday, May 30th from 8:00am to 1:00pm CST
• AEM/CEM Exam Date/Time: Friday, May 30th from 2:30pm to 5:00pm CST
• AEM/CEM Certification Application Fee: Certification application fee must be paid prior to sitting for the exam. Pay the application fee here.
• PLUS you also must register to sit for the exam. Register online here.
• Registration Deadline: May 16, 2025 (onsite registration is not available)
• Additional Information about this exam offering: This is an online exam offering. The conference will be providing computers.

Scheduling an AEM/CEM Exam Near You

Applicants can request an individual exam offering by completing an exam request form. If you have any issues please email Sharon Kelly. 

The proctor must be an unbiased party and must fulfill one of the following:

• Current IAEM Council Board member or past council president with the AEM or CEM designation.
• IAEM headquarters staff.
• Someone in the education department/registrar’s office at a local high school, college/university, or military installation.
• Official testing facility (proctor's direct email address is required. Testing facility email is not acceptable.)
• State/Regional training coordinator may be considered on a case-by-case basis as long as the candidate and the proctor do not work within the same department/division.

A proctor cannot be:

• An applicant’s subordinate or manager.
• Someone with whom the applicant works with on a regular basis.
• Related to or having a personal relationship with the applicant. 

Preparing for the Exam

See the Updated Resource List for a list of resources that can be used to make up an exam. 

The AEM/CEM exam has 120 multiple-choice questions. One hundred of these questions will be scored. IAEM will determine exam results using scaled scoring. Scaled scoring is a representation of the total number of correct answers an applicant has provided that has been converted into a standardized scale. The passing score is 500 on a scale of 200 to 800. Examinees will be allowed 2.5 hours for the exam.

The exam includes a portion of questions that are considered to be universal, core content for emergency management regardless of location. Additional content is tested depending on the country in which the applicant is based. The Exam Blueprint outlines the domains and subject weights to help applicants prepare for the exam.

Applicants who are ready to schedule an individual exam should complete the exam request form giving the proctor's complete contact information, date of the exam, and 14 business day’s notice.   

The IAEM website has a listing of official preparatory course and/or exam offerings that have been arranged through IAEM.   As more official offerings are finalized they will be added to the webpage.

Group exam offerings may be arranged by contacting IAEM staff member Albon Yowell at Albon@iaem.com.

Retest Policy

Applicants that fail the exam may retake one additional time at no additional charge after a wait period of 60 days of receiving the notification of failure. The retake exam date must allow for at least 14 business days (per United States holiday schedule) from the submission of the retake request for IAEM to process the request.

Applicants have an unlimited time to do a retest with one exception. If the applicant has an approved application in the Certification Portal, they have 1 year from the time that application was approved to have a passing exam.  Remember, IAEM updates the exams as needed, so there may be significant content changes between exam attempts. IAEM announces new versions of the exam 60-90 days prior to their release.

Applicants that fail the exam twice must repay the certification fee to receive two more opportunities to take the exam following the retest policy. There is no maximum number of attempts, based on the 2 test per paid certification fee, though applicants are strongly encouraged to be intentional in their remediation efforts.

Preparatory Course

The preparatory course includes: An overview of the AEM/CEM exam; the standards upon which the exam is based; sample exam questions; and a Q&A period. 

• Purpose: To relieve exam anxiety, not to teach emergency management principles.
• How: Discuss the AEM/CEM exam mechanics; facilitate an interactive discussion of emergency management principles; cross-walk through practice exam questions.
• Who should attend? The AEM/CEM Exam Prep Course is intended for professional emergency managers interested in obtaining the Associated Emergency Manager/Certified Emergency Manager designation. 
• Cost: $535 per person
• Note: The Prep Course does not teach emergency management principles.

Online Prep Course Available!

Offered in partnership with MindEdge Learning, this prep course allows USA applicants to prepare for the IAEM Certification process through a self-study at your own pace. The course offers curated learning, review materials, and sample test questions designed to support students in preparing for the AEM or CEM certification.

Course may be purchased through the MindEdge Website: https://catalog.mindedge.com/iaem

**IAEM Members receive a 25% discount using code: Click here!

Please note that this course cannot be used to meet EM or GM training requirements. The content of the course is designed for applicants taking the USA Exam.

All questions about the course should be directed to MindEdge Learning.