Professionalism in Professionalism in Emergency ManagementEmergency Management

The Road to Certification In The Road to Certification In Emergency Management Emergency Management

ExcellenceExcellenceColonel Bob Ditch, USAF, Ret, CEM

A Professional Emergency A Professional Emergency Management Certification Management Certification

Program for CAPProgram for CAP

Introduction/Purpose

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Requirements

Conclusion/Questions

Application Pitfalls

Definition

Purpose of any Purpose of any Certification ProgramCertification Program

To elevate the visibility of To elevate the visibility of the specific professionthe specific profession

Encourage and mandate Encourage and mandate continued professional continued professional development, education development, education and technical skillsand technical skills

Ensure minimal criteria of Ensure minimal criteria of the Knowledge, Skills and the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) of the Abilities (KSAs) of the professionprofession

EducationExperience

Foundation of A ProfessionFoundation of A Profession

Training

Why Get CertifiedWhy Get Certified?

NOTHING!NOTHING!

What Does Certification Bring With It?What Does Certification Bring With It?

DevelopmentDevelopmentDiscoveryDiscoveryMaintenance of SkillsMaintenance of SkillsEducationEducationMaturationMaturationLessons LearnedLessons LearnedYears Of Experience Years Of Experience Others?Others?

What Does Certification Offer You To What Does Certification Offer You To Get Out Of The Get Out Of The Effort For It? For It?

Big Deal!Big Deal!

What Do I Get With CertificationWhat Do I Get With Certification ? ?

CEMCEM

• Growth Growth • RecognitionRecognition• PromotionPromotion• OpportunitiesOpportunities

What Can Certification Bring With It?What Can Certification Bring With It?

So What Do I Need To Demonstrate So What Do I Need To Demonstrate To Become A CEMTo Become A CEM

Definition of a CEMDefinition of a CEM®

hensive management program. That program can be hensive management program. That program can be in, but not limited to, local government levels, business in, but not limited to, local government levels, business and industry, military contingency operations, health and industry, military contingency operations, health care related response/planning or educational care related response/planning or educational institutions. It designates prescribed training and institutions. It designates prescribed training and educational criteria plus a working knowledge of all the educational criteria plus a working knowledge of all the basic tenets in emergency management that are basic tenets in emergency management that are encompassed in the phases of Mitigation, encompassed in the phases of Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

A Certified Emergency Manager is an individualCertified Emergency Manager is an individual who possesses the who possesses the knowledgeknowledge, , skillsskills and and abilitiesabilities to effectively manage a compre-to effectively manage a compre-

CEMCEM® Definition (cont.) Definition (cont.)

In addition, Certified Emergency Manager clearly In addition, Certified Emergency Manager clearly denotes interactive experience and knowledge of denotes interactive experience and knowledge of interagency as well as community-wide participation interagency as well as community-wide participation in planning, coordination, and management in planning, coordination, and management functions designed to improve emergency functions designed to improve emergency management capabilities. The Certified Emergency management capabilities. The Certified Emergency Manager can effective accomplish the goals and Manager can effective accomplish the goals and objectives of any emergency management program objectives of any emergency management program in all the environments listed above with in all the environments listed above with little or nolittle or no additional training or orientation.additional training or orientation.

In addition, Certified Emergency Manager clearly In addition, Certified Emergency Manager clearly denotes interactive experience and knowledge of denotes interactive experience and knowledge of interagency as well as community-wide participation interagency as well as community-wide participation in planning, coordination, and management in planning, coordination, and management functions designed to improve emergency functions designed to improve emergency management capabilities. The Certified Emergency management capabilities. The Certified Emergency Manager can effective accomplish the goals and Manager can effective accomplish the goals and objectives of any emergency management program objectives of any emergency management program in all the environments listed above with in all the environments listed above with little or nolittle or no additional training or orientation.additional training or orientation.

So Where Can I Get Started?So Where Can I Get Started?

So Where Can I Get Started?So Where Can I Get Started?

APPLY!APPLY!

Certification ProcessCertification Process

ApplicationApplication

Credential Credential

ProcessProcess

TestingTesting

(Re-Certification)(Re-Certification)

CEMCEM® Credential Credential RequirementsRequirements

Emergency Management ExperienceEmergency Management Experience (3 years full-time equivalent (3 years full-time equivalent

minimum – equals 6,000 CAP hours of minimum – equals 6,000 CAP hours of volunteer time)volunteer time)

Three Professional ReferencesThree Professional References Actual Disaster/Contingency Actual Disaster/Contingency

Experience or Substantive Role in Experience or Substantive Role in Managing a Full-Scale ExerciseManaging a Full-Scale Exercise

EducationEducation ( (anyany 4-year BA/BS degree) 4-year BA/BS degree)

CEMCEM® Credential Credential Requirements (cont.)Requirements (cont.)

100 hours of Emergency 100 hours of Emergency Management TrainingManagement Training and and 100 hours 100 hours of General Management Trainingof General Management Training

(No more than 25 (No more than 25 hours in any one subject matter area, and needs hours in any one subject matter area, and needs to show training in all phases of CEM)to show training in all phases of CEM)

Contributions to the ProfessionContributions to the Profession (minimum of 6 out of 12) (minimum of 6 out of 12)

Examples include speaking, teaching, publishing, Examples include speaking, teaching, publishing, service on a Board, Commission, leadership role, service on a Board, Commission, leadership role, memberships, etc...memberships, etc...

Comprehensive Management EssayComprehensive Management Essay

CEMCEM® Certification Certification RequirementsRequirements

Comprehensive 100-question Comprehensive 100-question Multiple-Choice ExaminationMultiple-Choice Examination

(Applicant must get 75% or (Applicant must get 75% or better to Pass. Test is multiple choice and better to Pass. Test is multiple choice and administered through a variety of methods)administered through a variety of methods)

RecertificationRecertification Requirement Requirement every 5 years. every 5 years. No retesting No retesting required for recertification.required for recertification.

AEM RequirementsAEM Requirements

All the All the samsame requirements e requirements as the as the CEMCEM®® program, program,

exceptexcept

that applicants need not have a that applicants need not have a baccalaureate degree or any formal baccalaureate degree or any formal college education or lack sufficient college education or lack sufficient time on the job to meet the time on the job to meet the educational waivereducational waiver

Application PitfallsApplication Pitfalls

Application PitfallsApplication PitfallsGeneral ConsiderationsGeneral Considerations

• IncompletenessIncompleteness• SloppinessSloppiness• No orderNo order• Lack of documentationLack of documentation• Missing InfoMissing Info• Invalidated ClaimsInvalidated Claims

What Will Kill You FirstWhat Will Kill You First

Application PitfallsApplication Pitfalls

– No No OfficialOfficial Job Description with Job Description with ApplicationApplication

– Unaccounted Periods of EmploymentUnaccounted Periods of Employment Especially for Volunteer and Part-time CreditEspecially for Volunteer and Part-time Credit

– Letter Showing Relationship or % of Letter Showing Relationship or % of Time in Emergency ManagementTime in Emergency Management

– Failure to show full-spectrum of Failure to show full-spectrum of experience in Comprehensive experience in Comprehensive Emergency ManagementEmergency Management

Work History & ExperienceWork History & Experience

Application PitfallsApplication Pitfalls

– Actual Points Of ContactActual Points Of Contact

– Weekend/After-work Phone Numbers Weekend/After-work Phone Numbers HelpfulHelpful

– Brief Who You List Beforehand Brief Who You List Beforehand

Three Professional ReferencesThree Professional References

Application PitfallsApplication Pitfalls

– Significant Role Must Be DocumentedSignificant Role Must Be Documented

– Tangential Roles To Often Shown Tangential Roles To Often Shown (can’t be a flightline marshaller and (can’t be a flightline marshaller and make the cut)make the cut)

Actual Disaster/Contingency Actual Disaster/Contingency Operational Experience or Operational Experience or Substantive Role in Managing a Substantive Role in Managing a Full-Scale ExerciseFull-Scale Exercise

Application PitfallsApplication Pitfalls

– Official and/or Notarized TranscriptsOfficial and/or Notarized Transcripts– Transcript Must State Degree Transcript Must State Degree

Conferred Conferred – Send In Graduate Level Transcripts Send In Graduate Level Transcripts

Even If No Degree Conferred YetEven If No Degree Conferred Yet

EducationEducation

Application PitfallsApplication Pitfalls

– Biggie is No More Than 25 Hours in Biggie is No More Than 25 Hours in Specific Area (300 Hours of HAZMAT is Specific Area (300 Hours of HAZMAT is Very Impressive…but Doesn’t Fill Very Impressive…but Doesn’t Fill Square)Square)

– Can’t Count Under-graduate Can’t Count Under-graduate Work….But Can Count Graduate Work Work….But Can Count Graduate Work (15 Hr/Sem Hr)(15 Hr/Sem Hr)

– Don’t Forget EMI Independent Study Don’t Forget EMI Independent Study (IS) Courses(IS) Courses (usually about 10 Hrs (usually about 10 Hrs each)each)

100 hours100 hours of Emergency Management of Emergency Management TrainingTraining andand 100 hours100 hours of General of General Management TrainingManagement Training

CAP Application CAP Application OpportunitiesOpportunities

Course Gen Mgt Hrs EM HrsCAP CLC 16CAP UCC 16CAP SLS 16CAP TLC 16CAP RSC 50CAP NSC 50CAP RCC 40AFRCC SAR MGT CRSE - 16AFRCC In-land SAR - 40USAF SOS 61 39USAF ACSC 100 75USAF AWC 100 75

CAP Application CAP Application OpportunitiesOpportunities

Course Gen Mgt or EM Hrs

IS 100 3IS 200 3IS 700 3IS 800 3ICS 300 18ICS 400 14FEMA/EMI Independent Study Courses CAP/AU ECI Mgt and Safety CoursesState/local Emergency Mgt or General Mgt Courses

MembershipMembership Service RoleService Role

Leadership RoleLeadership Role Special AssignmentSpecial Assignment

SpeakingSpeaking TeachingTeaching

PublicationPublication Course DevelopmentCourse Development

Audio Visual and Interactive ProductsAudio Visual and Interactive Products Awards and Special RecognitionAwards and Special Recognition

State CertificationState CertificationLegislative ContactLegislative Contact

OtherOther

Contributions to the ProfessionContributions to the Profession

Application PitfallsApplication Pitfalls Contributions to the ProfessionContributions to the Profession

• Cannot Be Job RelatedCannot Be Job Related• Highlight YourselfHighlight Yourself• Talk to a Mentor Talk to a Mentor • Contributions…Not Just AttributionsContributions…Not Just Attributions• We Need to See the DocumentationWe Need to See the Documentation• Letters Will Suffice for Tapes/VideosLetters Will Suffice for Tapes/Videos• We Normally Can See Through SmokeWe Normally Can See Through Smoke

CAP ApplicabilityCAP Applicability

Membership in CAP (Stand by)Membership in CAP (Stand by) Attending 40 hours of ConferencesAttending 40 hours of Conferences Service Role in CAP ESService Role in CAP ES Leadership Role in CAP ESLeadership Role in CAP ES Teaching classes in CAP ESTeaching classes in CAP ES Speaking in CAP ES ForumsSpeaking in CAP ES Forums Publishing an Article on CAP ES OpsPublishing an Article on CAP ES Ops CAP ES AwardsCAP ES Awards Writing Congressional Leaders on CAP ES Writing Congressional Leaders on CAP ES

IssueIssue OthersOthers

Who Makes Up The CEM Commission?Who Makes Up The CEM Commission?

Federal GovernmentFederal GovernmentState GovernmentState GovernmentLocal GovernmentLocal GovernmentPrivate IndustryPrivate IndustryHigher EducationHigher EducationMilitary Military Volunteer Volunteer (Includes CAP)(Includes CAP)

Are There Other Certifying Agencies I Are There Other Certifying Agencies I Can Affiliate With ?….Can Affiliate With ?….

CEM

The Effort Is RealThe Effort Is Real

...“WE SOMETIMES CHAFE AT THE BURDEN OF OUR OBLIGATIONS, THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR DECISIONS,….

BUT THERE IS NO COMFORT OR SECURITY FOR US IN EVASIONS, NO SOLUTION IN ABDICATION, NO RELIEF IN IRRESPONSIBILITY”...

JFK

Final Thoughts…

Professionalism in Professionalism in Emergency ManagementEmergency Management

The Road to Certification In The Road to Certification In Emergency Management Emergency Management

ExcellenceExcellencePh 1-757-310-7977, rditch@cox.netPh 1-757-310-7977, rditch@cox.net

Website: www.iaem.comWebsite: www.iaem.com