Basic Level Certification

Overview

The Basic Level certification is an entry-level certification for emergency managers. This level of certification requires a total of 300 hours of training.

Those who have earned Basic Level certification are entitled to use the BLEM designation.

Required Courses

The following courses are required as part of this level of certification until April 30, 2024:

  • IS-5.a AN INTRODUCTION TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

  • IS-15 SPECIAL EVENTS CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES

  • IS-42 SOCIAL MEDIA IN EMERGENCY MANGEMENT

  • IS-100 INTRODUCTION TO INCIDENT COMMAND

  • IS-120 AN ORIENTATION TO COMMUNITY DISASTER EXERCISES

  • IS-200 ICS FOR SINGLE AND INITIAL ACTION INCIDENTS

  • IS-230.d FUNDAMENTALS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

  • IS-2901 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY LIFELINES

  • Q-890 EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO TERRORISM

 Beginning May 1, 2024, the following will be the new required core training, and help align new EMs with the EMPG funding requirements:

  • IS-5 An Introduction to Hazardous Materials

  • IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command

  • IS-120 An Orientation to Community Disaster Exercises

  • IS-200 ICS for Single and Initial Action Incidents

  • IS-230.d Fundamentals of Emergency Management

  • IS-235.c Emergency Planning

  • IS-240.c Leadership and Influence

  • IS-241.c Decision Making and Problem Solving

  • IS-242.c Effective Communication

  • IS-244.b Developing and Managing Volunteers

  • IS-317.a Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

  • IS-700.b An Introduction to the National Incident Management System

  • IS-800.d National Response Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2000 National Preparedness Goal and System Overview

  • IS-2500 National Prevention Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2600 National Protection Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2700 National Mitigation Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2900.a National Disaster Recovery Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2901 Introduction to Community Lifelines

  • Q-890 Emergency Response to Terrorism. Course is offered through the U.S. Fire Administration: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/67

Additional Requirements

In addition to the required courses, this level of certification requires:

  • A total of 200 hours of 'core' curriculum (FEMA and other emergency management training). The required training courses count toward the 200 hour total.

  • A total of 100 hours of 'optional' training. Optional training includes other public safety and general management training and education.