Administered by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency
Certified Local Emergency Manager (CLEM)
The Certified Local Emergency Manager Program (CLEM) was designed to create standards and promote professionalism for the Local Emergency Management Directors in the State of Alabama. The CLEM program is designed specifically for local emergency management directors in the state and is administered by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.
Act 2023-204 of the Alabama Legislature made significant changes to the CLEM program beginning in October 2023. The guidance below reflects those changes.
- Education2 yearscollege-level (64 semester / 96 quarter hours)
- Experience3 yearsemergency response, EM, or qualified military service
- Coursework200 hoursin emergency management
- Salary supplement35%of the director’s salary, up to $17,000 per county
- Submission deadlineSeptember 305:00 PM CDT, to AEMA
- Certificates dueNovember 30for official certification
Requirements and Proof of Compliance
For the Local Emergency Management Director (one per county).
Work Experience
At least three years of work experience in the area of emergency response, emergency management, or qualified military service.
Proof of compliance: A letter on official letterhead from the agency acknowledging your employment/involvement with the agency; or proper documentation from the branch of military stating service and/or deployment assignments and length of service.
Coursework
Two hundred (200) hours of coursework in emergency management as recommended by the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers and approved by the Director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. See the certification course list.
Proof of compliance: A copy of course certificates or transcript with courses listed.
College Education
Satisfactory completion of two years of college-level education.
Proof of compliance: A transcript showing completion of 64 semester or 96 quarter hours.
Directors serving on June 14, 2007: Any person who was serving as a local emergency management director on June 14, 2007, is deemed to satisfy the two years of college-level education if he or she has a minimum of five years’ work experience as a local emergency management director.
Salary Supplement
Annual Supplement
Each state-recognized local emergency management organization that employs and retains a certified local emergency management director receives an annual salary supplement from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency equal to 35 percent of the certified director’s total salary. In no case shall the supplement be more than seventeen thousand dollars ($17,000) per county.
When It Begins
A salary supplement is not paid to certified local emergency management directors who receive that status on or after October 1, 2023, until the beginning of the fiscal year following the completion of the requirements and designation by the Director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.
Submitting Your Application
Provisional Submission by September 30
New CLEM applications: the requirements above must be complete and submitted to AEMA (training@ema.alabama.gov) no later than September 30 at 5:00 PM CDT.
In lieu of official certificates for courses taken late in the fiscal year and not yet received, for provisional approval list the course, date completed, and number of hours. For official CLEM certification, all certificates must be submitted to AEMA no later than November 30.
New Director Replacing a CLEM-Certified Director
A county that has filled its Emergency Management Director position with a non-CLEM certified director, after having a CLEM certified director in the same fiscal year, will maintain the salary supplement for that fiscal year.
The new director must complete the CLEM requirements, submit their package to AEMA, and receive a provisional or fully certified status by October 1 of the following fiscal year for the county to retain the salary supplement.