Palatine emergency management agency (pema)

ema training requirements

In order to advance in the Palatine EMA organization structure and become a member of the EMA team, the following classes need to be taken from the Professional Development Series. Below are a list of those classes that nee to be taken in order to receive your certification from the state. A complete description of the classes and a calendar of when they will be offered in the state can be found at www.state.il.us/iema
Additionally, those EMA students that wish to further advance their training can become a Illinois Professional Emergency Manger (IPEM). This information including additional classes can also be found at the IEMA website.

Illinois Professional Development Series (PDS)

Individuals enter the emergency management field with a variety of backgrounds and training which are often unrelated to the wide range of responsibilities to be fulfilled by today's emergency management personnel. Thus, seven courses, the Professional Development Series (PDS), presenting a variety of subjects pertinent to the emergency management field, are offered to supplement and complement the knowledge and skills of new personnel. The seven courses are:
• Decision Making and Problem Solving
• Developing Volunteer Resources
• Effective Communication
• Emergency Planning
• Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation program (HSEEP)**
• Principles of Emergency Management
• Leadership and Influence

* Decision Making in a Crisis may be substituted
** Exercise Design may be substituted thru August, 2008

These courses may be taken in any order over an unspecified time. Persons completing the on-line courses thru the FEMA Independent Study Program will be awarded a FEMA Certificate of Achievement. This certificate will be signed by the Superintendent of FEMA's Emergency Management Institute. Persons completing both the online and classroom portion will be awarded the Illinois Professional Development Series Certificate. This certificate, signed by the Governor of Illinois and the IEMA Director, will be awarded at the annual IEMA Conference.

If you want to learn more about the Training Program or are interested in attending a specific course, please contact Tom Smith, Palatine EMA Coordinator. Registration must be made in advance to attend any course. This can now be done online at www.state.il.us/iema.