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FEMA Training

FEMA independent study courses can be taken online and on your schedule.

Incident Command Leadership: There is a basic level of training for managers, team leaders or other staff who may have a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management and/or emergency response during an incident. Furthermore, It is critical that those who are expected to fill an advanced leadership role (Incident Commander, Section Chief) possess a higher level understanding of the Incident Command process than those they will be expected to lead. To meet a competency level of training on Incident Command and the National Incident Management System (NIMS), SUNY Upstate requires training that is undertaken as self-study within the first six months of appointment. The amount of training required depends on the role you are expected to fill. FEMA recommends refresher training of your level of required training every three (3) years; the requirements are outlined below. 

Basic Level: All incident personnel designated to fulfill ICS roles within a command section should take ICS-700 and ICS-100 or equivalent, and may include the following staff:

  1. Physician Leadership
  2. Nursing Manager, Nurse Team Leader, Clinical Leader
  3. Ancillary and Support Services Staff Team Leader, Supervisor
  4. Materials Management Manager, Supervisor
  5. Security Staff, University Police Staff
  6. Environmental Health and Safety Staff, Infection Prevention Staff

Advanced Level: All incident personnel with leadership responsibilities that have a role in the hospital incident command center as a Section Chief role (Planning, Operations, Logistics, Finance, Outpatient, and Campus) including Command Staff (Safety Officer, Liaison Officer, Public Information etc.) and above should take ICS 100, 200, 700, 800, 2200 and may include the following staff:

  1. Hospital Chief Officers
  2. Administrator On Call (AOC)
  3. Administrative Supervisor
  4. Department Director (Nursing, Safety, Infection Prevention, Ambulatory, Materials, etc.)
  5. University Police Leadership (Lt. , Captain, Deputy Police Chief, Police Chief)
  6. Academic Leader (Associate Dean, Associate Vice President etc.)

View comprehensive access instructions.

Notice: Independent Study Exams now require a FEMA Student Identification (SID) Number. If you do not yet have a SID, register for one today: https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid. Please do not contact the Independent Study program office as they are unable to provide assistance with these requests.

If you have an inquiry regarding the FEMA Independent Study Program, NIMS or other Emergency Management Institute (EMI) related requests such as: requests for certificates, transcripts, online test scores/results, please contact the FEMA Independent Study program office at 301-447-1200 or email Independent.Study@fema.dhs.govfor further assistance.Please do not contact the FEMA SID Help Desk as they are unable to provide assistance with these requests.

In order to access the independent study courses, please following the links below:

IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System

IS-200.HCA: Applying ICS to Healthcare Organizations

IS-700.B: National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction

IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction

IS-2200: Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions

Upon successful course completion of the exam, you will receive an electronic completion certificate via email. You may download and print this certificate for your records. Upon receipt of the course certificate, you should forward to OTD@upstate.edu to ensure entry into your training record. If you have any questions, please contact us.

The FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama identifies, develops, tests, and delivers free, all expense paid training to state, local, and tribal emergency response providers. The center provides on-site and mobile training at the performance, management, and planning levels. 

The CDP provides the healthcare discipline with specific emergency management and leadership training needs. This includes individuals who provide clinical, forensic, and administrative skills in hospitals, physician offices, and clinics including surveillance (passive and active), diagnosis, laboratory evaluation, treatment, mental health support, epidemiology investigation, evidence collection, along with fatality management for humans and animals. This category includes: Hospital Administrators/Executives, Physicians, Dentists, Nurses, Physician Extenders (Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners), Veterinarians, Pharmacists, and Technicians, Medical Examiners/Coroners, Therapists, Epidemiologists, Facility Management, Security, Environmental Investigators, and Medical Records.

Emergency Management encourages all staff to attend a course at the CDP. Visit the complete course listing page for more details on registering for a course: https://cdp.dhs.gov/training/courses//

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