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FEMA NIMS Training

General Information

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training

The National Training Program for NIMS has developed a common national foundation for training and qualifying emergency management/response personnel. Adequately trained and qualified emergency management/response personnel are critical to the national implementation of NIMS. The NIMS document describes the National Integration Center's (NIC) responsibility to develop "a national program for NIMS education and awareness,” and to facilitate common national standards for personnel qualification. The NIMS Training Program was mandated by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. The NIMS curriculum is managed under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI).

NIMS Courses Accepted by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)

As of October 1, 2014, the following 13 NWCG courses were transitioned to the FEMA NIMS Training Curriculum:

Incident Command System (ICS) Courses

  • I-100, Introduction to ICS replaced by ICS 100 (IS100), Introduction to ICS.
  • I-200, Basic ICS replaced by ICS 200 (IS200.b), Basic ICS.
  • I-300, Intermediate ICS replaced by ICS 300 (G/E/L300), Intermediate ICS.
  • I-400, Advanced ICS replaced by ICS 400 (G/E/L400), Advanced ICS.
  • M-480, Multi-Agency Coordinating (MAC) Group replaced by IS-701, NIMS Multi-agency Coordination System (MACS).

Position Specific Courses

  • S-346, Situation Unit Leader replaced by E/L964, Situation Unit Leader.
  • S-349, Resources Unit Leader/Demobilization Unit Leader replaced by E/L965 Resources Unit Leader/Demobilization Unit Leader.
  • S-356, Supply Unit Leader replaced by E/L970, Supply Unit Leader.
  • S-360, Finance/Administration Unit Leaders replaced by E/L975, Finance/Administration Unit Leaders.
  • S-400, Incident Commander replaced by E/L950, Incident Commander.
  • S-403, Public Information Officer replaced by E/L952, Public Information Officer.
  • S-450, Logistics Section Chief replaced by E/L967, Logistics Section Chief.
  • S-460, Finance/Administration Section Chief replaced by E/L973, Finance/Administration Section Chief.

NWCG Delivery of FEMA ICS and All-Hazards Position Specific (AHPS) Training Courses

NWCG member agencies may deliver both types of courses, ICS and AHPS. However, the specific procedures for delivering the two types of courses are different. The steps for coordination and delivery of FEMA ICS and AHPS courses are outlined in the following document: (Process for Delivery of FEMA Courses).

FEMA EMI Course Contacts:

emi-nims-icstraining@fema.dhs.gov

Links

Emergency Management Institute NIMS ICS AHPS Training Program website: https://training.fema.gov/allhazards/

NIMS Training Program: https://www.fema.gov/training

FAQs

ICS/IS Courses

Who can instruct the ICS (ICS 100-402) courses?

  • There is no national instructor database for the ICS courses. FEMA provides ICS instructor qualification guidelines on the ICS AHPS Training Program Website https://training.fema.gov/allhazards/

I am putting on a classroom version of ICS-100 or ICS-200, how do I test the students?

  • Students must take the exam online via the Independent Study (https://training.fema.gov/is/) website and they will receive a FEMA issued certificate via email.

How can I tell if an ICS completion certificate is valid?

  • Delivery of the ICS courses has been delegated down to both state and federal entities (including NWCG) and therefore, various certificates are being issued.
  • State Training Officers (STOs), as well as federal entities, have discretion in determining the validity of certificates. STOs can be a helpful resource when you have questions. Additionally, Russell Flick, of the EMI can assist and is available at russell.flick@fema.dhs.gov.
  • States and agencies may choose to attach a unique course number to their course completion certificate. Validate with your course coordinator or lead instructor that the FEMA NIMS ICS curriculum available through the EMI was used for the course. For this example, in either the Incident Qualification System (IQS) or the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS), input ICS-300 in the system.

All Hazard Position Specific Courses

How do I know if I am in the NIMS Training Instructor database?

  • The national instructor database for the AHPS courses is maintained by the EMI. STO or Geographic Area Training Representatives (GATR) can review the database upon request.

How do instructors who were not historically recognized during the application period get into the NIMS training instructor database?

  • Those wanting to be in the national instructor database to teach the NIMS position specific courses may do so in two ways:
  1. Attend a Train the Trainer course outlined in the document NIMS ICS AHPS Training Program at https://training.fema.gov/allhazards/ under Administrative Guidelines.
  2. If you meet the instructor qualifications as outlined in the document, NIMS ICS AHPS Training Program at https://training.fema.gov/allhazards/, under Administrative Guidelines, submit a justification and list of qualifications to Colby Jackson at cjackson@blm.gov.

How do I find a FEMA NIMS AHPS course that is scheduled to be put on in my area?

  • If you haven't already done so, get in touch with your STO. They or their counterpart in another state can help find out who might be putting on a particular course in your part of the country. The following link has STO contact information by state. https://cdp.dhs.gov/contact/saa
  • There is not currently a comprehensive website that lists all training by state but the STOs coordinate with others in their areas of the country and can provide lists of upcoming courses.

Can I take a FEMA course in lieu of a required NWCG course?

  • No, a FEMA course cannot be substituted for a required NWCG course.

Can NWCG certificates be issued for AHPS courses?

  • No, if you conduct a course with FEMA materials that is identified with an EMI number, students should receive an EMI certificate.

I need proof of completion of a FEMA NIMS course but have not yet received my certificate, what should I do?

  • If verification of course completion is needed prior to receiving the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) certificate, course coordinators can provide a copy of the course roster to the student.

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids 

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page