Frequently Asked Questions – IAEM Certification

Current certification fees are outlined in Getting Started.

The initial certification fee entitles applicants to:

If an applicant does not pass the exam after two attempts or if the application is rejected after two reviews, the certification fee must be paid again to restart the process.

• Two attempts at the certification exam.
• Two reviews of the credential application by the Certification Commission.

Applicants do not have to be IAEM members to be certified, although IAEM membership does offer you many benefits that can assist you through the certification process.

Applicants must submit 200 contact hours of training within the last 10 years:

• 100 hours in emergency management-specific training.
• 100 hours in general management training.

Note: Applicants can be awarded up to twenty-five (25) hours in a single subject area. More information about the training requirement can be found in the Applicant Guidebook on pp. 13-19.

The length of the certification process varies based on when an applicant submits their application and when they take the exam. On average:

• Exam: This can be taken any time after the certification fee is paid.
• Application Review: Applications are reviewed every odd-numbered month, and results are typically provided by the middle of even months.
• Total Process Time: If all requirements are met, certification can be achieved within three to six months from start to finish. It is important to note that once one step is complete (exam or application), applicants have one year to complete the second step.

If an application is found to be incomplete during the review process:

• IAEM will notify the applicant and provide a detailed explanation of missing components.
• The applicant will have 90 days to resubmit corrections.
• If the application is denied after two reviews, the applicant must reapply and repay the certification fee.

If an applicant does not pass the exam:

• First Retake: One additional attempt is allowed at no extra charge after a 60-day waiting period.
• Subsequent Attempts: After two unsuccessful attempts, applicants must repay the certification fee to receive two more opportunities to pass the exam.
• Study Resources: Applicants should review the Exam Blueprint and AEM/CEM Resource List before retesting.

Yes! You can begin the application process before taking the exam. However:

• You must pay the certification fee.
• Your application and exam must both be completed before earning the AEM to CEM certification.

Refer to pp. 13-19 of the Applicant Guidebook.

Yes! AEM holders can apply for a CEM upgrade without retaking the exam. To upgrade, see information about Upgrading to CEM After AEM Recertification here.

Certification is valid for five years. If the applicant's certification expires, the applicant must start the certification process from the beginning, including retaking the exam and paying the full certification fee again.

1. Your AEM or CEM certification remains valid internationally and is recognized globally.
2. If moving to a country with a different IAEM region, applicants should update their contact information with IAEM.
3. Recertification requirements remain the same, regardless of location.

IAEM maintains a change log to document changes to the certification requirements and resources. Applicants are expected to check the change log frequently.

Refer to pp. 13-19 of Applicant Guidebook.

Yes, U.S. veterans, active-duty members, and eligible individuals in the Guard and Reserve can use their GI Bill benefits to seek reimbursement of the certification application and testing fees.

Yes! FEMA Independent Study (IS) courses can be used toward the Emergency Management (EM) and General Management (GM) training requirements as long as:

1. You provide an official FEMA certificate of completion.
2. No more than 25 hours can be credited in any single training topic.
3. It is a good idea to use the Sample Training Allocation Charts provided by IAEM to assist in determining where the FEMA IS courses can be allocated. The charts are on the Resources page.

The AEM/CEM applications outline that course work completed to earn the baccalaureate degree cannot also be used to meet any portion of the 100 hours of disaster/emergency management training unless the baccalaureate degree was in Emergency Management (EM), in which case applicants may use the degree towards the Education requirement and may also use it to reduce the EM Training requirement. If additional advanced degrees are held, associated coursework can be applied to training.

It is considered double dipping to use courses from one’s baccalaureate degree toward the AEM/CEM training requirement when that baccalaureate degree will also be used to fulfill the education requirement (either in an application or upgrade application). As of Jan. 1, 2016, the Certification Executive Board provided clarification on the use of a college degree to meet the CEM experience and training requirements:

• A Europa, Oceania, or USA applicant may use a bachelor’s or master’s degree in EM or a related field to reduce work experience and the number of hours of EM training required, depending on when the degree was earned.
• If an applicant uses a degree in Emergency Management (different from the degree used to meet the Education requirement) to reduce the EM Training requirement, courses from that degree can be used toward the General Management (GM) training.