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Upgrading from AEM to CEM 

Your Pathway to the Certified Emergency Manager℠(CEM) Designation

Requirements for Upgrading from AEM to CEM

To upgrade from AEM to CEM, applicants must submit:

  • Work History - Applicants must have three years of full-time comprehensive disaster/emergency management work experience. Canadian, Europa, Oceania, and USA applicants must have two years of experience with a Baccalaureate/Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in Emergency Management.
  • Experience - Requirements for Upgrading from AEM to CEM" remove the bullets and change this to read as "Experience - Applications must submit independent verification of experience within one of the following categories: Participation in a full-scale exercise; Participation in two separate, functional exercises; Experience in a declared disaster's preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation phase(s); or Participation in a major public event such as a major sporting event, state visit, or special event..
  • Education - For Europa, Oceania, and USA Council applicants must submit a baccalaureate/bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution as recognized by the appropriate governing body or bodies of the specific country from which the degree was issued. See page 11 of the Applicant Guidebook for more country-specific information and degree-related content. 
  • Professional Contributions - Applicants must provide six separate professional contribution categories.

Important Note

If you used coursework from your only bachelor’s degree to meet the AEM training requirement, you cannot use this same degree to fulfill the education requirement when upgrading to CEM.

Professional Contributions Requirement

AEM holders applying for a CEM upgrade within six (6) months of AEM recertification may reuse previously approved Professional Contributions from their AEM recertification.
Applicants must submit additional Professional Contributions in categories not previously used to meet the total of six required for CEM.

Submitting Your Professional Contributions

Applicants must create a Professional Contribution entry for each previously approved contribution.
Upload the IAEM notification letter (dated within the past six months) as documentation of previous approval.

Timeline and Instructions

Timeline

Instructions
AEM upgraded to CEM six (6) months or more PRIOR to AEM recertification application submission Follow Recertification Requirements for total Professional Contributions required.
AEM upgraded to CEM less than six (6) months from date of upgrade approval letter PRIOR to AEM recertification application submission No additional Professional Contributions required. Include notation in upgrade package that upgrade is completed less than six (6) months prior to recertification. Include originally-approved Professional Contributions and official IAEM Approval Letter.
AEM upgraded to CEM less than six (6) months AFTER AEM® recertification date of approval letter Applicant must submit additional Professional Contributions within the last 10 years and not used during recertification to reach the minimum of six (6) contributions.
AEM upgraded to CEM more than six (6) months AFTER AEM recertification date of approval letter Applicant must submit all new Professional Contributions completed since the upgrade approval date and not used during recertification to reach the minimum of six (6) contributions.

Need Assistance?

Contact IAEM at certificationinfo@iaem.com for support throughout your certification journey.