Purpose: The certification program is designed to provide a method of professional certification for Emergency Management personnel in the State of Colorado. This volunteer program seeks to establish a clearly visible set of career goals for emergency management professionals, provide public officials and chief executive officers with defined standards in selecting personnel to fill emergency management positions, promote continued training and education of emergency management personnel, and increase the visibility and professional scope of emergency management personnel.

The certification program is designed to recognize the unique responsibilities of emergency management personnel as distinguished from other professions.

Program Requirements: The Emergency Management Certification program was developed utilizing a building block approach. There are three levels of experience, each requiring additional training, education, and experience. The certification program assumes each candidate has certain fundamental skills, knowledge, and abilities required of any person responsible for emergency management duties, whether in the public, private, or non-profit sector.

Reciprocity: Candidates who can document they have received the Associate Emergency Manager credential from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) will receive the Emergency Manager-Silver designation from CEMA. Candidates who can document they have received the Certified Emergency Manager credential from IAEM will receive the Emergency Manager-Gold designation from CEMA.

In addition, a candidate who receives an Emergency Management degree from a recognized institution of higher learning shall be able to apply the degree toward the training and education requirements of this program. For example, an Associate Degree in Emergency Management will fulfill the full training and education requirement for the Emergency Manager-Silver level; a Bachelor degree in Emergency Management will fulfill the full training and education requirement for the Emergency Manager-Gold level.

Re-Certification: Candidates must maintain on-going professional development by pursuing additional training, taking active roles in preparedness exercises, participating in actual events, or participating in other emergency management activities. A candidate must re-certify every five years with at least one hundred fifty hours of additional professional development within five years. If a candidate moves to a higher level, his or her re-certification requirement will start from the date the new level certificate was granted. If a candidate was granted an Emergency Manager-Silver or Emergency Program Manager-Gold designation under the “Reciprocity” section, CEMA will recognize activities approved by the IAEM recertification committee.

Administration: A certification committee comprises of at least three individuals appointed by the CEMA President and approved by the CEMA Board will administer the certification program. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide requested documentation. Documentation may include either copies of certificates or an enrollment list from the sponsoring agency. Applicant must follow the directions completely or the application will be returned.

Application Fee: An application fee of fifty dollars will be required of each non-CEMA member applicant. Applicants who are members of CEMA will be required to pay a twenty-five dollar fee. The fee will cover costs associated with application materials, certificates, database management, and all other necessary and appropriate expenditures.

Recognition: Each certified member will receive a certificate suitable for display. Each certified member will also receive a recognition letter from the Colorado Emergency Management Association to the appropriate authority in their organization. Each certified member will be recognized at the annual Colorado Emergency Management Association meeting and in the CEMA/OEM newsletter after receiving his or her credential certification. In addition, the committee may authorize other appropriate methods of recognition. Upon certification, each applicant can utilize the trademarks associated with the level they qualify at.

Application Process: Applicants can be from government, military, private and non-profit agencies. The certification program has three levels that vary depending on experience, formal education, and training. In addition, applicants will be required to demonstrate continuing education and professional development to advance to a higher certification tier or retain their certification.

Bronze Level: This certification recognizes partners in the emergency management community who have demonstrated a dedicated effort to their local or state emergency management program within the State of Colorado. This is only a certificate of recognition and may act as a stepping-stone as one works toward the CO-AEM or CO-CEM.

Silver Level (CO-AEM): This certification recognizes those professionals who dedicate all, or a majority of their work, to emergency management, but may not possess the professional contributions, time, experience, or training requirements needed to get the professional certification. For many, this certification may act as a stepping-stone as one works toward the CO-CEM designation.

Gold Level (CO-CEM): This certification recognizes the full-time professionals who have devoted a minimum of four years to the emergency management profession, with two of those years being in the State of Colorado. Applicants for this certification must be able to prove their eligibility for this certification by including documentation of required training, professional contributions, experience, and time.

Be sure to submit: Three (3) completed CEMA Certification Applications and all supporting documentation (no larger than 1" binder) to:

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