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National Incident Management System (NIMS)

Upcoming ICS Training Opportunities

ICS Courses are offered regularly by Vermont Emergency Management and within our Firefighter I, II, and I/II programs.

How to retrieve your ICS certificate

  •  If you recieved training either from the Vermont Fire Academy ((after July 1, 2017) or from Vermont Emergency Management:  You will need to use the Learning Management System.

          - LMS instructions

  • If you recieved training directly from FEMA: FEMA's current system does not offer student’s the capability to view their completions online. You can request copies of certificates or a student transcript by calling the EMI Independent Study office at 301-447-1200. If you would like an Official Transcript please access the IS Transcript Request form at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/downloads/tranrqst1.pdf.  You cannot request an official transcript by phone.

Information on the National Incident Management System (NIMS)

NIMS - What is it and what do we need to do?

NIMS is a comprehensive, national approach to incident management that is applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines.

The intent of NIMS is to be applicable across a full spectrum of potential incidents and hazard scenarios, regardless of size or complexity; and to improve coordination and cooperation between public and private entities in a variety of domestic management activities.

HSPD-5 requires federal departments and agencies to make the adoption of NIMS by state and local organizations a condition for federal preparedness assistance (grants, contracts, and other activities) by FY 2005.  Jurisdictions can comply by adopting the Incident Command System and ensuring that your responders are trained to the appropriate level of Incident Command.

Implementation Plan

The Vermont National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation Plan has been updated as of December 20, 2013.  The major changes to this year’s plan include the following requirements:

  • All first responders, emergency management and support personnel, critical incident dispatchers, and state, local and municipal personnel who would respond to an incident as an emergency responder shall take the ICS 100 course by October 1, 2014. ICS 100 must be completed within six months of start date for new members in the categories specified above.
  • All first responders, emergency management and support personnel, critical incident dispatchers, and state, local and municipal personnel who would respond to an incident as an emergency responder shall take the ICS 200 course by October 1, 2015. ICS 200 must be completed within two years of start date for new members in the categories specified above.
  • The individual authorized to sign the Local Emergency Operations Plan shall take the ICS 402 or the ICS 100 /IS 100.b course by October 1, 2014. ICS 402 or ICS 100 /IS 100.b must be completed within six months of start date for new authorized individual specified above. ICS 402 is not required for those who have taken ICS 100.

Vermont Fire Service Member Compliance

Firefighters should have the following ICS training

ICS-100.C:  Introduction to the Incident Command System
ICS 100c, Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

ICS-200.C:  Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
IS200, Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, reviews the Incident Command System (ICS), provides the context for ICS within initial response, and supports higher level ICS training. This course provides training on, and resources for, personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within ICS.   

ICS-100.b and ICS-200.b can be completed on-line at the FEMA NIMS Training Website or by participating in a live course offered by the Division of Emergency Managment & Homeland Security.

Fire Officers/Command Staff should have the following ICS training

ICS-300:  Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents
This course is intended to serve as a vehicle to share proven Incident management strategies and practices as well as to enhance teamwork and coordination among the agency's "mid-level managers and command staff"directly responsible for emergency response to incidents of all types; "all hazards" in which the Incident Command System (ICS) will be employed. The course utilizes scenarios and application exercises to highlight key issues and facilitate discussion. The concluding tabletop exercise is intended to allow participants to apply the information provided during the course in a controlled environment.

ICS-400:  Advanced Incident Command System for Command and General Staff, Complex Incidents and MACS
This course is intended to serve as a vehicle to share proven incident management strategies and practices as well as to enhance teamwork and coordination among all response agencies' officers directly responsible for emergency response to a WMD/terrorism incident or other "Incident of National Significance". The course is specifically intended for those emergency response personnel who have duties that require that they be directly involved in incident management or command at either a "field" Incident command post (ICP) or in a city, county, or regional emergency operations center (EOC).

ICS-300 and ICS-400 are only offered as live courses and are not available on-line.  Check the Division of Emergency Management course calendar for information on upcoming programs.

ICS Training for Executives

ICS-402:  Incident Command for Executives
Target Audience:  Chief Executives (Town Managers/Administrators, Mayors, Select Boards, School Principals, Elected Officials, and Senior Governmental Officials) with a policy responsibility, but no specific ICS function/role or responsibility.  Elected officials with community oversight responsibility are encouraged to attend this training.  The purpose of this course is to provide an orientation to the Incident Command System for Executives and Senior Officials.

ICS-402 is offered as a live course offered by the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

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