INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ACCESS TO FEMA TRAINING
FEMA operates three distinct training centers to build emergency management and homeland security capabilities that are available to international students:
- The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Emmitsburg, Maryland, provides online, residential and community-based emergency management training courses.
- The Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama, is the United States Department of Homeland Security federally-chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) training center.
- The National Fire Academy (NFA) in Emmitsburg, Maryland, offers leadership training for firefighting professionals.
All international training applicants must register online to secure a
FEMA Student Identification (SID) number.
How do I obtain my FEMA Student Identification (SID) number?
Step 1: To register, go to https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid
Step 2: Click on the "Register for a FEMA SID" box in the center of the screen.
Step 3: Follow the instructions and provide the necessary information to create your account.
Step 4: You will receive an email with your SID number. Please save this number in a secure location.
You will need this number to register for the course and take course examinations.
How to apply for a FEMA Independent Study course (Online Course) offered by EMI
- Select a course from our course list at http://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx
- Click on the link “Interactive Web Based Course” to take the course.
- When you have completed the course, you can click on the box to take the exam. Note: you will need your SID number to take the exam.
IAEM members in Councils outside the United States may be eligible to obtain IAEM sponsorship that will allow them to receive credit for the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) online Independent Study courses. For more information, please visit http://www.iaem.com/page.cfm?p=certification/resource-center/fema-is-courses&lvl=2
How to apply to attend on-campus training at EMI, CDP or NFA
Foreign applicants must pay their own transportation, lodging, and meal costs. Because language translation is not provided on campus, students must be fluent in spoken and written English.
- A limited number of opportunities exist for foreign citizens to attend EMI courses. Foreign citizens interested in applying should review course offerings at http://training.fema.gov/emicourses and follow application guidelines at http://training.fema.gov/apply/foreignapp.aspx.
- A limited number of opportunities exist for foreign citizens to attend CDP courses. Foreign citizens interested in applying should review course offerings and apply online at https://cdp.dhs.gov/register/application-procedures-intl-ps.
- For NFA course information or application requirements, visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training.
