NOTICE: Effective April 16, 2026, FEMA has restored access to its Independent Study.

These courses are typically inaccessible during a lapse in appropriations, but FEMA is facing unprecedented circumstances. Users may now register for and complete these self-guided courses. However, FEMA's staffing and operations are still impacted by the lapse in appropriations. If users experience technical problems, FEMA staff are unable to provide assistance at this time. Please click here to read the full notice

Federal Emergency Management Agency | Emergency Management Institute

Independent Study

Picture of EMI Campus with Emergenct Mangement Institute sign in foreground and Buildings N and O in the background" title="The campus of FEMA's National Emergency Training Center, located in Emmitsburg, Md., offers a beautiful environment for first responders, emergency managers and educators to learn state-of-the-art disaster management and response.

IS-144.A: TERT Basic Course

Course Date

6/3/2021

Course Overview

This online course is intended to provide guidance to 9-1-1 operators, call takers, and dispatchers on what to expect when being deployed to a disaster site. The learner must achieve a minimum passing score of 75% on final knowledge assessments or demonstrate mastery on performance assessments or research assignments to earn the IACET CEU.

Course Objectives:

Recognize the importance of adequate preparation in deploying to a disaster area.
Mentally prepare for deployment to a disaster area.
Physically prepare for deployment to a disaster area.
Describe the role of interpersonal communication in a disaster area.
Prepare to work as a telecommunicator in a disaster area.

Primary Audience

Emergency management communications personnel

Prerequisites

IS 0100.c, Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100; and IS 0700.b, National Incident Management System, An Introduction

CEUs:

0.3

Course Length:

3 hours

Take This Course

Interactive Web Based Course

Final Exam

Take Final Exam Online

Notices

Test questions are scrambled to protect test integrity