Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Advanced Applied Skills for Experienced PIOs

Advanced Applied Skills for Experienced PIOs

The Public Information Officer advanced level course offers PIOs a necessary toolset for use during escalating incidents, including strategic communications and incident action planning as it relates to Joint Information Center (JIC) operations.

The 0388: Advanced Public Information Officer course is open to participants who have a minimum of 2 years of public information experience to share practical knowledge and collaborate effectively within a classroom setting.

Over the duration of this 5 day course, participants will gain the knowledge and skills to establish, manage and operate within a Joint Information Center (JIC). This comprehensive program combines multimedia lectures with engaging individual and group activities, enabling participants to develop their skills effectively. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to apply advanced public information skills during a multi-day functional exercise (FE) designed to assess and challenge the participants’ abilities to analyze, coordinate, process and create information in a fast-paced, realistic environment.

Who Should Apply

The 0388 Advanced Public Information Officer course is designed for public information professionals with a minimum of 2 years of public information experience and have completed the listed pre-requisites​

Classroom Course Requirements

The Advanced PIO program consists solely of the 0388 classroom course, comprising 5 days* (36 hours) of collaborative learning. Attendance during each day of the course is mandatory.

Additional Course Requirements:

  • *Some pre-course work is required prior to the training course
  • Participants must bring a laptop or tablet with internet capabilities for daily course activities (cell phones can be used as a secondary device not a primary device)
  • Withdrawals or last-minute cancellations within 15 days of course start date will incur a one-year probation period for future APIO applications.

  • E0388: Advanced Public Information Officer

    • Classroom Delivery

      Resident (E), Local (L), Virtual (K)

    • Prerequisites

      9 required; 6 recommended

    • Course Description

      The National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) devote significant attention to the importance of emergency public information. Public Information Officers are key members of the ICS and EOC organizations, and work closely with officials who are part of Multiagency Coordination Groups. PIOs advise the Incident Commander, Unified Command, and EOC director on public information relating to incident management.

      With public information included as a function within NIMS and within ICS, it is critical to address and provide training for this important element of Emergency Management.

      The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Public Information Officer (PIO) training curriculum includes courses delivered at the awareness, basic, intermediate, advanced and master levels. The awareness, basic and intermediate level courses were developed by EMI and are managed by state emergency management trainers who teach basic skills and techniques for use during small, localized, single-agency responses; preparedness campaigns; and escalating localized responses.

      The advanced level course teaches participants additional skills for use during escalating incidents, including strategic communications and incident action planning as it relates to Joint Information Center (JIC) operations.

    • Course Length

      5 days (36 hours)

    E0388 Course Details

Required Prerequisites

There are 9 required prerequisites listed below which satisfy the requirements to apply for the 0388 course. These prerequisites include the Basic & Awareness Level PIO courses.

Additionally, there are 6 highly recommended prerequisites that will greatly benefit participants of the 0388 course.

The following 8 independent study courses, plus 1 classroom course (E0105), must be completed in their entirety prior to submitting an application to 0388: IS29, E0105, IS42, IS100, IS200, IS201 (Waived if completed the ICS300), IS247 or IS251, IS700, and IS800

  • IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness

    Independent Study (IS)

    Prerequisite for E0105

    Awareness PIO Details

  • E0105: Public Information Basics

    Classrom Delivery: Resident (E), Local (L), Virtual (K)

    Basic PIO Details

  • IS-42: Social Media in Emergency Management

    Any version

    IS-42 Details

  • IS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System

    Any version

    IS-100 Details

  • IS-200: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response

    Any version

    IS-200 Details

  • IS-201: Forms Used for the Development of the Incident Action Plan

    Any version

    Waived if completed ICS300

    IS-201 Details

  • IS-247: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alert Originators

    Any version

    IS-251 may be substituted

    IS-247 Details

  • IS-251: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alerting Administrators

    Any version

    IS-247 may be substituted

    IS-251 Details

  • IS-700: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System

    Any version

    IS-700 Details

  • IS-800: National Response Framework, An Introduction

    Any version

    IS-800 Details

  • E0300: ICS 300 - Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents

    Classrom Delivery: Resident (E), Local (L), Virtual (K)

    E0300 Details

  • IS-120: An Introduction to Exercises

    Any version

    IS-120 Details

  • IS-242: Effective Communication

    Any version

    IS-242 Details

  • IS-650: Building Partnerships with Tribal Governments

    Any version

    IS-650 Details

  • IS-660: Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships

    Any version

    IS-660 Details

  • IS-909: Community Preparedness - Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone

    Any version

    IS-909 Details

0388 Course Schedule

The Advanced PIO classroom course is offered as Resident (E), Local (L), Virtual (K) deliveries. Each delivery type may have unique registration requirements depending on the host.

Please review the course schedule and registration for each delivery below.

Resident Deliveries (E0388)

To Register:

  1. Apply online at NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the email of your Supervisor as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  2. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

July 31-August 4, 2023

Code:

E0388

Location:

Emergency Management Institute

Emmitsburg, MD

Contact Info:

Nicole Shutts, Program Manager

Nicole.shutts @fema.dhs.gov

To Register:

  1. Apply online at NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the email of your Supervisor as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  2. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

January 22-26, 2024

Code:

E0388

Location:

Emergency Management Institute

Emmitsburg, MD

Contact Info:

Nicole Shutts, Program Manager

Nicole.shutts @fema.dhs.gov

To Register:

  1. Apply online at NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the email of your Supervisor as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  2. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

April 22-26, 2024

Code:

E0388

Location:

Emergency Management Institute

Emmitsburg, MD

Contact Info:

Nicole Shutts, Program Manager

Nicole.shutts @fema.dhs.gov

To Register:

  1. Apply online at NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the email of your Supervisor as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  2. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

July 29-August 2, 2024

Code:

E0388

Location:

Emergency Management Institute

Emmitsburg, MD

Contact Info:

Nicole Shutts, Program Manager

Nicole.shutts @fema.dhs.gov

Field Deliveries (L0388)

To Register:

  1. Register through the State's training system at: https://terms.ncem.gov/TRS/

  2. Apply online with EMI to receive credit after registering with the State: NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the contact info listed for this delivery as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  3. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

June 26-30, 2023

Code:

L0388

Location:

Public Safety Training Facility A-B Tech Emergency Services

24 Canoe

Asheville, NC 28804

Contact Info:

Arthur Swartz, STO

Arthur.swartz @ncdps.gov

To Register:

  1. Register through the State's training system at: IEMA Registration

  2. Apply online with EMI to receive credit after registering with the State: NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the contact info listed for this delivery as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  3. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

July 10-14, 2023

Code:

L0388

Location:

DuPage County OHSEM

418 N County Farm Road

Wheaton, IL 60187

Contact Info:

Kevin Sur, Training Contact

kevin.sur@illinois.gov

Craig Dieckman, Onsite Training POC

Craig.dieckman @dupageco.org

To Register:

  1. Register through the State's training system at: https://apps.nd.gov/des /TrainingAndExercise

  2. Apply online with EMI to receive credit after registering with the State: NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the contact info listed for this delivery as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  3. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

August 14-18, 2023

Code:

L0388

Location:

ND Department of Health and Human Resources

1720 Burlington Dr., Suite A

Bismarck, ND 58504

Contact Info:

Larry Regorrah, Training Contact

lregorrah@nd.gov

To Register:

  1. Please check back for registration information

Oct 23-27, 2023

Code:

L0388

Location:

Please check back

Contact Info:

Troy Klenstein

troy.klemstein@widma.gov

To Register:

  1. Please check back for registration information

Oct 23-27, 2023

Code:

L0388

Location:

Please check back

Contact Info:

Troy Klenstein

troy.klemstein@widma.gov

To Register:

  1. Register through the State's training system at: Public Safety Training Campus

  2. Apply online with EMI to receive credit after registering with the State: NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the contact info listed for this delivery as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  3. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

Nov 13-17, 2023

Code:

L0388

Location:

Ohio Emergency Management Agency

2855 West Dublin Granville Road

Columbus, OH 43235

Contact Info:

Lisa Jones, Training Contact

lregorrah@nd.gov

To Register:

  1. Register through the State's training system at: https://azdema.acadisonline.com/ acadisviewer/login.aspx

  2. Apply online with EMI to receive credit after registering with the State: NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the contact info listed for this delivery as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  3. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

Feb 26-Mar 1, 2024

Code:

L0388

Location:

City of Phoenix Emergency Operations Center

2425 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Building 8

Phoenix, AZ 85009

Contact Info:

Becky Scott, STO

becky.scott@azdema.gov

To Register:

  1. Register through the State's training system at: Commonwealth of VA Learning Center

  2. Apply online with EMI to receive credit after registering with the State: NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the contact info listed for this delivery as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  3. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

April 8-12, 2024

Code:

L0388

Location:

VDEM Emergency Operations Center

7700 Midlothian Turnpike

N. Chesterfield, VA 23236

Contact Info:

Candance Brown, Academic Support Technician

candice.brown@vdem.virginia.gov

To Register:

  1. Register through the State's training system at: MI-TRAIN

  2. Apply online with EMI to receive credit after registering with the State: NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the contact info listed for this delivery as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  3. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

July 8-12, 2024

Code:

L0388

Location:

MSU Management Education Center

811 W Square Lake Rd

Troy, MI 48098

Contact Info:

Jack Calhoun, STO

calhounj1@michigan.gov

To Register:

  1. Please check back for detials

Sept 23-27, 2024

Code:

L0388

Location:

Please check back

Contact Info:

Richard Cloutier

richard.j.cloutier@dos.nh.gov

Virtual Deliveries (K0388)

To Register:

  1. Apply online at NETC Online Admissions

    • All EMI applications require an electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization. You will need the name, title, and email address of this person to submit the application.
    • Please use the email of your Supervisor as the Head of Organization for approval on the Online Application.

  2. You will be notified of the application status via the email address provided during application

September 11-15, 2023

Code:

K0388

Location:

Virtual Classroom

8:00am – 5:00pm EDT

Notice:

You must have functional video and audio capabilities to attend this training.

Your primary source may not be a mobile phone.

Contact Info:

Nicole Shutts, Program Manager

Nicole.shutts @fema.dhs.gov

Further Information

For more information, please see the EMPP list of frequently asked questions

For further inquiries about the PIO Program, please see the EMPP points of contact list

FEMA.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security