Planning Practitioner Program

Program Requirements

The Planning Practitioner Program (PPP) is a series of two (2) resident courses (E0237: and E0238) that are each five (5) days in length, as well as Online Planning Practitioner Capstone (K0243). The courses are not offered individually, and candidates must complete the two classroom courses in sequential order. Participants must apply and be selected by an annual evaluation board with the first of the two courses being offered the first quarter of the fiscal year. See How to Apply section for more information on application procedures.

PPP candidates work within a collaborative environment on operational planning challenges and establish a network of peers. Candidates are selected from diverse professional backgrounds where they demonstrate their expertise at all levels of operational planning through in-class teach-backs, discussion, and the individual Planning Practitioner Capstone Project. Participants refine and practice skills critical to performing the phases of the planning process, such as stakeholder selection and engagement, risk analysis, forming solutions, addressing programmatic issues, and systems mapping. Candidates apply the key learning concepts from the PPP curriculum relative to their organizations and their own jurisdictional environments during the Capstone.

If accepted into the program, candidates must complete the courses with their assigned cohort in this order without exception: E0237, E0238, K0243. The learner must achieve a minimum passing score of 75% on final knowledge assessments and demonstrate learning in performance assessments and research assignments.

• E0237: Planning Process Theory and Application

  • Planning Theory and application
  • Project Management in the Planning Process
  • Stakeholder selection and engagement
  • Problem mapping and comprehensive risk analysis
  • Complex Adaptive Systems in Emergency Management
  • Application of the six-step planning process

  E0237 Course Details

• E0238: Planning Integration and Contemporary Issues

  • Planning Program Management
  • Standards and the evaluation of a planning program
  • Non-traditional partners and activities
  • External implications to the planning program
  • Advocating and advancing the EM planning profession
  • Research Project

  E0238 Course Details

• K0243 PPP Capstone Presentation:

  Candidates will have one year to develop a planning project management plan, system map, and essay, and presentation for review to a panel of SME's. This will be conducted virtually via Adobe Connect at a pre-designed time slot indicated during the E238 course. Candidates will not receive their PPP Certificate until the K0243 Capstone is successfully completed.

  K0243 Course Details

Target Audience

The Planning Practitioner Program series is designed for experienced individuals with significant responsibility in operational planning programs. Student should have ongoing planning requirement within their current role. Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years of experience in emergency management planning activities, including:

• Appointed emergency management staff from local, state, tribal, territorial, and Federal emergency management offices with current operational planning responsibilities.
• Public safety or political appointees who currently conduct operational planning within the emergency management field.
• Personnel serving in various emergency management disciplines (e.g., private sector, law enforcement, fire, public works, and public health) who have a substantial current operational planning responsibility.

Required Prerequisites

There are 9 total prerequisite courses required to apply to the Planning Practitioner Program (PPP).

The follow courses must be completed in their entirety prior to applying: IS100, IS200, IS230, IS235, IS236, IS240, IS242, IS700, IS800

As an alternative, a certificate of graduation from the Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) Basic Academy from 2018, or later will satisfy the prerequisites for the PPP Program

Tuition and Travel Reimbursement

There is no cost for tuition for the Planning Practitioner Program.

Some individuals taking courses at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland may be eligible for stipend reimbursement. For information about travel reimbursement eligibility and procedures, see the NETC Welcome Package.

Fiscal Year Schedule

The PPP classroom and capstone courses are typically scheduled as 2 cohort series within the fiscal year. The capstone K0243 course also includes a non-series specific schedule each year.

How to Apply

1. Verify Qualification

   • The application period is open annually from April 1 - June 1, 2025
   • Review and verify the candidacy requirements for selection to the PPP Program
   • Complete all required prerequisites before applying for selection. Proof of prerequisite completion must be submitted with your application

2. Download Application Package

   The PPP Application Package Document & pre-requisites are the only acceptable documents to complete when applying to PPP. Incomplete packages and additional attachments will not be considered.

   • Download the fillable PDF application package below
   • Save the document in the format required for submission:
     • LastnameFirstname.PPP.FY26 (e.g. SmithAlison.PPP.FY26)

   PPP Application Package

3. Complete the PPP Application Package

   Complete the PPP application form within the space provided with this document. The application package & pre-requisites are the only acceptable documents to complete when applying to PPP. Incomplete packages and extra attachments will not be considered.

   • Attach a PDF listing of your pre-requisites using your FEMA Transcript and/or certificates scanned and included in one document.
   • Do not attach a separate resume.

4. Submit Application Package

   For consideration of selection to PPP, simply email the completed application package document and the PDF document of your pre-requisites FEMA-EMI-IEMB@fema.dhs.gov

   • The application package and pre-requisites PDF is the only documents accepted
   • Incomplete packages and extra attachments will not be considered
   • Ensure the package file name meets the required format above

Candidate Selection Process

The review process for the PPP Candidates will be conducted between July 15-30 annually. The process is a collaborative effort between NDEMU and the FEMA Regions. NDEMU will convene a Review Board and, if additional information is needed, will contact, and discuss the application packets with the student. The Review Board will provide the Superintendent of the National Disaster & Emergency Management University with PPP candidate recommendations, to include the original prioritized ranking of application packets received. The Superintendent of the National Disaster & Emergency Management University will make the final decision regarding the candidate(s) acceptance into the Planning Practitioner Program.

NETC Admissions will notify applicants regarding their status by mid-August. If you have not received information via email or mail as to your PPP status by that time, you may contact the NETC Admissions Office at (301) 447-1035 or toll free (800) 238-3358, extension 1035.

Wait List & Contact Information

For the NETC Admissions Office to maintain a current waiting list for the PPP, NDEMU resident PPP application packages will be valid only for the PPP Cohort within the Federal Fiscal Year in which they are submitted and for the PPP Cohort numbers indicated on the FEMA Form FF-USFA-FY-21-101 (formerly 119-25-0-1). After that time, your package will be invalid. You will need to apply during the next open application period with a NEW and updated application package. Please note application requirements change annual, so re-submitting an outdated application will result in it being returned. The National Disaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU) is an element of the FEMA’s Protection and National Preparedness (PNP) Directorate.