WV Emergency Manager Accreditation Program

Program Overview

The field of emergency management is emerging into higher visibility in communities throughout the nation as they are victimized by disasters that are increasing in severity and numbers. With this comes greater responsibilities for the emergency managers, and the local government leaders who appoint them to their positions. In our effort to professionalize the emergency management workforce, this accreditation program has been developed by the West Virginia Emergency Management Council and West Virginia Emergency Management Division.

Agencies and jurisdictions employing emergency management personnel are encouraged to include as a position requirement that the individual hired be accredited through the West Virginia Emergency Management Council Accreditation Program.

The Emergency Manager Accreditation program emphasizes applied skills in disaster operations, and building professional development, management, and coordination skills. The ability to perform essential work in a disaster requires skills in emergency operations and management.

We have an opportunity to make emergency management an essential part of everyday life, not something that only matters when we have a disaster.

We have an opportunity to help people build safer communities, maintain their economies, and recover more quickly from disasters.

Any professional in the field of emergency management may apply for this accreditation, which is offered by the West Virginia Emergency Management Council. The West Virginia Emergency Management Accreditation Program provides a structured accreditation program for professional development by all emergency managers (full-time paid, part-time and/or volunteer) and their support staff.

Those that are successful in becoming accredited will have demonstrated their ability to coordinate the following emergency management activities, training, and professional projects:

Analyzing hazards and identifying risks;
Developing mitigation strategies to reduce risks and eliminate hazards.
Identifying resources that can be used to meet emergency needs.
Writing and coordinating emergency plans.
Developing, conducting and critiquing emergency exercises.
Conducting public education and public information programs.
Recruiting, integrating and managing volunteer agencies capable of supporting emergency management (i.e. American Red Cross);
Coordinating emergency response and recovery operations, including the operation of an emergency operations center.
Managing the administrative, budgetary, staffing, and other program requirements of the emergency management program.
Training.
Demonstrate a competency in understanding and following laws and ordinances related to emergency management activities; and,
Ability to coordinate emergency communications and emergency public information/warning.

An Evaluation Committee consisting of the West Virginia Emergency Management Division Training Officer and at least two active members of the West Virginia Emergency Management Council will be responsible for reviewing each application. The Committee will be responsible for assuring that accreditation is given for applicable training courses as described in the Emergency Management and Professional Development curriculums. The Evaluation Committee will then make a recommendation to the Director of the West Virginia Emergency Management Division concerning the approval or the lacking program requirements of an applicant of the West Virginia Emergency Management Accreditation Program.

Levels of Accreditation

Throughout the State of West Virginia, Emergency Managers have been appointed on full-time, part-time and, in some cases, volunteer basis. To take into consideration those individual's circumstances, three levels of accreditation are available:

WV Emergency Manager I (beginning level)
WV Emergency Manager II (advanced level)
WV Emergency Manager III (highest level)

Accreditation Requirements

Courses submitted for accreditation must have been taken within a ten-year period from the date of the applicants WV Emergency Management Accreditation Program application.

A. West Virginia Emergency Manager I

4 Project Development Curriculum projects;
100 hours of training in the Technical Hours Development; and
60 hours in the Professional Development Curriculum

B. West Virginia Emergency Manager II

4 Project Development Curriculum projects;
200 hours of training in the Technical Hours Development; and
120 hours in the Professional Development Curriculum

C. West Virginia Emergency Manager III

4 Project Development Curriculum projects;
300 hours of training in the Technical Hours Development; and
180 hours in the Professional Development Curriculum

Training hours are cumulative. Therefore, if you are accredited at level I you will only need to submit the difference of hours between a level I and level II in order to be accredited at the next level. If you are applying for the next level of accreditation within a 6-month period from your last application, you will not be required to submit new Project Development materials.