Primary Core Capability: Operational Coordination

The goal of this professional development course is to provide federal, state, tribal, and local-level emergency responders with an overview of key duties and responsibilities of a Public Information Officer in a Type III All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT).

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.

For additional course information, including contact hours, please see the National Preparedness Catalog.

• Describe the role and importance of the Public Information Officer position in incident operations, especially as it pertains to initial incident operations.
• Describe the fundamentals of information operations during incident management.
• Develop a communications strategy for disseminating incident information.
• Explain the importance of effective media relations, including social media, and the role of the Public Information Officer in developing and maintaining such relationships.
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of Assistant Public Information Officers.
• Describe how the Public Information Officer may establish and leverage effective community relations.
• Describe the role of the Public Information Officer as it pertains to handling special situations within incidents.
• Describe how Public Information Officers can keep themselves, and those they escort and work with, safe in the incident environment.
• Define the Public Information Officer's roles and responsibilities during incident transition and demobilization.

Required:

• IS-0100 An Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100
• IS-0200 Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS 200
• E/L/G 0300 Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents, ICS 300
• E/L/G 0400 Advanced Incident Command System for Complex Incidents, ICS 400
• IS-0700 An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
• IS-0800 National Response Framework (NRF)

Visit FEMA's Emergency Management Institute site to complete these Independent Study courses.

Selection Criteria:

NIMS ICS Position Specific training should be completed by personnel who will be required to gain a certificate of training and the credentials to function in an ICS Organization, such as an IMT, as a member of the Command, General Staff or as a Unit Leader. These criteria will be verified on the student enrollment request by endorsement of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) such as the State/Tribal Training Officer or the course manager.

Disciplines:

• Emergency Management

CEU: Hours - 3.1
ACE Credit: Lower Division/Associate: Hours - 2