There are several ways to apply for your PDS certificate. The appropriate method depends on how you completed the required courses.

• If you have completed all the PDS requirements through the Independent Study Program (ISP), your certificate will be automatically generated and sent to your State Training Officer (STO) for signature.  It will then be mailed or presented to you.

• If you have completed some of the courses in the classroom through State training and some through the Independent Study Program (ISP), you should inform your STO and provide that office copies of all applicable ISP certificates as evidence that you have completed the remaining required PDS courses through Independent Study.  The STO should then request a PDS Certificate of Completion be generated for you.

• If you have completed all of the courses in the classroom through State training, you should inform your STO.  The STO will then request that a PDS Certificate of Completion be generated for you.

Students who complete all PDS-required courses are eligible to receive a PDS Certificate of Completion. PDS-required courses include: IS230, IS235, IS240, IS241, IS242, IS244, and IS139. PDS certificates are awarded by your State Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the EMI.

The courses, in recommended order of completion, are as follows:

• Principals of Emergency Management (IS-230)

• Emergency Planning (IS-235)

• Effective Communication (IS-242)

• Decision Making and Problem Solving (IS-241)

• Leadership and Influence (IS-240)

• Developing and Managing Volunteers (IS-244)

• Exercise Design (IS-139)

Courses may be taken by individuals online (at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS) or by correspondence or in group study taught by an instructor. For group study courses, consult your State’s emergency management agency training schedule.

For more information, visit the Emergency Management Institute's Professional Development Series website at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/PDS/.