LEM Application Portal
The Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association (LEPA) created this certification program for emergency managers to raise and maintain professional standards; it is a program to certify achievements within the profession. Any emergency management professional who meets requirements is welcome to participate.
To register for certification consideration, candidates must enroll online at www.lepa .com to receive access to the electronic application portal at no charge. Completed applications along with the appropriate fee are accepted at any time during the year. The Certification committee periodically evaluates submissions. Specific meeting dates are posted online. Candidates must also take a multiple-choice examination and pass by 75% in order to receive the LEM Pro or LEM Basic certification.
There are three types of certification offered:
LEM-P maintain certification every five years by documenting continuing education/training and professional contributions.
After 5 years, the LEM B will expire and anyone wishing to recertify will do so as an LEM Pro. Within 5 years of serving as an emergency manager in Louisiana, all LEM-B candidates should qualify to upgrade their certification to the LEM Pro designation.
Currently the LEM-T does not expire and does not require recertification.
LEM - P - $275 ($200 for LEPA members) Non-Refundable Application Fee. Check, money order
LEM - B - LEPA members: $100. Non-LEPA members: $175
LEM – T - LEPA members: $50. Non-LEPA members: $75
To satisfy this requirement a candidate must demonstrate at least two years experience in a comprehensive disaster/emergency management position AND participation in a full scale exercise by (1) planning, (2) conducting or coordinating, and/or (3) having a major disaster/emergency management role during the exercise, OR experience in the preparation, response, recovery and mitigation phases of an actual disaster.
Must provide names, phone number and email addresses of at least three reference including the candidate’s current supervisor.
Each candidate must possess at a minimum a GED, high school diploma, or 15 semester hours of college credit. The candidate must attach a diploma copy or an official transcript with the candidate's name. If the name has changed because of marital status or other reason, an explanation must also be included. College transcripts will suffice to validate education credentials
Submissions must be within the last 10 years (except for ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800 and the FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS). 200 contact hours are required; 100 each in emergency management and general management. Emergency management training is considered specific to the profession and must include ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800 and the FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS). The general management includes content that can be applied beyond emergency management.
Note: no more than 25% of hours can be in any single topic.
Candidates must demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities through this written submission, as specified in the instructions included in the application.
Candidates must pass by 75% an examination in order to receive the LEM – P.
Submissions must be within the last 10 years. Note: *indicates activity must be performed beyond the scope of candidate’s job requirements. Six separate contributions are required in areas such as professional membership, conference attendance, service role, leadership role*, special assignment, speaking, teaching, course development, publication, audio-visual and interactive products, awards or special recognition, professional certification related to emergency management, or legislative contact. See the application for more details on each area.
Submissions must be within the last 10 years (except for ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800 and the FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS). 200 contact hours are required; 100 each in emergency management and general management. Emergency management training is considered specific to the profession and must include ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 and the FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS). The general management includes content that can be applied beyond emergency management.
Candidates must pass by 75% an examination in order to receive the LEM – B.
The Louisiana Emergency Manger Technical (LEM-T) credential was designed by LEPA in an effort to create a statewide cadre of emergency management professionals. These professionals, armed with the skill sets required to bring an emergency situation under operational control, could then be called upon by emergency managers throughout the state for technical advice or voluntary deployment. LEPA recognizes and awards the LEM-T credential to personnel proving mastery in the occupational fields illustrated within the National Response Framework. These fields are listed below:
To satisfy this requirement a candidate must demonstrate at least two years of experience in an emergency support function (ESF) field of study. A position description and supervisor statement will suffice for this validation. More than one occupational field can be certified. Time spent on volunteer/internship duties may also be counted, but applicants must provide documentation of the total time devoted to disaster/emergency management duties.
Each LEM Technical candidate must submit the names of three emergency management references, and information on their reference sources as requested below.
Examples training that qualify: EMI courses, state, municipal or other jurisdiction training, seminars sponsored by corporations, appropriate college courses, military training, state, regional and local law enforcement academies, and so forth. This list is NOT inclusive; other training may meet the training requirement.
Note: There is not a minimum training requirement to obtain an LEM-T Credential. The applicant must submit training, licensing or certifications that they consider relevant to the field. The LEM-T ESF Committee will determine qualifications.