COVID-19 response

  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person training for ICS-200, ICS-300, and the Director of Emergency Management course has been placed on hold.
  • A six-month extension was recently granted for Director’s of Emergency Management to complete the prescribed courses, approved by the Managing Director of AEMA under the authority of Section 13(1) of the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation.

For more information see Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation training requirements.

Overview

The Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) offers a variety of emergency management courses specifically for elected officials and public service employees. These courses are available online and we are looking at options to deliver safely in a classroom setting. To inquire on the status of in-class training contact your AEMA Field Officer.

Changes in access to free online training

The Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation came into effect on January 1, 2020.

Only primary students will have access to online emergency management courses. Details on how to submit your training request are in the enrolment section below. Note: we require proof of your affiliation with your agency. Please submit evidence of your affiliation along with your request.

Eligibility

Primary students eligible for online emergency management courses include:

  • municipal employees designated with a municipal emergency management role under the Emergency Management Act, including volunteer fire fighters
  • Government of Alberta employees with a role in emergency management, consequence management or business continuity
  • Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) who are members of the NGO council of Alberta
  • volunteers with search and rescue teams (submit proof of membership)
  • RCMP members based in Alberta detachments
  • members of the Canadian Armed Forces (with proof of their supervisor's approval and) based in Alberta only

Non-primary students will no longer have access to online emergency management courses. Non-primary students include:

  • anyone outside of the Province of Alberta
  • NGOs that are not members of the NGO council of Alberta
  • private businesses, private industries or individuals unaffiliated with any government organization
  • Alberta advanced education students in emergency management programs
  • public sector employees who do not have a direct role in Alberta’s emergency management system

Learn more about AEMA online training changes and how changes could impact you.

Emergency Management Act

Bill 9, the Emergency Management Amendment Act, 2020 (PDF, 326 KB) came into effect on March 20, 2020 to address the growing need for local and provincial states of emergencies to exist concurrently during emergencies and disasters. Additional amendments were made through Bill 13, the Emergency Management Amendment Act, 2020 (No. 2), (PDF, 318 KB) on May 12, 2020 to address concerns and suggestions raised by municipal stakeholders. Our course material has been updated to reflect these amendments.

Detailed information about the legislation that outlines Alberta’s emergency management framework (including a fact sheet, FAQ document and poster) is available on the Emergency Management Legislation page.

AEMA Training Calendar

View upcoming course dates and details on the AEMA Training Calendar.

Emergency management course catalogue

Enrolment

To access free online courses, students must demonstrate they are a member of our primary training audience (see above for details).

Students can enrol by sending an email to aema.training@gov.ab.ca.

We require proof of your affiliation with your organization. The email must include:

  • first and last name of the student requesting the course
  • place of employment (when possible please include an email signature from your organization)
  • your role in Alberta’s emergency management system

Enrolment requests take up to 5 business days to process.

Incident Command System course catalogue

Incident Command System (ICS) training is available through AEMA or other approved training providers.

After January 1, 2020, those who wish to take ICS training must use ICS Canada approved training providers in order to meet ICS prerequisite requirements.

In-class courses include:

  • Incident Command System 100 (ICS-100)
  • Incident Command System 200 (ICS-200)
  • Incident Command System 300 (ICS-300)
  • Incident Command System 400 (ICS-400)

Online courses include:

  • Incident Command System 100 (ICS-100)
  • Incident Command System 200 (ICS-200)

ICS-200 online is not recognized by ICS Canada. You should confirm if your organization recognizes this training as a pre-requisite for ICS 300 prior to registering.

Additional information for ICS students and instructors:

If you would like to become an instructor, review the instructor standards document before completing the ICS instructor application form.

Completed forms can be sent to:

ICS Alberta
c/o Training Coordinator
Municipal Affairs
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
200 Park Plaza, 10611 98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2P7
Email: aema.training@gov.ab.ca

Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation training requirements

The Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation provides direction on emergency management roles and responsibilities, including the training requirements for individuals who fill emergency management roles.

As a result of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person training for ICS-200, ICS-300, and the Director of Emergency Management (DEM) Course was placed on hold. This could impact the ability of local authorities to fully meet the DEM training requirements prescribed by the Managing Director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency under the authority of the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation (LEMR). As a result, the Managing Director of AEMA has granted a six month extension to the deadline for DEMs to complete the prescribed courses, under the authority of Section 13(1) of the LEMR. The new deadline for DEMs to complete the prescribed training is January 1, 2021 (from the previously approved July 1, 2020), or within 18 months of appointment, whichever is later.

Emergency management training is required by legislation for:

  • municipal elected officials
  • Métis Settlement officials
  • improvement district councillors
  • special area board members
  • directors of emergency management
  • employees who have been assigned responsibilities respecting the implementation of a community’s emergency management plan

ICS compliance

As local authorities work towards fulfilling legislated training requirements, ICS certificates will be recognized as compliant with the regulation as follows:

  • Non-ICS Canada training certificates issued prior to January 1, 2020, will be considered compliant.
  • After January 1, 2020, only ICS Canada issued training certificates will be considered compliant, with the exception of AEMA I-200 Online.

Changes to the Local Authority Management Regulation have no impact on the required training pre-requisites for ICS Canada courses or training progression parameters. Course pre-requisites policies are established and maintained by ICS Canada.

Required courses and deadlines

Organization Student Course Deadline for completion
Municipalities and Metis Settlements Elected officials Municipal Elected Officials Within 90 days of being appointed or by January 1, 2021, whichever is later.
Directors of Emergency Management

Basic Emergency Management

Incident Command System (I-100, I-200, I-300)

Director of Emergency Management Course (PDF, 134 KB)

 Within 18 months of being appointed as the director of a local authority's management agency or by January 1, 2021, whichever is later.
Employees assigned responsibilities to implement a community's emergency management plan

Basic Emergency Management

Incident Command System (I-100)

 Within 6 months of being identified for this role, or by January 1, 2020.
Improvement Districts Each councillor (where a council has been established) Municipal Elected Officials Within 90 days of being appointed or by January 1, 2021, whichever is later.
If a council hasn't been established, each person to whom the Minister has delegated powers or duties under the Emergency Management Act as a local authority Municipal Elected Officials Within 90 days of being delegated those powers or duties or by January 1, 2021, whichever is later.
Special Areas Board Special Area Board members Municipal Elected Officials Within 90 days of being appointed or by January 1, 2021, whichever is later.

Contact

Connect with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-422-9000
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: aema.training@gov.ab.ca

Address:
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
14515 122 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T5L 2W4

Related

Emergency Management Legislation

Incident Command System Alberta

Online emergency management courses