Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals
Certification Requirements
The AHEPP HcEM Certification, based on AHEPP Professional Standards, verifies the knowledge of individual HcEM professionals and supports greater professionalism across the field.
The AHEPP Professional Standards and Certification were developed by a large committee of experienced healthcare emergency managers from across the United States and Canada. Their countless hours refining the standards and certification process have made a lasting contribution to AHEPP and the broader healthcare emergency management community.
Review the Certification & Eligibility Standards for the Healthcare Emergency Manager (HcEM™) for all the detailed requirements for HcEM certification.
HcEM Prerequisite Courses
All applicants for ALL certifcation levels (HcEM-B, HcEM-P, HcEM-M) must complete the required courses below and sign the attestation of completion of required prerequisite education. (click here for Canadian attestation)
Substitutions for prerequisites listed below must map to the competencies in the AHEPP Professional Standards and be pre-approved by AHEPP prior to submission. Content of the substitution must cover the same material that the course it is replacing.
2 Hours
3 Hours
4 Hours
3 Hours
16 Hours
16 Hours
3 Hours
3 Hours
A full listing of FEMA independent study courses can be found here. Although all FEMA education is not a pre-requisite for the HcEM, we strongly recommend reviewing this list and taking additional courses that apply best to your job role.
HcEM Requirements Overview
In addition to the attestation of completion of all prerequisite courses, all applicants must provide complete the following:
Examination: Applicants must pass the HcEM™ examination with a score of 80% or higher.
Employment: Applicants for the HcEM - B are required to have one (1) year of experience in healthcare preparedness (do not need to be currently employed).
Experience: 2 Letters of Recommendation (1 from a Practicing Emergency Manager and 1 from a Supervisor)
Additional requirements are based on the level of certification the applicant is requesting as noted below.
HcEM - B Certification Requirements
Employment: Applicants for the HcEM - B are required to have one (1) year of experience in healthcare preparedness (do not need to be currently employed).
Experience: Documented experience in healthcare facility disaster response OR exercise.
HcEM - P Certification Requirements
Employment: Applicants for the HcEM- P are required to have more than five (>5) years of experience in healthcare preparedness (do not need to be currently employed).
Experience: Documented participation in 2 or more responses or exercises where incident command was activated to a healthcare facility and/or community disaster. Applicants must have participated in a leadership position on the disaster response team or exercise planning team for a healthcare facility.
HcEM - M Certification Requirements
Employment: Applicants for the HcEM- M are required to have more than ten (>10) years of experience in healthcare preparedness (do not need to be currently employed).
Experience: Documented participation in 5 or more responses or exercises where incident command was activated to a healthcare facility and/or community disaster. Applicants must have participated in a leadership position on the disaster response team or exercise planning team for a healthcare facility.
Field Contribution: Item A is Required. Applicants will also submit proof of completion of one (1) option in listings B - J.
A. Submission of 3 written certification exam questions on the professional competency of your choice. (See Appendix C of the Full HcEM Description Document for acceptable submissions.)
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Select one of options below B. - J. (See Appendix C of the Full HcEM Description Document for acceptable submissions).
B. Conduct a presentation (original content) on an AHEPP Professional Competency of your choice at an AHEPP conference/meeting related to healthcare emergency preparedness viawebinar or live presentation.
C. Presentation (original content) on an AHEPP Professional Competency of your choice to another audience within the field of healthcare emergency management
D. Publication on an AHEPP Professional Competency of your choice to a peer reviewed journal
E. Teach a Healthcare Emergency Management Course related to a AHEPP Professional Competency
F. Create or teach a College/University Course directly related to Emergency Management
G. Create a new healthcare EM Training focused on an AHEPP Professional Competency of your choice
H. Conduct training on a healthcare EM topic related to an AHEPP Professional Competency of your choice
I. Mentor through the AHEPP MyMentor Program
J. Participate in an AHEPP Commitee
