NDEM / NIMS Course Descriptions and Student Manuals

The State of Nevada, Division of Emergency Management / Homeland Security delivers the following courses. These courses are regularly scheduled and can be delivered to your local jurisdiction upon request. Pre-requisite NIMS independent study courses are available online:  The National Disaster & Emergency Management University

If you have any questions, please reach out to our State Training Officer at: NDEMtraining@dem.info.nv.gov

National Incident Management System Information

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) guides all levels of government, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from incidents.

NIMS provides stakeholders across the whole community with the shared vocabulary, systems and processes to successfully deliver the capabilities described in the National Preparedness System.

NIMS defines operational systems, including the Incident Command System (ICS), Emergency Operations Center (EOC) structures, and Multiagency Coordination Groups (MAC Groups) that guide how personnel work together during incidents. NIMS applies to all incidents, from traffic accidents to major disasters.

Prerequisite Independent Study Courses

FEMA's Independent Study Program (IS), offered through the National Disaster & Emergency Management University, provides free, self-paced NIMS complaint online courses covering a wide range of emergency management and disaster response topics. These courses are accessible to both the public and emergency management professionals looking to expand their knowledge and skills. To receive credit and a certificate of completion, participants must first register for a student identification number before beginning their coursework. 

NDEMU offers a catalog of Independent Study Courses (IS) available on the FEMA training website: https://training.fema.gov/is/

Intermediate Incident Command System IS-300 (24 hours)

The basic concepts presented in IS-200 are expanded and discussed in detail. The single command organization is stressed, and students will be exposed to resource management and the role and function of each ICS position. Through a series of small group exercises students will be provided examples of how the essential system principles and components are used in incident planning.

Target Audience: Emergency Management staff; Local, County and State Government Units; Fire, Law Enforcement, EMS, and Hospital providers; School Staff and Administrators; Volunteer Agencies active in disaster or exercise.  
Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800
Materials:  ICS 300 Training Manual

Advanced Incident Command System IS-400 (16 hours)

The target audience for this course is senior personnel who are expected to perform in a management capacity in an Area Command or Multi-agency Coordination Entity. This course provides training on and resources for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS). This course expands upon information covered in ICS-100 through ICS-300 courses. This course will include but not be limited to: major and/or complex incident/event management, area command, and multi-agency coordination. This course is designed to provide overall management skills rather than tactical expertise.

Target Audience:  Persons who will serve as command or general staff in an ICS organization, select department heads with multi-agency coordination system responsibilities, area commanders, emergency managers, and multi-agency coordination system/emergency operations center managers.  

Pre-Requisites: IS 100, 200, 700, 800 and ICS-300 (Intermediate ICS)

Materials: ICS 400 Training Manual

G-191 ICS EOC Interface (8 hours)

The goal of the course is to provide state and local emergency management officials with the knowledge and skills they need to operate an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) and interface it with an Incident Command System (ICS) field operation. The course provides an opportunity for participants to begin developing an ICS/EOC interface for their community. The course reviews ICS and EOC responsibilities and functions and depends heavily on exercise and group discussions to formulate the interface.

Target Audience: State and local personnel responsible for developing, staffing, managing and operating an EOC and coordinating EOC operations with a field command post.

Note: This course is part of the FEMA Advanced Practice Series (APS).  The APS curriculum provides "how to" training focused on skills needed for emergency operations and management. 

G-402 For Senior and Elected Officials (4 hours)

This course provides elected officials and policymakers with a comprehensive overview of the emergency management system, ensuring they understand their roles during incidents and disasters. Designed as a high-level briefing, it covers the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS), detailing key management principles, organizational structures, and the functions of the Command and General Staff. Participants will also learn how their roles integrate with the Incident Command System (ICS), Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), Multiagency Coordination (MAC) Groups, and the Joint Information System (JIS) to ensure effective coordination during emergencies. By gaining insight into these critical frameworks, attendees will be better prepared to lead response and recovery efforts, strengthening community resilience across Nevada. 

Materials: ICS 402 Training Manual 

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

This course provides guiding principles for exercise and evaluation programs, offering a standardized approach to exercise design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning. The HSEEP course is an intermediate-level training that equips participants with a comprehensive understanding of exercise program management, ensuring alignment with HSEEP doctrine to enhance preparedness and response capabilities.

Materials: E/K/L0146 Training Manual

Public Information Basis - E0105

The Public Information Officer (PIO) awareness courses are designed to introduce new emergency managers from State, local, tribal, territorial, and Federal emergency management agencies to the concepts underlying the PIO role. They also build a foundational knowledge of the skills needed to be full or part-time PIOs, including oral and written communications; understanding and working with the media; and basic tools and techniques to perform effectively as a PIO, both in the proactive/ advocacy times and crisis/ emergency response.

Prerequisites: The following 11 independent study courses must be completed in their entirety prior to submitting an application to E0101. IS29 must be completed before submitting an application for E0105: IS29 (prerequisite for E0105), IS100, IS120, IS200, IS230, IS235, IS240, IS241, IS242, IS244, IS700, and IS800 

Materials: E0105 Student Manual

Advanced Public Information Officer - 0388

The Public Information Officer advanced level course offers PIOs a necessary toolset for use during escalating incidents, including strategic communications and incident action planning as it relates to Joint Information Center (JIC) operations.

The 0388: Advanced Public Information Officer course is open to participants who have a minimum of 2 years of public information experience to share practical knowledge and collaborate effectively within a classroom setting.

Throughout this 5 day course, participants will gain the knowledge and skills to establish, manage and operate within a Joint Information Center (JIC). This comprehensive program combines multimedia lectures with engaging individual and group activities, enabling participants to develop their skills effectively.

Prerequisites: IS13, IS29, E/L/K 0105, IS42, IS100, IS200, IS201, IS247 or IS251, IS700, IS800 and IS2900

Materials: 0388 Student Manual

National Incident Management System ICS All-Hazards Public Information Officer

This advanced-level training prepares emergency responders to manage complex incidents beyond routine operations, addressing a wide range of hazards, disasters, and emergencies impacting communities, organizations, and governments. Designed for federal, state, tribal, and local responders, the course provides a comprehensive overview of the key duties and responsibilities of a Public Information Officer (PIO) within a Type III All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT), ensuring participants are equipped to handle crisis communications, media coordination, and public messaging during large-scale incidents.

Materials: 0952 Student Manual

National Incident Management System ICS All-Hazards Operations Section Chief

This advanced-level training prepares personnel to manage complex incidents that go beyond routine operations, considering the full range of hazards, disasters, and emergencies that could impact communities, organizations, and governments. Designed for those serving as Operations Section Chiefs within the Incident Command Structure (ICS), the course equips participants with the critical skills needed to coordinate resources, make strategic decisions, and effectively manage large-scale incidents. 

 Materials: 0958 Student Manual

National Incident Management System ICS All-Hazards Planning Section Chief

This advanced-level training equips personnel with the skills to manage complex incidents that exceed routine operations, addressing a full spectrum of hazards, disasters, and emergencies affecting communities, organizations, and governments. Designed for Planning Section Chiefs within the Incident Command Structure (ICS), the course provides the specialized knowledge needed to coordinate resources, develop strategic incident action plans, and effectively manage large-scale emergency response operations. 

Materials: 0962 Student Manual

Technical Large Animal Rescue (16 hours)

Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER) is an infrequent emergency event that is dangerous and often is mishandled by first responders and volunteers.  This instruction is intended to create an awareness of TLAER, correct methods of rescue and the way animals react in emergency situations.  The TLAER instruction includes rescue methods-right and wrong, safety considerations, animal behavior, and methods of preventing emergencies from happening.  This is a two day class.

The NLSM course explains and describes in detail the overall objectives, strategies, and tactics needed for a successful outcome of SAR missions. With further incident management training and field experience; the person with this training can perform as the Incident Commander on prolonged and more complex searches. This is a certification course and may not be audited. The course length is 40 hours, runs from 0800-1700 all five days of the course, and will require students to take a 100-question exam at the conclusion of the course. This course will be Nevada POST certified and limited to 25 students.

Textbook: National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) Fundamentals of Search and Rescue 

Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200 and IS-700