Excelsior - TESC Banked FEMA Credits

Emergency Management AAS Degree: Letter of Introduction
Emergency Management

 

As a current student at Clackamas, I think that I can help sort some of your questions out.

1) Most important of all... Thought the cost of FEMA credits is only $30 at CCC, that is for a quarter hour credit and not a semester hour. 1 semester = 1.5 quarter hours. It seems that only schools in the Northwest US are on the quarter hour standard. I am taking a few courses at Portland State, and same quarter hour system.

2) For those of you that are involved in Emergency Management, the CCC program allows you receive credit for completion of numerous other courses not just the FEMA Independent Study courses.

3) A student can complete an AAS in Emergency Management for about $3,000 and never set foot on the CCC campus.

Clackamas is no longer listed on the FEMA college credit "affiliated" site by their choosing. When they dropped off 2 years ago, FEMA had a contractor named Sytel running the program. Sytel wanted to dictate to the schools affiliated with the program what courses would be worth what credit. CCC would not allow Sytel to dictate to them what courses they would accept for credit. CCC also has a grueling process with the state accreditation board to make major changes to an approved degree plan. That is why CCC only does this about every three years.

For folks that are interested in knowing more, feel free to email me. I will be happy to chat with you about the program. [email protected]

 

For those students that want to continue on and complete a BS in Emergency Management after completion of an AAS in EM then you may want to consider West Texas A&M. A student can not even enter the program without an AAS in EM.

West Texas A&M has an agreement with Clackamas Community College amongst others so that AAS in EM graduates can get started on their BS without lengthy credit reviews.

 

Excellent information, David. Thanks for responding.

 

To take FEMA classes do you need to submit the application first that's list on the web site? If so, do you have to mail it in and wait for a response? I can't seem to clarify this from the info on FEMA's web site. It's not the most intuitive web site I've ever seen.

 

AV8R:

FEMA and DHS offer a multitude of courses both online and at training facilities all around the country. The only courses from FEMA that are really discussed here are the Independent Study courses. Those are completely online, and once you successfully pass the test you will receive the certificate via email. College credit is awarded for these classes from a few different places discussed in this thread.

Now.... If you have a desire to attend a course delivered in the classroom at FEMA EMI, or FEMA CDP you will need to apply to attend. You need to complete a form 75-5 and submit this to your state's emergency management agency training coordinator. Once the state has signed off, then it goes to the training facility for confirmation. You are then notified that you have been accepted to the class, and can begin making travel arrangements. What most people don't appreciate is courses delivered by FEMA are often no cost to the student, and travel, meals and lodging are all covered.

I hope this clarifies things for you... If not, feel free to shoot me an email.

David

 

Okay, so....to take on of the FEMA online courses, you don't even need to submit the application?

Best I can tell, you just jump right in and download the materials and then take the final exam. Is this correct?

 

Okay, I think I have this figured out. I pulled up an individual course and played around with it for awhile. The information is not for me, obviously, but I'm still trying to understand the process.

 

FEMA Classroom Course - File application, get approved, go to course in person later.

FEMA Online Independent Study Courses - Study material, take test, at end of the test you are led to an online application to fill out. When done hit submit and send the application and test in at the same time, all online. No waiting for application approval. You get test results immediately. Certificate link sent in an email.

 

I know this is old, but what is the West Texas A&M has an agreement with Clackamas Community College amongst others so that AAS in EM graduates can get started on their BS without lengthy credit reviews?

 

It's been a long time, trying to help a friend get their degree

Is FEMA still a cheap and easy way to get some quick credits? I never went the FEMA route back when I was accumulating credits, mainly because I already had enough lower level credits when I heard about the FEMA option.

Or is has this opportunity passed?

 

TESC doesn't take them anymore, Excelsior will accept, but requires they go through another school like FCC. COSC still takes them free of charge direct from FEMA....but understand their limited utility, they are essentially free electives.