Incident Management Position Certification

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is committed to providing effective emergency management and response capabilities throughout Colorado. The state uses a performance based certification program to ensure incident management personnel are successful at their positions. This program consists of a position qualification standard, a process to ensure individuals have met the standard and a certification process. This allows communities to request and utilize incident management resources with high confidence in their technical and professional abilities.

Colorado All-Hazards Incident Management Certification Program

The State of Colorado supports a robust cadre of certified incident management staff. As such, it maintains a strong qualification and certification program. Colorado adopted the All Hazard Incident Management Team Association’s Interstate Incident Management Qualifications System (IIMQS) as its all-hazard qualification standard. The IIMQS provides a framework of best practices to develop, assess, apply and sustain a qualification program for incident management personnel. It promotes a common understanding of the standard to be used by the state to certify individuals to perform a position as part of the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS is a fundamental part of the National Incident System (NIMS). This program is Colorado’s way of implementing the National Qualification System (NQS) for ICS related positions.

Key Program Goals and Key Structures

The following definitions are important to program use:

Qualification: The process of enabling personnel to perform the duties of a specific position and documenting their proficiency of the capabilities required by the position.
Certification: The recognition from an authority, or a third party, stating that an individual has met the established criteria and is qualified for a specific position.
Credentialing: The process of issuing an official document that establishes the legitimacy that a certified individual has met the training, experience, and fitness (physical / behavioral) requirements for performing a specific task.

DHSEM has the following Qualification Review and Certification Goals

Open each of the expandable folders below for information on the goals.

Unbiased and Equitable Determinations: Perform an unbiased and equitable review of a candidate’s application. It must adequately show that the adopted standard has been met. Qualification is proven by position task books, course records, certifications, experience records, and evaluations. The candidate's assessment of qualification primarily occurs at the incident evaluation level. It is then verified by their team / agency and a committee of peers. If recommended, they are certified by the DHSEM.
Emphasize Final Evaluator Expertise: Emphasize the expertise of the Final Evaluator for initial position certification. To accomplish this, Colorado provides on-going process training to individuals that may be evaluators and/or final evaluators. Training is also given to candidates that will receive evaluations.
Adhere to the Standard: Adhere to the adopted IIMQS standard and do not create additional requirements. Colorado has found the IIMQS standard to provide a good balance between cultivating capable team members and effort / time-to-qualification.
Keep Processes Simple: Seek opportunities to simplify processes for applicants, evaluators, reviewers, and state staff, while upholding the integrity of the qualification and certification program.

The following administrative structures play a key role in achieving these these goals

Open each of the expandable folders below for information on our administrative structure.

DHSEM Incident Management Unit (IMU): The IMU administers the certification program. This includes maintaining and facilitating all associated processes. The IMU is part of the Field Operations Section within the Colorado Office of Emergency Management.
State Qualification Review Committee (SQRC): The Colorado Incident Management Qualification Review Committee (also known as the SQRC) is a peer review body that determines whether an incident management position certification application contains sufficient documentation to show that it meets the adopted State standard. See “Program Guides and References” below for the current list of SQRC members.
Position Task Books (PTBs): Task books are used for initial certification to document experiences that indicate successful completion of tasks specific to an Incident management position. Once the task book and associated training is complete, candidates can apply for certification. Colorado’s current All-Hazard Position Task Books can be found below.

Application and Process for Certification

One of the following Colorado application and support documentation must be electronically submitted for State of Colorado Incident Certification. Instructions are summarized below and are contained within the applications.

Please note, these applications are provided as fillable forms. You must download the document to your computer and then use the fillable form function. You will not be able to use the fillable function if you open it in your browser.
Application packages must be reviewed, endorsed and submitted by a team coordinator, agency executive or training officer. Applications are reviewed four times a year. Electronic application packages are due to the state the following dates: February 1, May 1, August 1, or November 1.

Initial Application Process

For applicants pursuing a new position. See “Program Guides and References” below for the process flowchart.

Receive approval from your team or agency’s leadership.
Complete all position requirements (training, prerequisite positions, and experience). Note: Physical fitness verification is also part of position requirements. In Colorado, this verification is the responsibility of the organization issuing a certified individual a credential.
Assemble the application packet with all the required documentation, referring to the Applicant Qualification Review Checklist found in the application.
Submit the application to your IMT coordinator or verifying official for review.
Your IMT coordinator or Verifying Official will submit the completed application to DHSEM.
The application will be reviewed by the State Qualification Review Committee and a recommendation will be made to DHSEM.
Based on the recommendation, DHSEM will issue a certification or seek further information from the applicant.

Recertification Application Process

For applicants with an existing Colorado certification that is set to expire. See “Program Guides and References” below for the process flowchart.

Complete all position requirements for recertifying. In general, one qualifying incident (of the appropriate type), any required training that has been added to the position requirements since last certification, and any required refresher / continuing education training).
Assemble the application packet with all the required documentation, referring to the Applicant Qualification Review Checklist found in the application.
Submit the application to your IMT Coordinator or Verifying Official for review.
Your IMT coordinator or verifying official will submit the completed application to DHSEM.
The application will be reviewed by DHSEM Incident Management Unit staff.
DHSEM will issue a recertification or seek further information from the applicant.

Crosswalk Certification Application Process

For applicants seeking Colorado certification who are already certified in another certification program that is recognized by the State of Colorado. The recognized programs include: NWCG, US Coast Guard, US Public Health Service. See “Program Guides and References” below for a complete list of recognized programs.

Complete all Colorado prerequisite training for the position.
Assemble the application packet with all the required documentation, referring to the Applicant Qualification Review Checklist found in the application. This includes a complete task book and certification from the other recognized certification system.
Submit the application to your IMT coordinator or verifying official for review.
Your IMT coordinator or verifying official will submit the completed application to DHSEM.
The application will be reviewed by the State Qualification Review Committee and a recommendation will be made to DHSEM.
Based on the recommendation, DHSEM will issue a certification or seek further information from the applicant.

Program Guides and References

Position Task Books

Position Task Books (PTBs) are used for initial position certification. These are provided as non-fillable PDFs as they are intended for field use only. Find the task books by clicking on the expandable folders below.

Command Staff Position Task Books

Operations Section Position Task Books

Planning Section Position Task Books

Logistics Section Position Task Books

Finance/Administration Section Position Task Books

Other Common Incident Management Qualification Systems in Colorado

Updated August 15, 2024