Pass your FEMA Independent Study Exam easily
FEMA Independent Study (IS) courses teach you essential skills for preparing for and responding to emergencies like natural disasters, fires, or terrorist attacks. We understand that passing your FEMA IS exam is important to you as it can help you advance in your career in emergency management, fulfil a job requirement, volunteer effectively during disasters, better prepare yourself and your loved ones for emergencies, or even lead community preparedness efforts.
However, FEMA IS exams can be challenging because they are designed to test a comprehensive understanding of emergency management principles and practices. The exams cover a wide range of topics, and answering the questions often requires critical thinking and application of knowledge rather than simple memorization. While the Independent Study exams are open-book, they are not easy to pass, and most Q&A sites on the internet give you inaccurate answers.
How we help FEMA IS students?
Public Purpose empowers communities by helping you pass your FEMA Independent Study (IS) exams, earn certifications, and understand the core concepts of emergency management to become an effective responder in your community. We offer a comprehensive source for everything related to FEMA IS courses. Are you preparing for a FEMA IS exam? Here’s how we support your learning journey:
Accurate FEMA IS test answers
We’ve researched the most common exam questions and provide accurate, detailed answers straight from the official course materials. Since FEMA IS exams offer no feedback on individual responses, our clear explanations help you understand the why behind the answers, ensuring you truly learn the material and can apply it to real-life emergency situations.
Exam Prep Tips and Community Connections
We share useful tips to help you prepare for your FEMA IS exams. We will also connect you soon with experienced FEMA IS mentors who can offer personalized guidance and real-world experience.
Personalized Learning Paths
We suggest you other related FEMA IS courses that are building on your existing knowledge, so you can keep learning and serving your community.
Choose your FEMA IS course and let us help you
Currently, there are 208 active FEMA Independent Study courses, which are listed below. Choose the one you are preparing for:
IS-5.a: An Introduction to Hazardous Materials |
IS-8.a: Building for the Earthquakes of Tomorrow: Complying with Executive Order 12699 |
IS-10.a: Animals in Disasters: Awareness and Preparedness |
IS-11.a : Animals in Disasters: Community Planning |
IS-15.b: Special Events Contingency Planning for Public Safety Agencies |
IS-18.22: FEMA EEO Employee Course 2022 |
IS-19.22: FEMA EEO Supervisor Course 2022 |
IS-20.22: Diversity Awareness Course 2022 |
IS-21.22: Civil Rights and FEMA Disaster Assistance |
IS-26: Guide to Points of Distribution |
IS-27: Orientation to FEMA Logistics |
IS-29.a : Public Information Officer Awareness |
IS-30.b: Mitigation eGrants System for the Subgrant Applicant |
IS-31.b: Mitigation eGrants for the Grant Applicant |
IS-32.a : Mitigation eGrants Internal System |
IS-35.22: FEMA Safety Orientation 2022 |
IS-36.a : Preparedness for Child Care Providers |
IS-37.22: Managerial Safety and Health |
IS-42.a : Social Media in Emergency Management |
IS-45: Continuous Improvement (CI) Overview |
IS-60.b: The Homeland Security Geospatial Concept-of-Operations (GeoCONOPS) for Planners and Decision Makers |
IS-61.b: The Homeland Security Geospatial Concept-of-Operations (GeoCONOPS) In Depth |
IS-62.b: The Homeland Security Geospatial Concept-of-Operations (GeoCONOPS) In Use |
IS-63.b: Geospatial Information Infrastructure (GII) |
IS-64.a: DHS Common Operating Picture Application |
IS-75: Military Resources in Emergency Management |
IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100 |
IS-101.c: Preparing for Federal Disaster Operations: FEMA |
IS-102.c: Preparing for Federal Disaster Operations: FEMA Response Partners |
IS-103: Geospatial Information Systems Specialist |
IS-107.22: FEMA Travel Rules and Regulations 2022 |
IS-111.a: Livestock in Disasters |
IS-120.c: An Introduction to Exercises |
IS-130.a: How to be an Exercise Evaluator |
IS-139.a: Exercise Design and Development |
IS-144.a: TERT Basic Course |
IS-156: Building Design for Homeland Security for Continuity of Operations |
IS-158: Hazard Mitigation Flood Insurance in Disaster Operations |
IS-162: Hazard Mitigation Floodplain Management in Disaster Operations |
IS-200.c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response |
IS-201: Forms Used for the Development of the Incident Action Plan |
IS-212.b: Introduction to Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) |
IS-215: Unified Federal Review Advisor Training: An Overview of the UFR Process |
IS-216: An Overview of the Unified Federal Review Process: Training for Federal Disaster Recovery Leadership |
IS-230.e: Fundamentals of Emergency Management |
IS-235.c: Emergency Planning |
IS-240.b: Leadership and Influence |
IS-241.c: Decision Making and Problem Solving |
IS-242.b: Effective Communication |
IS-244.b: Developing and Managing Volunteers |
IS-245.b: Introduction to the Federal Priorities and Allocations System |
IS-246.22: Implementing the Federal Priorities and Allocations System (FPAS) |
IS-247.b: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alert Originators |
IS-251.a: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alerting Administrators |
IS-253.a: Overview of FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Review |
IS-271.a: Anticipating Hazardous Weather & Community Risk, 2nd Edition |
IS-273: How to Read a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) |
IS-274: How to Use a Flood Insurance Study (FIS) |
IS-279.a: Introduction to Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Buildings |
IS-280: Overview of: Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures, FEMA Publication 259, 3rd Edition |
IS-284.a: Using the Substantial Damage Estimator 3.0 Tool |
IS-285: Substantial Damage Estimation for Floodplain Administrators |
IS-288.a: The Role of Voluntary Organizations in Emergency Management |
IS-289: Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) Overview |
IS-293: Mission Assignment Overview |
IS-302: Modular Emergency Radiological Response Transportation Training |
IS-315.a: CERT and the Incident Command System (ICS) |
IS-317.a: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Team (CERTs) |
IS-318: Mitigation Planning for Local and Tribal Communities |
IS-319.a: Tornado Mitigation Basics for Mitigation Staff |
IS-320: Wildfire Mitigation Basics for Mitigation Staff |
IS-321: Hurricane Mitigation Basics for Mitigation Staff |
IS-322: Flood Mitigation Basics for Mitigation Staff |
IS-323: Earthquake Mitigation Basics for Mitigation Staff |
IS-324.a:Community Hurricane Preparedness |
IS-325: Earthquake Basics: Science, Risk, and Mitigation |
IS-326: Community Tsunami Preparedness |
IS-328: Plan Review for Local Mitigation Plans |
IS-329: State Hazard Mitigation Planning |
IS-337: Posting Integrated Financial Management Information System Transactions – |
IS-350: Mitigation Planning for Tribal Communities |
IS-360: Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education, and Houses of Worship |
IS-362.a: Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools |
IS-363: Introduction to Emergency Management for Higher Education |
IS-366.a: Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters |
IS-368: Including People With Disabilities & Others With Access & Functional Needs in Disaster Operations |
IS-393.b: Introduction to Hazard Mitigation |
IS-394.a: Protecting Your Home or Small Business From Disaster |
IS-395: FEMA Risk Assessment Database |
IS-403: Introduction to Individual Assistance (IA) |
IS-405: Overview of Mass Care/Emergency Assistance |
IS-450: Emergency Preparedness for Federal Employees |
IS-450.NC: Emergency Preparedness for Federal Employees in the National Capital Region |
IS-453: Introduction to Homeland Security Planning |
IS-505: Concepts of Religious Literacy for Emergency Management |
IS-520: Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning for Pandemic Influenzas |
IS-545: Reconstitution Planning Course |
IS-551: Devolution Planning |
IS-552: The Public Works Role in Emergency Management |
IS-553.a : Coordination between Water Utilities and Emergency Management Agencies |
IS-554 : Emergency Planning for Public Works |
IS-556 : Damage Assessment for Public Works |
IS-558 : Public Works and Disaster Recovery |
IS-559 : Local Damage Assessment |
IS-632.a : Introduction to Debris Operations |
IS-633 : Debris Management Plan Development |
IS-650.b : Building Partnerships with Tribal Governments |
IS-660 : Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships |
IS-662 : Improving Preparedness and Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships |
IS-700.b : An Introduction to the National Incident Management System |
IS-703.b : National Incident Management System Resource Management |
IS-706 : NIMS Intrastate Mutual Aid – An Introduction |
IS-727 : Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands |
IS-772.a : Individual Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessment Orientation |
IS-800.d : National Response Framework, An Introduction |
IS-815: ABCs of Temporary Emergency Power |
IS-822: Fundamentals of Management and Support Coordination of Federal Disaster Operations |
IS-841.a: NEMIS HMGP System: Overview and Startup |
IS-842.b: NEMIS HMGP System: Enter the HMGP Application |
IS-843.a : NEMIS HMGP System: Project Eligibility Determination |
IS-844.a : NEMIS HMGP System: Managing Project Tasks |
IS-845.a : NEMIS HMGP System: Oversight and Closeout |
IS-860.c : The National Infrastructure Protection Plan, An Introduction |
IS-870.a : Dams Sector: Crisis Management |
IS-871.a : Dams Sector: Security Awareness |
IS-872.a : Dams Sector: Protective Measures |
IS-874 : Introduction to Seepage and Internal Erosion and the Emergency Response to Seepage Related Dam Risks |
IS-875 : Identifying, Monitoring and Addressing Seepage and Internal Erosion at dams |
IS-876 : Evaluation and Analysis of Internal Erosion and Seepage Conditions at dams |
IS-904 : Active Shooter Prevention: You Can Make a Difference |
IS-906 : Workplace Security Awareness |
IS-907 : Active Shooter: What You Can Do |
IS-908 : Emergency Management for Senior Officials |
IS-909 : Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone |
IS-912 : Retail Security Awareness: Understanding the Hidden Hazards |
IS-913.a : Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience: Achieving Results through Partnership and Collaboration |
IS-914 : Surveillance Awareness: What You Can Do |
IS-915 : Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Insider Threats |
IS-916 : Critical Infrastructure Security: Theft and Diversion – What You Can Do – |
IS-922.a : Applications of GIS for Emergency Management |
IS-951 : DHS Radio Interoperability |
IS-1000 : Public Assistance Program and Eligibility |
IS-1001 : The Public Assistance Delivery Model Orientation |
IS-1002 : FEMA Grants Portal – Transparency at Every Step |
IS-1004 : The FEMA Site Inspection Process |
IS-1005 : Public Assistance Alternative Procedures |
IS-1006 : Documenting Disaster Damage and Developing Project Files |
IS-1007 : Detailed Damage Description and Dimensions |
IS-1008 : Scope of Work Development (Scoping and Costing) |
I S-1009 : Conditions of the Public Assistance Grant |
IS-1010 : Emergency Protective Measures |
IS-1011 : Roads and Culverts |
IS-1012 : Direct Administrative Costs |
IS-1013 : Costing – Estimates and the Cost Estimating Format |
IS-1014 : Integrating 406 Mitigation Considerations into Your Public Assistance Grant |
IS-1015 : Insurance Considerations, Compliance, and Requirements |
IS-1016 : Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Considerations/Compliance for Public Assistance Grants |
IS-1017 : Scope Change Requests, Time Extensions, Improved/Alternate Project Requests |
IS-1018 : Determination Memorandums and Appeals |
IS-1019 : Codes and Standards |
IS-1020 : Public Assistance Donated Resources |
IS-1021 : Bridge Damage Considerations |
IS-1022 : Substantiating Disaster-Related Damages to Buildings, Contents, Vehicles, and Equipment |
IS-1023 : Electrical Systems Considerations |
IS-1024 : Water and Wastewater Treatment System Considerations |
IS-1025 : Grant Administration Decisions for Tribal Governments |
IS-1026 : Eligibility of Private Nonprofit Organizations |
IS-1027 : Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) |
IS-1100.a : Increased Cost of Compliance |
IS-1101.b : Basic Agent Tutorial |
IS-1102 : Theory of Elevation Rating |
IS-1103.a : Elevation Certificate for Surveyors |
IS-1104 : NFIP Claims Review for Adjusters |
IS-1105.a : EC Made Easy: Elevation Certificate Overview |
IS-1106.a : FEMA Mapping Changes |
IS-1107 : Adjuster Customer Service |
IS-1108 : Insuring Condominiums |
IS-1109.a : Understanding Basement Coverage |
IS-1110.a : Writing Commercial Exposures |
IS-1111 : Introduction to Commercial Claims |
IS-1112 : Introduction to Flood Claims |
IS-1113 : Coastal Barrier Resources Act |
IS-1114 : Adjusting RCBAP and Condo Unit Owner Claims |
IS-1115 : Claims Process for Agents |
IS-1116 : Sales for Agents |
IS-1117 : Severe Repetitive Loss for Agents |
IS-1119 : Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs) and Letters of Map Revision–Based on Fill (LOMR-Fs) |
IS-1120 : Letters of Map Revision |
IS-1150 : DHS Human Trafficking Awareness for FEMA Employees |
IS-1151 : Blue Campaign Disaster Responder Training |
IS-1152 : Blue Campaign First Responder Training |
IS-1170 : Introduction to the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) |
IS-1171 : Overview of Interagency Security Committee (ISC) Publications |
IS-1172 : The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: Facility Security Level (FSL) Determination |
IS-1173 : Levels of Protection (LOP) and Application of the Design-Basis Threat (DBT) Report |
IS-1174 : Facility Security Committees |
IS-1190 : The National Oil & Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan and the National Response System Independent Study Course |
IS-1200 : TERT Team Leader Course |
IS-1300 : Introduction to Continuity of Operations |
IS-2000 : National Preparedness Goal and System Overview |
IS-2001 : Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) |
IS-2002 : Introduction to FEMA Operational Planning |
IS-2101 : Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) 101 Beginner Training Course |
IS-2200 : Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions |
IS-2500 : National Prevention Framework, an Introduction |
IS-2600 : National Protection Framework, An Introduction |
IS-2700 : National Mitigation Framework, an Introduction |
IS-2900.a : National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) Overview |
IS-2901 : Introduction to Community Lifelines |
IS-2905 : Coordinating Health and Social Services Recovery |
Who we are?
The Public Purpose Institute was initially founded to “contribute to community engagement and social innovation through collaboration with students, faculty, community partners, and institutions of higher education”. The institute previously managed the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, evaluating U.S. colleges and universities based on their commitment to community partnerships. However, with the transfer of the Carnegie Classification to the American Council on Education in March 2022, our website shifted its focus to empowering communities by providing resources and help for FEMA Independent Study (IS) courses. We believe that FEMA IS courses equip community members with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective response, ultimately building more resilient communities.