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.