FEMA IS-100.C (ICS 100): Introduction to the Incident Command System – 45 Test Questions

FEMA IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS) is a free, online training course that provides a comprehensive overview of the Incident Command System (ICS) and its relationship with the National Incident Management System (NIMS). 

Earning the ICS 100 certificate is often required for career advancement in emergency management, public safety, and disaster response.

Passing the FEMA ICS 100 final exam is difficult, as you must achieve a 75% or higher score on the 25 randomized, multiple-choice test questions. While the exam is open-book, self-paced, and not proctored, finding the correct answers within the 160-page ICS 100 student material can be challenging and very time-consuming. 

To help you prepare and pass the FEMA IS-100.C test, we have carefully selected 45 common ICS 100 exam questions below. Just click any of the questions,and the accurate answer will be revealed. We source our answers directly from the official FEMA IS-100.C course material to ensure our answers and explanations are correct. 

Table Of Contents
  1. The 45 most common FEMA IS-100.C Test Questions
  2. What should you know about the FEMA IS-100.C (ICS) course?
  3. What is the objective of the FEMA IS-100.C (ICS) course?
  4. Who is the primarily audience of the FEMA IS-100.C course?
  5. What should I know about the FEMA IS-100.C final exam?

The 45 most common FEMA IS-100.C Test Questions

We have collected the 45 most common FEMA IS-100.C test questions people ask online and arranged them in alphabetical order so you can find the relevant ones easier. Just click on the specific questions below to see the correct answers:

  1. Acquiring, Storing, and Inventorying Resources are part of which NIMS Management Characteristic?
  2. An Incident Action Plan is captured and communicates overall operational and support activities for an incident?
  3. At the incident scene, who handles media inquiries?
  4. Check-in, Incident Action Planning, Personal Responsibility, and Resource Tracking are all necessary to ensure which of the following?
  5. Command is defined as?
  6. Establishment of the ICS modular organization is the responsibility of the?
  7. Expansion of the ICS modular organization is the responsibility of the
  8. If the Incident Commander designates personnel to provide public information, safety, and liaison services, the personnel are collectively referred to as which of the following?
  9. In a Unified Command, members representing multiple jurisdictions and agencies work together to establish what?
  10. Manageable span of control refers to?
  11. One of the benefits of ICS is that it provides an orderly, systematic ___________ process.
  12. Qualification, Certification, and Credentialing Personnel are part of which NIMS Management Characteristic?
  13. Selection of Incident Commanders is done by which of the following?
  14. The Incident Command System (ICS) can be used to manage any type of incident, including planned events?
  15. The Incident Command System (ICS) is only applicable to large, complex incidents, true or false?
  16. The Incident Commander or Unified Commander establishes incident objectives that include?
  17. The Liaison Officer:
  18. The Whole Community approach refers to different organizations within the Federal Government?
  19. To avoid overburdening the incident command, resources should not self-dispatch (spontaneously deploy)? True or False
  20. To ensure efficient, clear, communication, the National Incident Management System Characteristics recommend the use of which of the following?
  21. What do major activities of the planning section include?
  22. What do the incident objectives established by the incident commander or unified command include?
  23. What does the Operations Section Chief?
  24. What is the Incident Command System (ICS)?
  25. When command is transferred, the process should include which of the following?
  26. When partners representing multiple jurisdictions or agencies work together to establish the incident objectives, what type of Command is being used?
  27. Which General Staff member directs all responses and tactical actions to achieve the incident objectives?
  28. Which General Staff member is responsible for ensuring that assigned incident personnel are fed and have communications, medical support, and transportation as needed to meet the operational objective?
  29. Which General Staff member negotiates and monitors contracts, maintains documentation for reimbursement, and oversees timekeeping for incident personnel?
  30. Which General Staff member prepares Incident Action Plans, manages information, and maintains situational awareness for the incident?
  31. Which ICS function is responsible for documentation for mutual aid agreements?
  32. Which ICS functional area arranges for resources and needed services to support achievement of the incident objectives?
  33. Which ICS functional area establishes tactics and directs all operational resources to achieve the incident objectives?
  34. Which ICS functional area monitors costs related to the incident and provides accounting, procurement, time recording, and cost analysis?
  35. Which ICS functional area tracks resources, collects and analyzes information, and maintains documentation?
  36. Which member of the Command Staff interfaces with other agencies to meet incident-related information requirements?
  37. Which NIMS Management Characteristic is necessary for achieving situational awareness and facilitating information sharing?
  38. Which NIMS Management Characteristic may include gathering, analyzing, and assessing weather service data from technical specialists?
  39. Which NIMS Management Characteristic refers to personnel requested through appropriate authorities and established resource management systems?
  40. Which of the following are typical incident facilities?
  41. Which position is always staffed in ICS applications?
  42. Which Section organizes, assigns, and supervises tactical response resources?
  43. Who designates the process for transferring command?
  44. Who has overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident?
  45. Within the National Incident Management System Characteristics, the concept of common terminology covers all of the following EXCEPT?

What should you know about the FEMA IS-100.C (ICS) course?

The FEMA IS-100.C course, commonly known as ICS 100, was introduced on June 25, 2018. It provides a foundational understanding of the Incident Command System (ICS) and was developed by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in collaboration with key stakeholders like the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Fire Administration’s National Fire Programs Branch, and the United States Coast Guard.

While its primary focus is on-the-ground incident management, the principles taught in IS-100.C are equally applicable in an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) setting.

The IS-100.C course is a 2-hour self-paced online course offered in both English and Spanish, awarding 0.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon successful completion. While there are no prerequisites, participants are encouraged to take IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) beforehand to gain a comprehensive understanding of how ICS fits within the larger NIMS framework.

ParametersIS-100.C course details
Creation Date6/25/2018
Primary AudiencePersons involved with emergency planning, response or recovery efforts
Course ObjectiveIntroduction to Incident Command System and its association with NIMS
Duration2 hours
Available LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
CEUs0.2
PrerequisitesNone (IS-700.B recommended)
Source: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-100.c&lang=en

What is the objective of the FEMA IS-100.C (ICS) course?

According to the official FEMA website, the goal of the FEMA IS-100.C course is to provide participants with the skills to define the relationship between NIMS Management Characteristics and Incident Command, as well as Unified Command. Participants are also required to recognize the major organizational components of the Incident Command System (ICS), such as the Command Staff, General Staff, and critical ICS tools. Furthermore, the course aims to provide participants with the skills needed to effectively use the ICS framework in a variety of incident or event scenarios.

Who is the primarily audience of the FEMA IS-100.C course?

The FEMA IS-100.C course’s primary audience is individuals actively engaged in emergency planning, response, and recovery efforts. The audience of the ICS 100 can span many professions and roles, including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, public health professionals, engineers, and even urban planners who must design resilient cities and communities.

The FEMA ICS 100 course helps everyday people to be more prepared for emergency situations by teaching you how to respond during large natural disasters or even small community incidents, who to contact, where to go, and what to do.

For professionals in emergency response, ICS 100 offers standardized terminology and procedures, so you can collaborate with various agencies and organizations even during complex incidents like earthquakes, hurricanes or floods.

What specific jobs do require a FEMA IS-100.C certification?

Roles that often require FEMA IS-100.C certification include:

  1. Firefighters
  2. Police officers
  3. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel
  4. Emergency management personnel
  5. Public health officials
  6. Homeland security personnel
  7. Disaster response coordinators
  8. Search and rescue teams
  9. Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) teams
  10. Incident commanders or managers

What should I know about the FEMA IS-100.C final exam?

The FEMA IS-100.C final exam has an open book style (you can check the ICS 100 course material while taking the test) and consists of 25 randomized multiple-choice questions, ensuring a unique test for each participant. To successfully pass the ICS 100 exam, a 75% or more score is required, meaning that you must answer at least 19 questions correctly.

If you fail the ICS 100 test, you can retake it without any limitations, free of charge. 

Where can I find study material for the FEMA IS-100.C final exam?

You can find study material for the FEMA IS-100.C final exam on the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) website: https://training.fema.gov/is/coursematerials.aspx?code=IS-100.c

The course material includes handouts, student manuals, and instructor guides in English and Spanish.

What other FEMA courses should I take after passing the IS-100.C exam?

After passing the IS-100.C final exam, consider taking one of the five other FEMA courses we listed below. Each course builds upon the knowledge gained in the IS-100.C course and provides more in-depth information on specific aspects of emergency management:

  1. FEMA IS-200.C: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
  2. FEMA IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
  3. FEMA IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction
  4. FEMA IS-230.D: Fundamentals of Emergency Management
  5. FEMA IS-120.C: An Introduction to Exercises

Or check out all FEMA Independent Study Courses.