Incident Command System (ICS) & National Incident Management System (NIMS)

NEW!  The NIMS Integration Center (NIC) has recently released a Five Year Training Plan for national implementation.  For an overview of this plan, click here (Powerpoint 171.5 KB).

Classroom-based ICS Training
Incident Command System 100
Incident Command System 200
National Incident Management System 700
National Response Plan 800
Additional FEMA Courses

On February 28, 2003, the President issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)–5, Management of Domestic Incidents, which directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS).  This system provides a consistent nationwide template to enable Federal, State, local and tribal governments as well as private-sector and nongovernmental organizations to work together effectively and efficiently to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity, including acts of catastrophic terrorism.  

The Incident Command System (ICS) is the management system adopted by NIMS to enable effective and efficient domestic incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications operating within a common organizational structure, designed to enable effective and efficient domestic incident management. A basic premise of ICS is that it is widely applicable. It is used to organize both near-term and long-term field-level operations for a broad spectrum of emergencies, from small to complex incidents, both natural and manmade. ICS is used by all levels of government—Federal, State, local and tribal—as well as many private-sector and nongovernmental organizations. ICS is also applicable across disciplines. It is normally structured to facilitate activities in five major functional areas: command, operations, planning, logistics and finance and administration.  ICS is a flexible system scalable to a response of any size.

Back to Top

Classroom-based ICS Training

TPRS provides ICS-100, ICS-200 and NIMS-700 classroom-based training through Regional Planners assigned throughout the state.  To schedule training in your area, click here to contact your Regional Planner.

On-line ICS Training

NIMS and ICS training courses are available on-line through FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (see links below).

Incident Command System 100

ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System for Healthcare/Hospitals, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) as it applies to the healthcare/hospital environment and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System.

Incident Command System 200

ICS 200.HC is designed to enable healthcare/hospital personnel to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS-200 provides training on and resources for personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within the ICS.

Back to Top

National Incident Management System 700

On February 28, 2003, President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5. HSPD-5 directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents.

National Response Plan 800

The National Response Plan describes how the Federal Government will work in concert with State, local and tribal governments and the private sector to respond to disasters.

For Further Study:

A full listing of free on-line self-study courses are available through FEMA's Emergency Management Institute at FEMA Independent Study courses.

 Back to Top