NIMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Jun 24, 2008 - 12:03:07 PM

The Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness (OSEP) manages UGA's NIMS compliance, coordinates on-campus training sessions and maintains NIMS training records.

Many questions about the NIMS program can be answered with these Frequently Asked Questions, but if you have additional questions, please call the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness at (706)542-5845 or email The Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness.

• What is NIMS?
• Why does the University of Georgia need the NIMS program?

• Who needs NIMS training?

• Who coordinates the NIMS program?

• What is the benefit of UGA complying with NIMS?

• How will I know when NIMS training classes are scheduled?

• How do I register for a NIMS training class?

• Is there any cost for NIMS training?

• Do I get a certificate for completing NIMS training?

• Are any NIMS training offered on-line?

• Does UGA have a NIMS policy?

• I received NIMS training at another institution or earlier than UGA’s adoption of NIMS in March of 2006. How will the University of Georgia recognize my past training in NIMS?

• What is the NIMS Training Profile?

• What is the NIMS Training Plan?

• Is the NIMS Training Plan, Policy and Training Profile available for   downloading?
• How is NIMS training documented and who maintains the training records?
• Who do I contact if I have questions about NIMS?

What is NIMS?

National Incident Management System (NIMS) establishes a single, comprehensive approach to domestic incident management to ensure that all levels of government across the nation have the capability to work efficiently and effectively together using a national approach to domestic incident management. NIMS provides a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state and local governments to work together to prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of the cause, size or complexity. Those agencies that do not establish such system shall not be eligible for state reimbursement for any response or recovery related expenses.

Effective March 28, 2006, the University of Georgia (UGA) adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as established under a Presidential Directive and the Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A. 38-5-57) as its system of preparing for and responding to disaster incidents and directs all incident managers and response organizations within the University of Georgia to train and exercise and use these systems in their response operations.

Why does the University of Georgia need the NIMS program?

The State of Georgia enacted a law that all local public safety and emergency response organizations shall implement the standardized unified incident command system. Read complete UGA NIMS Policy.

Who needs NIMS training?

The UGA NIMS Policy requires that all UGA personnel who routinely respond to campus emergencies or those who directly or indirectly make incident management decisions regarding building level or campus wide emergencies participate in NIMS training. The following campus personnel will receive NIMS training according to their appropriate training level as defined in the UGA NIMS Training Profile:

  • Administrators at the department head level or above
  • Building Safety and Security Representatives
  • Emergency Response Team (Core Team and Support Team)
  • Campus emergency responders (UGA Police, UGA HART, Fire Safety, etc.)
  • All others not specifically identified who are tasked with building emergency planning, safety or security assignments

This policy includes UGA Athens campus personnel and Extended Campus personnel. The UGA NIMS Training Profile highlights the specific level of training that each identified UGA campus representative is required to achieve.

Who coordinates the NIMS program?

The Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness (OSEP) manages UGA's National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance and coordinates on-campus training sessions.

What is the benefit of UGA complying with NIMS?

UGA must demonstrate the use of NIMS and Incident Command System (ICS) principles during all emergency responses whether the incidents are large or small for consistency purposes. Should UGA encounter a large scale disaster where the total damages meet federal reimbursement funding thresholds, the acceptance of NIMS principles must be demonstrated through training records and in UGA emergency plans in order to receive federal disaster assistance funds. In addition, UGA emergency responders must show NIMS compliance when applying for any state and federal public safety, homeland security and emergency management grant funding.

How will I know when NIMS training classes are scheduled?

NIMS training class schedules, along with registration links, will be posted on the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness' web site http://www.osep.uga.edu/ as they become available. Notification of upcoming classes will also be emailed to Building Safety and Security Representatives (BSSRs).

How do I register for a NIMS training class?

Registration links will be available from the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness' web site http://www.osep.uga.edu/ homepage, along with details about the class.

Is there any cost for NIMS training?

No. Training and training materials is provided at no cost to the participant.

Do I get a certificate for completing NIMS training?

Yes, certificates will be generated from the training course and should be emailed to the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness at osep@uga.edu promptly upon receipt of the certificate. The Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness maintains NIMS certificates for training records.

Are any NIMS training offered on-line?

Yes, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers on-line courses for ICS 100, ICS 200, IS 700 and IS 800B. These courses are available on the FEMA Emergency Management Institute Web site: http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp

Does UGA have a NIMS policy?

Yes, The UGA 2008 NIMS Training Policy requires that all UGA personnel who routinely respond to campus emergencies or those who directly or indirectly make incident management decisions regarding building level or campus wide emergencies participate in NIMS training. The following campus personnel will receive NIMS training according to their appropriate training level as defined in the UGA NIMS Training Profile:

  • Administrators at the department head level or above
  • Building Safety and Security Representatives
  • Emergency Response Team (Core Team and Support Team)
  • Campus emergency responders (UGA Police, UGA HART, Fire Safety, etc.)
  • All others not specifically identified who are tasked with building emergency planning, safety or security assignments

This policy includes UGA Athens campus personnel and Extended Campus personnel. The UGA NIMS Training Profile highlights the specific level of training that each identified UGA campus representative is required to achieve. The NIMS Training Profile may be found at this link. For procedures and other inquiries related to UGA NIMS compliance, contact the UGA Office of Security & Emergency.

I received NIMS training at another institution or earlier than UGA's adoption of NIMS in March of 2006. How will UGA recognize my past training in NIMS?

All UGA employees who have taken NIMS training classes and received a certificate should send copies of the certificate(s) to OSEP to allow UGA to maintain accurate training records. This will allow OSEP the ability to provide state or federal auditors access to campus NIMS training levels and numbers should UGA be audited or need to produce training documentation after a disaster.

What is the NIMS Training Profile?

The Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness provides a training profile to aid in selecting the National Incident Management System (NIMS) training appropriate for the various departments and divisions at the University of Georgia.

The training profile sheet lists UGA Departments/Divisions, the personnel in those areas to be trained and the appropriate training level suggested.

Download 2008 NIMS Training Profile.


What is the NIMS Training Plan?

The University of Georgia's 2008 NIMS Training Plan was created to formalize OSEP's approach to address NIMS compliance in a consistent manner on campus. Furthermore, the plan will provide details on how OSEP will notify, train and maintain the records of the thousands of identified campus personnel who will need NIMS training in support of our campus compliance efforts.

This NIMS Training Plan is a campus-level plan intended to identify appropriate UGA personnel on the University of Georgia main campus, its extended campuses and personnel on any other UGA owned or leased property or facility who are required to participate in NIMS training courses.

The plan is a fluid document and will be updated on yearly basis or when appropriate guidance is provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the State of Georgia or local government that necessitates changes or additions to the plan.

The main objective of the UGA NIMS Training Plan is to provide details on the University of Georgia's approach to promote NIMS compliance on campus. As a result campus personnel have been identified that are required to complete predetermined NIMS training levels. Additional long-term campus NIMS objectives are consistent with local and state agency NIMS objectives.


Is the NIMS Training Plan, Policy and Training Profile available for downloading?

Yes. A link is provided from OSEP's web site at http://www.osep.uga.edu/nims/ to view or download these files (in .pdf).

How is NIMS training documented and who maintains the training records?

Certificates will be generated from the training course and should be emailed to the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness at osep@uga.edu promptly upon receipt of the certificate. The Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness maintains a NIMS training database that identifies each individual's level of training as well as what courses they have taken.


Who do I contact if I have questions about NIMS?

The Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness (OSEP) manages UGA's National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance and coordinates on-campus training sessions. You may contact OSEP by phone (706) 542-5845, fax (706)542-4664 or e-mail osep@uga.edu.