Continuity Excellence Track

WSEMA member Annie Merritt currently serves as the Continuity Program Manager for the State of Washington. She is responsible for the coordination of state and local Continuity of Operations as well as Continuity of Government. She functions as the Advisor to the Interagency Continuity of Operations Planners (iCOOP). In 2012 she was a founding member of iCOOP where she previously served as co-chair.  A level II Continuity Practitioner and Cadre member, Mrs. Merritt has a lens for continuity, breaking it down so that is understandable and easily implemented. On this page she details how to become “excellent” at Continuity.

If you are really excited about Continuity, there are currently three FEMA tracks to choose from:

In 2008, the FEMA Administrator established the Continuity Excellence Series (CES) – Level I, Professional Continuity Practitioner, and Level II, Master Continuity Practitioner, to recognize the excellence achieved by those completing the specified training levels in the development and implementation of continuity programs and emergency management.

The National Continuity Training Program (NCTP) is responsible for administering and managing the Continuity Excellence Series (CES). These programs consist of both instructor-led and independent study courses. The NCTP accepts applications for the CES program to ensure all coursework is completed before submitting an applicant’s name to EMI for the Level I or II certificate.

The NCTP’s responsibilities include the following:

  • Ensuring candidates and transcripts meet the requirements for a Level I or II certificate;
  • Grading Level II final exams submitted or proctored by the RCM or Level II candidate’s supervisor;
  • Submitting names to EMI for the award of Level I or II certificates, as appropriate;
  • Ensuring that EMI will email the certificates to the NCTP for distribution; and
  • Maintaining a record of the name and date of all awarded certificates.

The Level II program provides an ideal training structure to enable experienced continuity professionals to further their knowledge and become leaders in driving continuity concepts in their organizations. Courses are designed to offer intensive training in planning, evaluation, and continuity instructional delivery. Candidates for the Level II designation must complete all requirements for Level I, plus a teaching requirement or capstone presentation. Applicants must also complete a written comprehensive exam (150 questions). Applicants are eligible to take the comprehensive exam once they have completed all Level I and Level II requirements. A score of 70% is required for passing.

The National Continuity Training Program (NCTP) has established rigorous standards for Continuity. Only those who meet the NCTP’s established qualifications may serve as Lead Instructors. Assistant Instructors are either qualified instructors or instructors-in-training who have completed all NCTP’s prerequisite coursework and are completing their required teaching experience under the oversight of a Lead Instructor. The NCTP maintains a comprehensive database of all qualified instructors.

Instructor Requirements and standards

NCTP instructors must have subject-area expertise and proven successful teaching experience for the courses they teach. At a minimum, instructors must meet the following criteria:

  • Have continuity responsibilities in their current day-to-day job (as demonstrated by their resume);
  • Possess a Continuity Excellence Series Certification: Master Continuity Practitioner (Level II) or Continuity Program Manager Certificate (FY25);
  • Completed the Instructional Presentation and Evaluation Skills Course (E/L/K 141), Instructor Training Certification (PER 266), or equivalent. (Equivalent instructional methodology courses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis);
  • Completed E/L/K 1301 and E/L/K 1302 Train-the-Trainer (TtT) Workshops;
  • Receive written approval from the NCTP upon completion of the electronic application process (outlined below);
  • Instructors must remain current on continuity policy, doctrine, and guidance and participate in National Continuity Instructor Cadre biannual webinars for any updates to the NCTP SOP; and
  • Instructors must instruct a minimum of once course per year to remain current.

Application Process

The application process to become an instructor is completed in two parts: an electronic application submission and a virtual training demonstration. Candidate instructors should submit the following documentation to FEMA-Continuity-Practitioner@fema.dhs.gov:

  • Cover letter or email requesting approval to instruct;
  • Resume outlining continuity experience;
  • Documentation necessary to demonstrate meeting the minimum instructor requirements (e.g., MCP certificate); and
  • A request to complete the required 30-minute teaching demonstration. o All training demonstrations must use a slide deck provided by the NCTP.

Instructors must complete the application process within one year of the TtT Workshops. After one calendar year, the applicant will be asked to re-initiate the process, including the TtT Workshops.

Teaching Demonstration

The NCTP Instructor Cadre Manager will review the application submission for completeness, including the instructor’s demonstrated continuity background/experience, and upon approval of the application, will schedule the teaching demonstration.

The NCTP will schedule at least one panel review per month for up to six instructors. Each panel will consist of no fewer than three subject matter experts identified by the NCTP in the areas of continuity and training and may include Training Managers, ONCP staff, RCMs, or other FEMA staff. Teaching demonstrations will be evaluated using the rubric found in the Appendix. Once the teaching demonstration has been completed, the NCTP will coordinate final approval with the RCM for the FEMA Region in which the candidate resides. Candidate instructors will receive written notice of approval from the NCTP within five business days of the panel review.

Reach out to Annie if you have questions about the Continuity program at annie.merritt@mil.wa.gov or on LinkedIn

Annie Merritt, Level II Continuity Practitioner and Cadre member