L0952: All-Hazards Public Information Officer

The goal of this professional development course is to provide federal, state, tribal, and local-level emergency responders with an overview of key duties and responsibilities of a Public Information Officer in a Type III All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT).

The learner must achieve a minimum passing score of 75% on final knowledge assessments or demonstrate mastery on performance assessments or research assignments to earn the IACET CEU.

Selection Criteria: NIMS ICS Position Specific training shall be completed by personnel who will be required to gain a certificate of training and the credentials to function in an ICS Organization, such as an IMT, as a member of the Command, General Staff or as a Unit Leader. This criteria will be verified on the student enrollment request by endorsement of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) such as the State/Tribal Training Officer or the course manager.

ACE: Level: Lower Division/Associate

ACE: Credit Hours: 2

• Describe the role and importance of the Public Information Officer position in incident operations, especially as it pertains to initial incident operations.
• Describe the fundamentals of information operations during incident management.
• Develop a communications strategy for disseminating incident information.
• Explain the importance of effective media relations, including social media, and the role of the Public Information Officer in developing and maintaining such relationships.
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of Assistant Public Information Officers.
• Describe how the Public Information Officer may establish and leverage effective community relations.
• Describe the role of the Public Information Officer as it pertains to handling special situations within incidents.
• Describe how Public Information Officers can keep themselves, and those they escort and work with, safe in the incident environment.
• Define the Public Information Officer’s roles and responsibilities during incident transition and demobilization.

• Respond