NDEMU | Public Information Officer Program | Basic PIO
NOTICE: Effective April 16, 2026, FEMA has restored access to its Independent Study.
These courses are typically inaccessible during a lapse in appropriations, but FEMA is facing unprecedented circumstances. Users may now register for and complete these self-guided courses. However, FEMA's staffing and operations are still impacted by the lapse in appropriations.
If users experience technical problems, FEMA staff are unable to provide assistance at this time
Please click here to read the full notice
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Public Information Awareness and Basics
Awareness of the concepts underlying the PIO role, and a basic understanding of the PIO function
Public Information Awareness Courses
The Public Information Officer (PIO) awareness courses are designed to introduce new emergency managers from State, local, tribal, territorial, and Federal emergency management agencies to the concepts underlying the PIO role.
They also build a foundational knowledge of the skills needed to be full or part-time PIOs, including oral and written communications; understanding and working with the media; and basic tools and techniques to perform effectively as a PIO, both in the proactive/ advocacy times and crisis/ emergency response.
The PIO beginning/awareness courses consist of an Independent Study course (IS-29) covering
Public Information Officer Awareness
, and a classroom course (E0105) covering
Public Information Basics
Both of the PIO awareness courses below also comprise a portion of the
National Emergency Management Basic Academy (NEMBA)
curriculum.
Course Overview
The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency.
Complete Independently
Independent Study (IS)
Prerequisites
The participant will benefit from participating in
entry-level incident command system
training prior to taking this course.
Course Length
7 hours
IS-29 Course Details
Course Overview
To equip participants with the skills needed to be full or part-time PIOs, including oral and written communications; understanding and working with the media; and basic tools and techniques to perform effectively as a PIO, both in the proactive/ advocacy times and crisis/ emergency response.
Classroom Delivery
Resident (E), Local (L), Virtual (K)
Prerequisites
IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness
Course Length
3 days (24 hours)
E0105 Course Details
training.fema.gov
An official website of the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security