A variety of classroom and online courses are available from FEMA and our partners.
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Classroom Courses
The Emergency Management Institute, located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and part of FEMA, offers several in-person courses on topics related to flood mitigation. View the courses and schedules offered for detailed information. Search the schedule by course code (e.g., E0273, L0278) for full descriptions plus dates and locations of each course.
Two of the popular courses on floodplain management are described below.
EL0273: Managing Floodplain Development Through the NFIP (NFIP)
This four-day introductory course prepares participants to understand and perform the roles and responsibilities of the local Floodplain Administrator (FPA). The course focuses on the NFIP and concepts of floodplain management, flood maps and studies, ordinance administration, and the relationship between floodplain management and flood insurance.
To request an L0273 (field delivery) in your state, contact your State NFIP Coordinator or contact the FEMA National FPM Training team.
EL0278: National Flood Insurance Program - Community Rating System
This four-day course covers the Community Rating System (CRS), a nationwide initiative of FEMA’s NFIP. It describes activities eligible for credit under the CRS Coordinator’s Manual, how a community applies, and how a community modifies an application to improve its classification.
This is an advanced course that may be difficult to follow without a participant being well-versed in basic concepts of floodplain management.
To request an L0278 course in your state, email the Community Rating System team.
Non-EMI Online Courses
The Floodplain Management Division's free online courses are hosted by the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
NFIP 101
Similar to EMI's EL0273: Managing Floodplain Development Through the NFIP, this course is intended for those just beginning a career in floodplain management. The NFIP 101 course is web-based, free, and available to the public. Students may start, stop, and return to the course as their schedule permits and they may take it as many times as they’d like. While the content of this course is congruent with EL0273, successful completion of this course does not confer credit from EMI.
Non-EMI Classroom Courses
The Floodplain Management Division also created in-person courses that can be delivered by FEMA Regional staff, State NFIP Coordinators or local Floodplain Administrators.
Essentials of Floodplain Management (Full-day and Half-day options)
This course provides a broad overview of the NFIP and floodplain management. It is a condensed version of the topics covered in EL0273, available in a full day (8 hour) or half-day (4 hour) session. This course does not adequately prepare participants to become a Floodplain Administrator.
To request this course in your state, contact your State NFIP Coordinator or contact the FEMA National FPM Training team.
This 1.5 hour presentation is designed to be given by a Floodplain Administrator to their own senior leadership. It explains the wisdom of investing in floodplain management to enhance public safety and reduce expenses resulting from our nation's most frequent and costly natural disaster.