C4SEM | Academy student FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Registrations and Logistics:

What is the fastest way to register?

The fastest, though not only way, to register is online. Other options include registering by fax, mail, or courier.

What is the preferred method of registration?

The preferred method of registration is online. However, participants are welcome to register by fax, courier, or by mail. Method of registration should, however, be considered when dealing with time restraints, in which case perspective participants should choose to register online or via fax.

How early should I register?

C4SEM™ encourages participants to register as early as possible. It is important to register early as space may be limited in many of the courses. For those requiring visas, the earlier the registration the better to begin that process.

How late can I register?

Registration will close ten days before the start date of each training course. You may contact C4SEM™ for space availability after that date, but C4SEM™ will not guarantee space availability. Again, it is best to register as early as possible to ensure space availability.

How can I register for the Wounded Warriors Scholarship program?

Beginning July 2010, the Center for Security and Emergency Management will grant C4SEM™ Certification Program scholarships to 12 of our country's Wounded Warriors. Scholarships will be awarded based on financial need and performance and will focus on heroes who are seeking advancement or new skills. To register for the Wounded Warrior Scholarship program, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Do you accept GI Bill and Military Tuition Assistance (TA)?

Yes. C4SEM™ certificate programs are approved by the Maryland State Department of Higher Education and are approved for payment of Veteran's benefits under the G.I. Bill/VA LACAS. You can receive reimbursement of a licensing or certification test fee for the following programs:

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program (MGIB) (Chapter 30)
Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) (Chapter 32)
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) (Chapter 35)
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve Program (MGIB-SR) (Chapter 1606)
If you need help in completing your VA application, call VA TOLL-FREE at 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). If you use the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), the Federal Relay number is 711. You can also get education assistance after normal business hours at the VA education Internet site: www.gibill.va.gov.
Sorry, Military Tuition Assistance (TA) programs have been suspended by DoD.

How long will it be before I know whether or not my application has been accepted?

Applicant's registration forms are reviewed within 2 to 5 days after receipt. Applicants should hear about the status of their applications within one week of registration.

Should I encourage my colleagues to register and attend as well?

Yes. Some of the most useful and practical capacity-building experiences take place when two or more professionals from the same organization attend a training course together. This enables them to implement tools and skills acquired at the training more immediately in their day-to-day work program.

Do I need a visa to attend C4SEM™ Training Programs if I am traveling from overseas?

Visas are often required to enter the United States and other countries where C4SEM™ implements training programs. Please make necessary arrangements with the relevant embassy or consulate in your country well in advance of travel plans. Upon admission to a workshop, candidates will receive a letter of invitation, which can be used to assist in visa processing. Acceptance to attend the C4SEM™ training program does not guarantee that participants will be granted a Visa. It is the applicant's responsibility to comply with the requirements set by the host country Embassy/Consulate in his/her locality. C4SEM™ is unable, however, to send direct correspondence to an Embassy/Consulate on the applicant's behalf unless instructed to do so by the Embassy or Consulate.

To determine if you need a visa, please contact the relevant Embassy/Consulate in your country or visit the following website for visa requirement information: www.state.gov or www.embassyworld.com.

How will arrangements for lodging be made?

You are responsible for making your hotel reservations. Accommodation recommendations will be provided in your acceptance package. Accommodation fees are not included in C4SEM™'s tuition price.

Will C4SEM™ make my travel arrangements?

No, participants are responsible for making their travel arrangements to and from the course location.

Do I need to arrange my transportation to and from the airport?

Yes. All participants are responsible for arranging and paying for transportation to and from the hotel for your arrival and departure. All other training-related travel to and from site visits and or study tours will be arranged by and paid for by C4SEM™.

When should I arrive at the program?

Participants normally arrive a day before the course, to be on time for the first morning session.

Where do I go on the first day of the course?

The location of the workshop venue will be sent to you as part of the Admission Package once you are accepted to the program. Upon arrival, please check an announcement board in the lobby of the training facility, or the hotel or confirm with the hotel concierge the exact venue of the workshop.

Will breakfast and lunch be provided as part of the course?

Different hotels have different arrangements for including/not including the cost of breakfast. During the course lunches are included in the price of the course tuition.

Can I schedule professional meetings outside of the course?

C4SEM™ encourages course participants to make use of their trips for other professional meetings. A training day normally consists of a morning (8:00 am -12:00 pm) and an afternoon (1:00 -4:30 pm) session. These times may differ vary to accommodate site visits and simulation exercises. You can schedule your professional meetings during a lunch break from 12:00 am to 1:00 pm or after 4:30 pm. Participants may request C4SEM™ assistance in scheduling meetings.

What arrangements do I need to make if my family is traveling with me?

Many C4SEM™ participants come with their families. Please let C4SEM™ know in advance so we can help you with any logistical arrangements to make their stay more comfortable.

Does C4SEM™ provide computers as part of the course tuition fee?

Yes! C4SEM™ does provide computers per specific course requirements as part of the comprehensive learning environment.

Will I have Internet access?

Yes! The C4SEM™ training facility has free high-speed Internet access for your use during the course. The hotel where you are staying may or may not have Internet access and may or may not charge you separately for this use. Please check with the front desk of your hotel upon your arrival.

Do I need to arrange my transportation for site visits and study tours?

C4SEM™ will make all necessary arrangements for training-related travel to site visits and during study tours by bus, plane, taxi, or train. You are only responsible for arranging your taxi transportation to and from the hotel for your arrival and departure to the country.

Will there be opportunities for site seeing and other social events?

Yes. C4SEM™ organizes social events for participants that may include receptions, site-seeing activities, and shopping excursions. Social events vary from course to course. Participants are also provided with information on cultural activities and site-seeing opportunities that they can pursue during leisure time.

General Training and Course Information:

About Training and Certifications:

C4SEM™ offers two types of Certifications: Professional and Academic

Professional Certifications are offered to the candidates who meet all the requirements and all they need is the certification exam. Academic Certifications are offered to those candidates who have an interest in the field but need additional training to meet the certification exam requirements.

C4SEM™ offers academic courses in the fields of Law Enforcement, Security, Emergency Management, and Intelligence.

Are C4SEM™ training courses suitable for the military, public, and private sectors?

Yes. C4SEM™ training programs were designed to provide essential "skills and tools" for the military, public, and private sectors. All of our programs are multidisciplinary and result in the overall enhancement of participants' capabilities as well as specialized skills.

C4SEM™ training programs are well known for the use of case studies, simulations, and site visits. What is the purpose of that methodology?

C4SEM™ believes that the most effective training is practical and participatory. Qualified and seasoned professionals learn best when the training is challenging, job-related, and practical. Case studies, simulations, tabletop exercises, discussions, and study tours expose participants to real-world issues and skills required to tackle real challenges.

C4SEM™ offers programs in Washington D.C. and regional training venues around the world. Are there differences between the DC programs and the regional programs?

In particular, C4SEM™'s Washington D.C. fast-track certification programs are two weeks in duration. Some of the Washington D.C. programs combine training sessions with "out of the classroom" site visits to important facilities and organizations. Furthermore, participants in our Washington D.C. programs are likely to represent a more global presence than our regional courses. Thus, the Washington D.C. programs are more comprehensive and experience based. Our regional programs, on the other hand, are more intensive. There is no difference in terms of practicality, quality, or benefit. Washington D.C. programs offer participants the chance to visit and learn in the United States capital while regional programs may offer a more convenient and cost-effective experience and the chance to visit and learn about the country where the regional course is being held.

Many of our staff need the training from C4SEM™ but often do not have the English-language skills necessary to complete the training. What are our options?

C4SEM™ can accommodate non-English language speakers in our programs if there are groups of participants sufficient to merit. In such cases, C4SEM™ can arrange simultaneous translation services using advanced equipment. A modest additional fee would be charged for this service.

Can C4SEM™ provide training in our country for our organization?

C4SEM™ has conducted scores of "customized" training programs around the world. If your organization would like a customized training program, C4SEM™ can provide you with a draft concept proposal and budget. Graduates of customized training programs receive credits towards C4SEM™'s Certification Credential.

Professional Certification Programs:

What are the 12 professional certification programs offered?

C4SEM™ offers 12 professional certification programs:

Certified Homeland Security Manager (CHSM)
Certified Critical Infrastructure Protection Specialist (CCIPS)
Certified Counter Terrorism Specialist (CCTS)*
Certified Intelligence Analyst Specialist (CIAS)*
Certified Special Security Office (CSSO)*
Certified Chief Security Officer (CCSO)*
Certified Emergency Management Specialist (CEMS)
Certified Emergency Operation Center Manager (CEOCM)
Certified Site Safety and Health Inspector (CSSHI)
Certified Internal Investigation Officer (CIIO)
Certified Evidence Collection Specialist (CECS)
Certified Anti-Corruption Specialist (CACS)

The goal of these certification programs is to provide professionals interested in the subject matter an opportunity to gain a sufficient body of knowledge in each area. Complete information on each professional certification program can be found on the C4SEM™’s website under the “programs” tab.

What types of courses are offered?

Courses are offered by the Center for Security and Emergency Management, Inc (C4SEM™). Courses are offered on a global basis and include classroom training and distance learning opportunities. The goal is to offer courses that provide the appropriate "body of knowledge" in each of the certification subject areas and to offer as many possible options for training on this body of knowledge. The listing of the current course l can be found on the C4SEM™’s website under the “programs” tab.

What are the minimum qualifications for Professional Certification?

Each certificate program requirements vary to meet the current industry standard for at journeymen level. Candidates must possess at least 4-5 years of significant, practical, enterprise-wide experience in the disciplines. Position responsibilities or objectives and organizational accomplishments do not qualify as discipline experience. Individual experience and training must reflect the individual's expertise in the desired certificate.

As in most testing processes in the community, you must receive a passing score of 70/100.

How many questions are on each certification exam?

Certification exams contain 120-285 questions and course exams have anywhere from 10 to 50 questions.

What are credit transfers and waivers, who can qualify and what are the requirements?

C4SEM™ recognizes prior learning, college degree, and work experience and offers flexible examination options to those who are enrolled in a certification program.

What are the minimum qualification requirements for credit transfer?

Credit transfer: C4SEM™ accepts credible credits received from prior training, depending on the course subject and reputation of the training provider. All enrollees are encouraged to submit information on previous courses taken that they believe may be relevant to their selected certification program (this information should include, at a minimum, course provider information, a copy of the certificate received, and contact information of the training provider). The Registrar's office will review the information and decide on the relevancy of the training and decide if any CEUs earned will count towards the certification program.

The Direct Transfer Courses by any community college, university in the United States, and US military training institutions or direct work experience will satisfy the requirements at C4SEM™. The minimum requirements are ”pass -Military and Government Standard“ or "C" or equivalent on earned hours of transferable credit.

What requirements does the waiver rid?

Time in service, applicable experience, and Credit Transfer would allow the student to utilize their prior learning and work experience, as well as, training towards their certification.

What documents are required for the waiver programs?

Students must submit the following documents respectively to the C4SEM™ registrar's office

• Registration form

• Copy of individual's resume

• Copies of individual's transcripts

• Submit a waiver request to the registrar's office

• Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) (DD Form 2586) and or Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) (Veterans and Military only)

--- Requested documents may be emailed to: registrar@C4SEM™.org ---

What are the exam options?

Once a candidate is accepted and meets the requirement to take the exam. He or she in some cases will have 2 options for the final; these options are based on the Admission Board’s recommendations.

Option 1: Take an exam of 150-285 essay and multiple-choice questions covering the core principles of the certificate program. Students must score at least 70% to pass. Should the candidate choose to take the exam, the school will arrange a test center to proctor the exam. Military and Government candidates will have the option to have someone to administer the test for you. This can be their qualified training coordinator, officer, senior NCO, or chief, whichever you prefer but you will need to provide their name and contact information such as an address, phone number, and email address so that we may contact them with instructions.

Option 2: This option is most beneficial to candidates with strong educational/academic backgrounds and the ability to research. With this option, the student can complete and submit final assignments/projects illustrating their knowledge of the core principles of the certification program. The final assignment may include a combination of research questions, individual assignments, and a 1750-2200 word final paper in APA form. If you select this option, the school assign a mentor and will provide general guidance on how to complete your final assignment or project. Additional information and guidance will be included in your final exam package.

COOL Candidates: By Cool's policy you must schedule and take the credential exam within 60 calendar days from receipt of this voucher (date of this memorandum). If your certification/license exam process takes longer than 60 days please call or email the Credentials Program Office (contact information found below) so that they can make a note in your record. A time waiver for going beyond 60 calendar days can be done, but we do this on a case-by-case basis.

Do you have a distance learning program for your academic certificate programs?

Yes. We offer independent study courses for all our certificate programs to qualified candidates. All you need to do is to let us know what program interests you the most and which core and elective courses you would like to take by completing the independent course(s) study enrollment form. You can register for the course(s) and the exam online. Students have 90 days to complete each course, and, upon completion of your course(s), we will schedule your certification exam.

How do I maintain Certification?

5 years thereafter -

Certified Homeland Security Manager (CHSM)

40 hours per year – if practicing